i use the Indy components, TCPclient, set it the service and host and then
try and connect

var
TCPping: TIdTCPClient;
create etc...

then


IsServerOK:=false;
TCPping.Host:=Config.ServerName;
TCPping.Port:=3050; //this is the IB service port, without needing service
file
try
TCPping.Connect();
except
//catch all socket exceptions, not interested!
end; //of except
if TCPping.Connected then
begin
IsServerOK:=true;
try
TCPping.DisConnect();
except
//catch all socket exceptions, not interested!
end; //of except
end; //of if


Kind regards,
Pete