startN.sh

#!/bin/sh

trap true INT # Ignore, but pass to sub processes

if [ $# -ne 3 ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 start-script first num-instances"
    echo " start-script is the script to run"
    echo " first is the first instance" 
    echo " num-instances is the number of instances to run"
    exit 1
fi

if [ -n "$SUDO_USER" ]; then
    echo "Don't run this with sudo"
    exit 1
fi

# Make sure the Sudo session is active
sudo true

script=$1
first=$2
N=$3
last=$((first+N))

i=$first
while [ $i -lt $last ]; do
    sudo $script $i &
    sleep 0.1
    i=$((i+1))
done

wait