Test-HttpGet Function

<#
.SYNOPSIS
Check to see if a URL request returns data

.DESCRIPTION
This function uses a WebClient object which attempts to download
data from a given URL. This test will fail if there is an exception,
or if the data returned is empty.

.OUTPUTS
PSObject. returns a custom object with the following properties:
Pass - true/false Whether or not the test passed
Exception - The exception that occurred (Only if Pass = false)
ExceptionType - The type of exception that occurred (Only if Pass = false)

.INPUTS
The Test-HttpGet function does not accept piped input

.LINK
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.net.webexception(v=vs.80).aspx

.EXAMPLE
PS [LAPTOP-TOSHIBA] >Test-HttpGet -url "http://msdn.microsoft.com" | Format-List

Pass : True

-- The GET request succeeded

.EXAMPLE
PS [LAPTOP-TOSHIBA] >Test-HttpGet -url "https://msdn.microsoft.com" | Format-List

Pass : True

-- HTTPS works as well

.EXAMPLE
PS [LAPTOP-TOSHIBA] >Test-HttpGet -url "http://false.whereisthis.net" | Format-List

Pass          : False
Exception     : The remote name could not be resolved: 'false.whereisthis.net'
ExceptionType : Web Exception

-- The GET request false because the site does not exist
#>
function Test-HttpGet {
    param(
        [parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
        [ValidateNotNullOrEmpty()]
        [string]
        $url
    )

    try {
        $data = (new-object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString($url)
        if(!$data) {
            return New-Object PSObject -Property @{
                Pass=$false;
                Exception="No data was returned";
                ExceptionType="Data Validation";
            }
        }
        else {
            return New-Object PSObject -Property @{
                Pass=$true;
            }
        }
    }
    catch [System.Net.WebException] {
        return New-Object PSObject -Property @{
            Pass=$false;
            Exception=$_;
            ExceptionType="Web Exception";
        }
    }
    catch {
        return New-Object PSObject -Property @{
            Pass=$false;
            Exception=$_;
            ExceptionType="General";
        }
    }
}