ping or fsockopen() for this plugin?
 

I'm working on a MOD that depends on a subdomain on a second server being online.

Basically if the second server isn't responding I want to take a certain action.

With PHP, would I be better off executing a ping or use the built-in PHP fsockopen() function?

I'd like this to be as portable as possible.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
James

fsockopen() would be much simpler than constructing a proper ICMP request. Also more portable as well, because some hosts do not support opening a raw socket.