I have tried two methods for checking if a linked server is online, which are equally slow. Given I have to potentially check if hundreds of these linked servers configured are actually online, I am looking for a faster way to check availability. Unfortunately ping is not an option, since these servers are potentially shielded behind a firewall, where only the database port is opened. 

```
Select 1 
Where Exists (Select COUNT(*) 
              From [LINK-RC].[DeltaV_KB].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES)

declare @retval bit
exec @retval = sys.sp_testlinkedserver [LINK-RC];

```