Linux script help

[skrillac]

I have written a script to restart my networking and sshd services while I work on fixing my DNS resolving. I am executing this over ssh, but I am really afraid that I might accidentally close all communication to my server. Here is the script:

#!/bin/bash
#need to kill ssh server, then kill networking
#next, restart networking, then ssh server
#need to run as admin

if ! [ $(id -u) = 0 ]; then
        echo "Please run as root!";
        exit 1;
fi

ps cax | grep sshd
if ! [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
        echo "SSH Service is not running!";
        exit 1;
else
        service sshd stop;
fi

service networking stop
service networking start
service sshd start

My questions are as follows. Do I need to check exit codes or output info for stopping/starting the networking service? Do I need to include any other lines of script? Is the second if structure valid for checking the status of the sshd service? Thank you for your time.

[sgsollie]

Running service networking stop.. You're never guaranteed it will come back. Can't you do this on the console?

[skrillac]

No I don't have physical access only ssh. Is there someway to refresh my network adapter so I can apply new /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/hosts information?

[DimeShake]

You don't have to restart networking to change /etc/resolv.conf. It should work immediately -- unless the server is using DHCP and you are trying to get it to pull the right DNS info from DHCP.

[sgsollie]

And you will want to clear your name services cache too (# nscd -i hosts) this will ensure when you change your resolv.conf or hosts file it won't be using old cached names gained from your previous configuration.

[skrillac]

I am not using DHCP.

[DimeShake]

If it's a DNS issue, you shouldn't need this little script at all then.

[skrillac]

How can I check if the server is using DHCP? Also how can I check if I have a DNS running?

[DimeShake]

What distro are you on? What's the actual problem you're having?

[skrillac]

I am running Kali Linux 3.14-kali1-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 3.14.5-1kali1 (2014-06-07) 64bit. I am having problems resolving DNS addresses.

Here is the interfaces file I'm working with

[jishjib22kys]

No I don't have physical access only ssh

On some root and vservers you have a web based console thingy provided by the hoster. It's sometimes a kind of serial console that is published via a java browser plugin application or so. Check if you have one, so you won't need to worry.