[java] How to set a Timer in Java?

How to set a Timer, say for 2 minutes, to try to connect to a Database then throw exception if there is any issue in connection?

Ok, I think I understand your problem now. You can use a Future to try to do something and then timeout after a bit if nothing has happened.

E.g.:

FutureTask<Void> task = new FutureTask<Void>(new Callable<Void>() {
  @Override
  public Void call() throws Exception {
    // Do DB stuff
    return null;
  }
});

Executor executor = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor();
executor.execute(task);

try {
  task.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
}
catch(Exception ex) {
  // Handle your exception
}

[Android] if someone looking to implement timer on android using java.

you need use UI thread like this to perform operations.

Timer timer = new Timer();
timer.schedule(new TimerTask() {
           @Override
            public void run() {
                ActivityName.this.runOnUiThread(new Runnable(){
                    @Override
                      public void run() {
                       // do something
                      }        
                });
            }
        }, 2000));

Use this

long startTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
long elapsedTime = 0L.

while (elapsedTime < 2*60*1000) {
    //perform db poll/check
    elapsedTime = (new Date()).getTime() - startTime;
}

//Throw your exception

    new java.util.Timer().schedule(new TimerTask(){
        @Override
        public void run() {
            System.out.println("Executed...");
           //your code here 
           //1000*5=5000 mlsec. i.e. 5 seconds. u can change accordngly 
        }
    },1000*5,1000*5);