How to check if VPN connection can be established automatically?

I recently ran into the problem that a VPN connection, type Cisco IPSec, could not be established. For some unbeknownst reason, the connection failed. The failing VPN connection is not the problem per se, yet it hindered me from doing what I wanted to do. I wish that I would have checked earlier if the VPN connection was alive so that I could have delegated the issue earlier.

So what I want is to be informed when the VPN connection cannot be established by automatically trying to connect once ever 4 hours or so and informing me immediately if it should fail.

How could I set up such a network test?