UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

Im old to Unix but new to scripting


I have a MacBook running osx that I want to use as an nfs client. The server will be a linux box with a wake on lan card. Here's the idea. Run a cron command on the mac every minute that checks if I am on my home wireless network (the linux box is wired to the same router as the macbook gets wireless from). If this is true then check if the NFS mount from the linux box is mounted. If not ping the linux box. If the Macbook gets no ping send the magic packet to linux box and wake it up then wait for the linux box to boot and then mount the necessary NFS mounts.

When the linux box is on, run a cron command every minute to see if it is exporting NFS to the said Macbook (or i could just ping the macbook) If not (or no ping) have the linux box shut down in to a wakeable on lan state.


It looks as if I can pull the info as to wether or not my macbook is on my home wireless network from reading a line in traceroute. Then running showmount and then reading from the output if the NFS mount on the linux box is up. if neither of these are true then run ping, if no response send the magic packet to the linux box and start it up.


My main questions:


Has anyone already done this so I don't have to write the script?

Which sort of scripting should I use bash? pearl? python?

Are there any good tutorials out there that would help a newbee scripter accomplish this?

does anyone know what command i could run to see if the linux box is sucessufully exporting to the macbook, or would it just be easier to ping the macbook? and then use the response to shut down the linux box.


Thanks from Sweden!,

Nathan