Trying to access a file from a host that is not available

Question

If I try to access a file on a host that is not available/unreachable, it hangs up for about 5-10 minutes. Is there any way to speed this up? I am using JDK 1.4.2
String filename = "\\\\ip\\myFile.txt"; // ip address is unreachable
File f = new File(filename);
f.exists(); // hangs hereTIA,
DB
Edited by: Darth_Bane on Aug 14, 2009 9:33 PM
Edited by: Darth_Bane on Aug 14, 2009 9:34 PM

Answer 1

I think you can use an IP address in the File spec. Windows allows you to use the IP address rather then the hostname in a // address (UNC?) infact its faster to use the ip over the hostname (windows networking is SLOW anyway)
Why not try dertimining if the machine is connected to the network before trying to get the file? There is something in the NetworkInterface API about pinging a IP or was that in the Socket API. eitherway, i think finding out if the computer is available before the file would make sense, that way you arnt waiting arround to find out if the file on an unavailable machine isnt there when you know the machine isnt online.
Thats my two cents.