import socket

HOST = "127.0.0.1"
PORT = 9999

payload = b"ping\0"

with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as s:
    s.connect((HOST, PORT))
    while True:
        try:
            s.sendall(payload)
            print("> ping")
        except Exception as e:
            break
        reply = s.recv(1024).decode()
        if reply == "":
            break
        print(f"< {reply}")
    print("connection shut down")