Check if an MSSQL server is alive

SqlServerAlive.vb

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

Public Function IsMsSqlServerAvailable(ByVal dbCnxStr As String) As Boolean
   Try
        Using srvrConnection = New SqlConnection(dbCnxStr)
            Try
                srvrConnection.Open()
                Return True
            Catch ex As SqlException
                Return False
            End Try
        End Using
   Catch ex as ArgumentException
      Return False;
   End Try
End Function