diff --git a/src/octoprint/server/api/__init__.py b/src/octoprint/server/api/__init__.py
index 735155da..82d5d0f4 100644
--- a/src/octoprint/server/api/__init__.py
+++ b/src/octoprint/server/api/__init__.py
@@ -226,3 +226,112 @@ def _logout(user):
 	if "usersession.id" in session:
 		del session["usersession.id"]
 	octoprint.server.userManager.logout_user(user)
+
+@api.route("/util/test", methods=["POST"])
+@restricted_access
+@admin_permission.require(403)
+def utilTestPath():
+	valid_commands = dict(
+		path=["path"],
+		url=["url"]
+	)
+
+	command, data, response = get_json_command_from_request(request, valid_commands)
+	if response is not None:
+		return response
+
+	if command == "path":
+		import os
+		from octoprint.util.paths import normalize
+
+		path = normalize(data["path"])
+		check_type = None
+		check_access = []
+
+		if "check_type" in data and data["check_type"] in ("file", "dir"):
+			check_type = data["check_type"]
+
+		if "check_access" in data:
+			request_check_access = data["check_access"]
+			if not isinstance(request_check_access, list):
+				request_check_access = list(request_check_access)
+
+			check_access = [check for check in request_check_access if check in ("r", "w", "x")]
+
+		exists = os.path.exists(path)
+
+		# check if path exists
+		type_mapping = dict(file=os.path.isfile, dir=os.path.isdir)
+		if check_type:
+			typeok = type_mapping[check_type](path)
+		else:
+			typeok = True
+
+		# check if path allows requested access
+		access_mapping = dict(r=os.R_OK, w=os.W_OK, x=os.X_OK)
+		if check_access:
+			access = os.access(path, reduce(lambda x, y: x | y, map(lambda a: access_mapping[a], check_access)))
+		else:
+			access = True
+
+		return jsonify(path=path, exists=exists, typeok=typeok, access=access, result=exists and typeok and access)
+
+	elif command == "url":
+		import requests
+
+		class StatusCodeRange(object):
+			def __init__(self, start=None, end=None):
+				self.start = start
+				self.end = end
+
+			def __contains__(self, item):
+				if not isinstance(item, int):
+					return False
+				if self.start and self.end:
+					return self.start <= item < self.end
+				elif self.start:
+					return self.start <= item
+				elif self.end:
+					return item < self.end
+				else:
+					return False
+
+		status_ranges = dict(
+			informational=StatusCodeRange(start=100,end=200),
+			success=StatusCodeRange(start=200,end=300),
+			redirection=StatusCodeRange(start=300,end=400),
+			client_error=StatusCodeRange(start=400,end=500),
+			server_error=StatusCodeRange(start=500),
+			normal=StatusCodeRange(end=400),
+			error=StatusCodeRange(start=400),
+			any=StatusCodeRange(start=100)
+		)
+
+		url = data["url"]
+		method = "HEAD"
+		check_status = [status_ranges["normal"]]
+
+		if "method" in data:
+			method = data["method"]
+
+		if "status" in data:
+			request_status = data["status"]
+			if not isinstance(request_status, list):
+				request_status = [request_status]
+
+			check_status = []
+			for rs in request_status:
+				if rs in status_ranges:
+					check_status.append(status_ranges[rs])
+				else:
+					code = requests.codes[rs]
+					if code is not None:
+						check_status.append([code])
+
+		try:
+			response = requests.request(method=method, url=url)
+			status = reduce(lambda x, y: x and response.status_code in y, check_status)
+		except:
+			status = False
+
+		return jsonify(url=url, status=response.status_code, result=status)
diff --git a/src/octoprint/util/paths.py b/src/octoprint/util/paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89a45ba3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/octoprint/util/paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# coding=utf-8
+from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+__author__ = "Gina Häußge <osd@foosel.net>"
+__license__ = 'GNU Affero General Public License http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html'
+__copyright__ = "Copyright (C) 2015 The OctoPrint Project - Released under terms of the AGPLv3 License"
+
+def normalize(path, expand_user=True, expand_vars=True, **kwargs):
+	import os
+
+	if path is None:
+		return None
+
+	if expand_user:
+		path = os.path.expanduser(path)
+	if expand_vars:
+		path = os.path.expandvars(path)
+	path = os.path.realpath(os.path.abspath(path))
+	return path