note 40359 added to function.fopen

I'd like to check if a url is live. So I fopen it for "r". But it takes ages and ages to check. I tried using fsockopen with a short timelimit - no effect. what am I doing wrong / is there a good handy way to check if a url is reachable ? Thanks ! Ciaran ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.fopen.php Edit -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=edit+40359 Delete -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=delete+40359&report=yes Reject -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php?action=reject+40359&report=yes Search -- http://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php