Check if we can connect to the database.
protected function connect() {
  try {
    // This doesn't actually test the connection.
    db_set_active();
    // Now actually do a check.
    Database::getConnection();
    $this
      ->pass('Drupal can CONNECT to the database ok.');
  } catch (Exception $e) {
    $this
      ->fail(st('Failed to connect to your database server. The server reports the following message: %error.<ul><li>Is the database server running?</li><li>Does the database exist, and have you entered the correct database name?</li><li>Have you entered the correct username and password?</li><li>Have you entered the correct database hostname?</li></ul>', array(
      '%error' => $e
        ->getMessage(),
    )));
    return FALSE;
  }
  return TRUE;
}