--- a/src/eric7/UI/UserInterface.py	Fri Feb 02 14:55:14 2024 +0100
+++ b/src/eric7/UI/UserInterface.py	Mon Feb 05 11:15:47 2024 +0100
@@ -8661,3 +8661,18 @@
         elif self.__layoutType == "Sidebars":
             self.__activateLeftRightSidebarWidget(self.__virtualenvManagerWidget)
         self.__virtualenvManagerWidget.setFocus(Qt.FocusReason.ActiveWindowFocusReason)
+
+    ############################################################
+    ## Interface to the eric-ide server interface
+    ############################################################
+
+    def isEricServerConnected(self):
+        """
+        Public method to check, if a connection to an eric-ide server has been
+        established.
+
+        @return flag indicating the interface connection state
+        @rtype bool
+        """
+        # simply delegated to the eric-ide server interface object
+        return self.__ericServerInterface.isServerConnected()