code: def ping():
      '''
      Is the marathon api responding?
      '''
      try:
          response = salt.utils.http.query(
              "{0}/ping".format(CONFIG[CONFIG_BASE_URL]),
              decode_type='plain',
              decode=True,
          )
          log.debug(
              'marathon.info returned successfully: %s',
              response,
          )
          if 'text' in response and response['text'].strip() == 'pong':
              return True
      except Exception as ex:
          log.error(
              'error calling marathon.info with base_url %s: %s',
              CONFIG[CONFIG_BASE_URL],
              ex,
          )
      return Falsf ping():
      '''
      Is the marathon api responding?
      '''
      try:
          response = salt.utils.http.query(
              "{0}/ping".format(CONFIG[CONFIG_BASE_URL]),
              decode_type='plain',
              decode=True,
          )
          log.debug(
              'marathon.info returned successfully: %s',
              response,
          )
          if 'text' in response and response['text'].strip() == 'pong':
              return True
      except Exception as ex:
          log.error(
              'error calling marathon.info with base_url %s: %s',
              CONFIG[CONFIG_BASE_URL],
              ex,
          )
      return False
docs: Is the marathon api responding?