$ cat xx
#!
#you may need to add the path to your shell

#set newtime as the date
newtime=$(date +%y%d%h%M%S)

#the optional flag is accepted after the initial arguments
#shift is not used, there is a -l flag for logfilename


#accounting for IP and Port, as well as the -l flag
#tee is called to direct output to the screen and logfile

if [ "$2" != "-l" ]
then
telnet $1 $2 | tee -a /var/log/$newtime
fi
if [ "$2" == "-l" ]
then
telnet $1 | tee -a /var/log/$3
fi
if [ "$3" == "-l" ]
then
telnet $1 $2 | tee -a /var/log/$4
fi

exit



0018@AH0018 /usr/escripts
$ xx mail.yahoo.com 25
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection timed out
Trying 69.147.112.160...

0018@AH0018 /usr/escripts
$ xx mail.yahoo.com 25 -l p
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection timed out
Trying 69.147.112.160...
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection timed out
Trying 69.147.112.160...

0018@AH0018 /usr/escripts
$