bash script to check if a connection is alive?

[kleptophobiac]

I have two if statements in a bash script doing the exact same thing, just grepping for a different port. They are completely identical. One works, the other doesn't. 1234 works, 8080 doesn't. I just don't get it.

Could somebody show me what a "proper" statement would be? I'm looking for ssh connections on 8080 and 1234.

 

[kleptophobiac]

dammit, I keep forgetting to put a space between if and [.

Does it every time. Why don't I sleep enough??!?