code: public static boolean pingServer(String protocol, String user, String pass) {
          try {
              getServerResponse(protocol, user, pass, "/describe");
              return true;
          } catch (Exception e) {
              logger.debug("Assuming the server isn't running because "
                      + "describe request failed", e);
              return false;
          }
      }
docs: Tell whether the server is running by pinging it as a client.