[Python] Python - How to check if Redis server is available

I'm developing a Python Service(Class) for accessing Redis Server. I want to know how to check if Redis Server is running or not. And also if somehow I'm not able to connect to it.

Here is a part of my code

import redis
rs = redis.Redis("localhost")
print rs


It prints the following

<redis.client.Redis object at 0x120ba50>


even if my Redis Server is not running.

As I found that my Python Code connects to the Server only when I do a set() or get() with my redis instance.

So I dont want other services using my class to get an Exception saying

redis.exceptions.ConnectionError: Error 111 connecting localhost:6379. Connection refused.


I want to return proper message/Error code. How can I do that??

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