We want to search the following line recursive under folder/s
awk '{print}'|grep -i -e 'port is up' -e 'valid output'
so we did that:
grep -r "awk '{print}'|grep -i -e 'port is up' -e 'valid output'" /var
grep -r "awk '{print}'|grep -i -e 'port is up' -e 'valid output'" /etc
grep -r "awk '{print}'|grep -i -e 'port is up' -e 'valid output'" /opt
but I am not sure if grep can managed the " ' " and "{" characters or maybe my syntax is wrong?
To search for a fixed string (not a regular expression), use the -F option with grep. If you additionally need to make sure that your string matches an entire line, use -x:
grep -Fx -r '...your string here...' directory
To get approximate hits (if a full line search doesn't return anything), I would start with just port is up (without -x), or possibly
grep -F -r -e 'port is up' -e 'valid output' directory
Neither | nor { or } are special in a regular expression pattern when you're using basic regular expression as you do here. ' is never special in a regular expression. However, since you are searching with a string (not a pattern), you should nonetheless use -F.
awkprogram you're searching for? It's just passing on its input... Ah well, you want the-Foption forgrepto search for a fixed string, and possibly-xto force a whole line match. Whatgrepimplementation are you using? GNUgrepI presume?