eval.py: ensure that the data directory is present on the host

eval.py

@@ -62,10 +62,18 @@ def write_desc(data_dir):
         # collect the uname of the host
         print('uname_host: ', end='', file=desc_file)
 
-    # collect the uname of the host
+    if REMOTE_CMD:
+        # collect the uname of the host
+        remote_cmd = REMOTE_CMD.format(host=HOST, ssh_port=SSH_PORT)
+        uname_cmd = f'{remote_cmd} uname -a >> {desc_file_path}'
+        cmd_run(uname_cmd, log)
+
+
+def mkdir_remote(directory: Path):
+    """Create a directory and its parents on the remote host"""
     remote_cmd = REMOTE_CMD.format(host=HOST, ssh_port=SSH_PORT)
-    uname_cmd = f'{remote_cmd} uname -a >> {desc_file_path}'
-    cmd_run(uname_cmd, log)
+    remote_prepare_cmd = f'{remote_cmd} mkdir -p {directory}'
+    cmd_run(remote_prepare_cmd, log)
 
 
 def summarize(results: Mapping[str, Sequence[Sequence[BenchResult]]]):
@@ -117,11 +125,11 @@ def bench(server_cmds) -> EvalResult:
 
             if REMOTE_CMD:
                 # make sure the benchdir is available on the HOST
-                remote_cmd = REMOTE_CMD.format(host=HOST, ssh_port=SSH_PORT)
-                remote_prepare_cmd = f'{remote_cmd} mkdir -p {bench_dir}'
-                cmd_run(remote_prepare_cmd, log)
+                mkdir_remote(bench_dir)
 
             measure_cmd = MEASURE_CMD.format(**substitutions)
+            remote_cmd = None if not REMOTE_CMD else REMOTE_CMD.format(
+                host=HOST, ssh_port=SSH_PORT)
 
             print(f'benchmarking {server_name} ...')
             server = Server(server_name,
@@ -130,7 +138,7 @@ def bench(server_cmds) -> EvalResult:
                             bench_dir,
                             env=SERVER_ENV,
                             measure_cmd=measure_cmd,
-                            remote_cmd=remote_cmd if REMOTE_CMD else None,
+                            remote_cmd=remote_cmd,
                             host=HOST,
                             perf_record=args.perf_record,
                             perf_counters=args.perf_stat)
@@ -344,6 +352,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     if not DATA_DIR.exists():
         os.makedirs(DATA_DIR)
 
+    if REMOTE_CMD:
+        # make sure the data_dir is available on the HOST
+        mkdir_remote(DATA_DIR)
+
     print(f"data_dir: {DATA_DIR}")
 
     write_desc(DATA_DIR)