For use in rc scripts and similar situations, in which dependancies on remote files or devices may temporarily fail e.g. due to a power failure taking down the remote server.

Options:

-v = verbose mode (default = silent)

-s delay_in_secs (default 180)

delay between each test of the condition

-n number_of_tries (default 20)

number of times to try before giving up

-e eval expression before testing

Run the expression through 'eval' first, to expand certain constructs like "~user"

-d direct execution - don't run inside [ ]

execute the test directly (for an external command or pipeline), instead of via [ ]

Exit status:

0 If test succeeds before iteration limit is reached

1 If test still fails when iteration limit is reached

waitfor -- -x /usr/local/sbin/sidecar

Test for an executable file /usr/local/sbin/sidecar, which may not initially be accessible. Keep trying for up to 1 hour.

waitfor -s10 -n6 -e -- "\( -w /var/tmp/log1 -a -w /var/tmp/log2 \) -o -w /var/tmp/combinedlogs"

Test for writeable files /var/tmp/log[12] OR the single file /var/tmp/combinedlogs. Check every 10 seconds, but no more than 6 attempts before giving up.

waitfor -d -- 'mount | grep -q /backup'

Test that /backup is a mount point and wait if it is not.