command_line_command_get_periodic_output.py

import sys
import subprocess
import shlex
import time
import threading

interval = 2 # in seconds
command = 'ping 8.8.8.8'

def print_(s):
    """2 and 3 compatible printing for most output. e.g don't use it.
    Use print without newline of your python version
    """
    sys.stdout.write(s.decode("utf-8"))
    sys.stdout.flush()

latest = None
def run_command(command):
    global latest
    process = subprocess.Popen(shlex.split(command), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
    while True:
        latest = process.stdout.readline()
        if latest == '' and process.poll() is not None:
            break
    rc = process.poll()
    return rc


def print_output(interval=0):
    time.sleep(0.1)
    while True:
        time.sleep(interval)
        print_(latest)
        # instead of print send to the database

runner = threading.Thread(target=run_command, args=[command,])
output = threading.Thread(target=print_output, args=[interval,])

runner.start()
output.start()