[gentoo-user] How to have init-scripts 'wait' for other servers

[J. Roeleveld]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if an existing method to have init-scripts on server A wait 
for a service on server B to be started?

Reason for this:
I have one server containing all the databases, one that operates as a NAS and 
the DNS is running on server 3.
In order for the different machines to start correctly, I need to configure it 
that server 3 starts the DNS before the other machines try to access other 
machines (don't want to maintain hosts-files as it all works fine once the 
servers are up and running)

Also need to make sure the database and NAS is running before the webserver 
starts.

I tried to google for it, but I can't find a usefull search string that will 
give me anything usefull.

I don't mind reqriting init-scripts for this, but am looking for a way to 
check if services are up and running from within the init-scripts.

Thanks,

Joost Roeleveld