Dim ping_to_server As New Ping
            Dim ping_reply As PingReply
 
            _DB_NUmber = DB
            _Start_Address = start_Byte
            _Length = NumberOfBytes
            _PLC_Slot = SLOT
            _PLC_Rack = RACK
            _plc_IP = IP_Adress
 
 
            ping_reply = ping_to_server.Send(_plc_IP, 2000)
 
            If Not ping_reply.Status = IPStatus.Success Then 'zweiter versuch, 
            ' vielleicht ging der erste ping auf timeout
                ping_reply = ping_to_server.Send(_plc_IP, 2000)
            End If
 
 
            If Not ping_reply.Status = IPStatus.Success Then
 
                connection_IO = False
                Diagnostics.EventLog.WriteEntry( _
                  My.Application.Info.ProductName, Format(Now, "dd/MM/yyyy" & _
                  "HH:mm:ss.fff") & " - Status Network Connection PLC NOK ping" & _
                  "failed", EventLogEntryType.Error)
            Else
                Diagnostics.EventLog.WriteEntry( _
                  My.Application.Info.ProductName, Format(Now, "dd/MM/yyyy" & _
                  "HH:mm:ss.fff") & " - Status Network Connection PLC OK ping" & _
                  "succeeded", EventLogEntryType.Information)
                Diagnostics.EventLog.WriteEntry( _
                My.Application.Info.ProductName, Format(Now, "dd/MM/yyyy" & _
                "HH:mm:ss.fff") & " - Trying to connect to PLC port", _
                EventLogEntryType.Information)
 
                fds.rfd = libnodave.openSocket(102, _plc_IP) 'Portstatus - lesen
                fds.wfd = fds.rfd 'Portstatus schreiben = Portstatus - lesen
 
                di = New libnodave.daveInterface(fds, "Mein Interface", _
                  localMPI, _
                libnodave.daveProtoISOTCP, libnodave.daveSpeed187k)
                di.setTimeout(2000000)
                connection_IO = True
            End If