using System.Net.NetworkInformation;    

public static bool PingHost(string nameOrAddress)
{
    bool pingable = false;
    Ping pinger = null;

    try
    {
        pinger = new Ping();
        PingReply reply = pinger.Send(nameOrAddress);
        pingable = reply.Status == IPStatus.Success;
    }
    catch (PingException)
    {
        // Discard PingExceptions and return false;
    }
    finally
    {
        if (pinger != null)
        {
            pinger.Dispose();
        }
    }

    return pingable;
}