Ruby function to detect if a host is up by pinging it

host_up_ping_nt.rb

def host_up_ping_nt?(host)
  # Checks if a host is up by pinging it.
  # Version for windows. See "man ping" for other systems.
  # inspired by http://stackoverflow.com/a/3561831/362951
  ping_max_try = 10
  cmd = "ping -n 1 #{host}" 
  #puts cmd
  isup = false
  ping_max_try.times do
    result = `#{cmd}`
    if ($?.exitstatus == 0)
      isup = 1
      break
    end
  end
  return isup
end