title: Help to test if a proxy works using php
body: <p>I have a list of proxies, need to use them in a php script I am writing.</p>
  
  <p>How can I test that the proxy will work before I use it? is that possible? at the moment if the proxy doesn't work the script just dies after 30 seconds. Is there a quicker way to identify whether it will work or not?</p>
  
  <p>perhaps create a socket connection? send something to it that will reveal whether the proxy is open?</p>
  
  <p>thanks</p>