code: @Override
     public long ping(Address address)
     {
        if (trace)
           log.tracef("PING(%s)", address);
  
        if (address.getTransportId() == null || getId().equals(address.getTransportId()))
           return localPing();
  
        long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
        try
        {
           T addr = nodes.get(address);
           sendMessage(addr, Request.PING);
        }
        catch (WorkException e1)
        {
           if (log.isDebugEnabled())
           {
              log.debug("Error", e1);
           }
           return Long.MAX_VALUE;
        }
  
        return System.currentTimeMillis() - start;
     }
docs: {@inheritDoc}