title: how to check from a driver, if mongoDB server is running
body: <p>I wonder, if there is a way to check if mongoDB server is running from java driver for mongoDB? </p>
  
  <p>According to the tutorial, I can do </p>
  
  <pre><code>Mongo m = new Mongo();
  // or
  Mongo m = new Mongo( "localhost" , 27017 );
  // and
  DB db = m.getDB( "mydb" );
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But how to check that I can use these Mongo and DB? I see no isConnected() method in the API. </p>
  
  <pre><code>db.getConnector().isOpen() 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>returns true</p>
  
  <p>The only way I found is call db.getDatabaseNames() and catch MongoException. </p>
  
  <p>If there some more civilized approach? </p>