title: C#: How to programmatically check a web service is up and running?
body: <p>I need to create an C# application that will monitor whether a set of web services are up and running.  User will select a service name from a dropdown. The program need to test with the corresponding service URL and show whether the service is running. What is the best way to do it? One way I am thinking of is to test whether we are able to download the wsdl. IS there a better way? </p>
  
  <p>Note: The purpose of this application is that the user need to know only the service name. He need not remember/store the corresponding URL of the service. </p>
  
  <p>I need a website version and a desktop application version of this C# application.</p>
  
  <p>Note: Existing services are using WCF. But in future a non-WCF service may get added.</p>
  
  <p>Note: My program will not be aware of (or not interested in ) operations in the service. So I cannot call a service operation.</p>
  
  <p>REFERENCE</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10206951/how-to-check-if-a-web-service-is-up-and-running-without-using-ping">How to check if a web service is up and running without using ping?</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6077392/c-program-how-do-i-check-if-a-web-service-is-running">C program-How do I check if a web service is running</a></li>
  </ol>