Abstract: A method and system for determining an availability of an application. Pairs of processes utilized by the application are determined. Each pair includes consumer and provider processes. For each pair, a diagnostic transaction is initiated by the pair's consumer process, utilizes an application programming interface (API) to open a connection between the consumer process and provider process and to request access to a resource managed by the provider process. Any communication between a pair's consumer and provider processes uses the same API. The diagnostic transaction is completed by receiving or not receiving, at the consumer process, a response from the pair's provider process where the response provides the requested access. Receipt of the response designates the provider process as available to the application, whereas non-receipt of the response designates the provider process as unavailable. If responses are received for all diagnostic transactions, the application is available.