code: def is_alive(self, vhost='%2F'):
          
          uri = Client.urls['live_test'] % vhost
  
          try:
              resp = self._call(uri, 'GET')
          except http.HTTPError as err:
              if err.status == 404:
                  raise APIError("No vhost named '%s'" % vhost)
              raise
  
          if resp['status'] == 'ok':
              return True
          else:
              return False
docs: Uses the aliveness-test API call to determine if the
          server is alive and the vhost is active. The broker (not this code)
          creates a queue and then sends/consumes a message from it.
  
          :param string vhost: There should be no real reason to ever change
              this from the default value, but it's there if you need to.
          :returns bool: True if alive, False otherwise
          :raises: HTTPError if *vhost* doesn't exist on the broker.