The following function allows to test for the existens of a server in the network via ping, but with a better interface
#!/bin/sh
# --------------------------------------------------------- #
function server_exists ()
{
# ping Optionen:
# -c : Anzahl von pings
# -n : nur numerisch, keine DNS Abfragen
TESTSERVER=$1
if (ping -c 1 -n -w 2 $TESTSERVER > /dev/null 2>&1) ; then
#...