#!/bin/sh

if [ $# -lt 1 ]; then
   echo "`basename $0`"' host(s)'
   exit 1
fi   

# how many times to try
COUNT="5"

for host in $@; do
   ping_result="not reachable."
   echo -n "Testing if host $host is reachable: "
   ping -c $COUNT $host &>/dev/null && ping_result="reachable."
   echo $ping_result
done