From: James Britt <jamesUNDERBARb@...>
Date: 2004-12-29T00:56:56+09:00
Subject: Re: verifying a network connection

Thomas Metz wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> is there a way in Ruby to find out, whether my computer has built up a
> network connection or not?
> 
> I'm using Windows2000.
> 
> Thank you for helping a Ruby-newbie.

My laptop run win2k.  I like to start the machine and go make coffee, 
and have the box launch a bunch of useful apps in the meantime.

If I have a network connection then I want a browser, a mail reader, a 
firewall, and a few other things running.

I have a script that tries to ping some reliable site; it simple shells 
out and regexes the results.  Low-tech, but works quite well.

If it has a network connection, it reads in a config file wth a list of 
apps, and starts them up in sequence.


Some sample code:

$re_unk  = Regexp.new( "Unknown", Regexp::MULTILINE )
$re_loss = Regexp.new( "(00% loss)", Regexp::MULTILINE )

def connected?( resp )
   return false if $re_unk =~ resp
   return false if $re_loss =~ resp
   true
end

resp = `#{ping w3.org}`

do_stuff() if connected?( resp )

James