diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e1f1cb2..805ff04 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,120 +59,6 @@ Tests are not yet 100% complete.
 | max_flush_exceptions | Number | Number of sequential flushes which cause an exception, before we stop logstash. Set to a value less than 1 if you never want it to stop. This should be carefully configured with relation to idle_flush_time if your SQL instance is not highly available. | No | 0 |
 
 ## Example configurations
+Example logstash configurations, can now be found in the examples directory. Where possible we try to link every configuration with a tested jar.
+
 If you have a working sample configuration, for a DB thats not listed, pull requests are welcome.
-
-### SQLite3
-  * Tested using https://bitbucket.org/xerial/sqlite-jdbc
-  * SQLite setup - `echo "CREATE table log (host text, timestamp datetime, message text);" | sqlite3 test.db`
-```
-input
-{
-	stdin { }
-}
-output {
-	stdout { }
-
-	jdbc {
-		connection_string => 'jdbc:sqlite:test.db'
-		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-	}
-}
-```
-
-### SQL Server
-  * Tested using http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/sqlserver/aa937724.aspx
-```
-input
-{
-	stdin { }
-}
-output {
-	jdbc {
-		connection_string => "jdbc:sqlserver://server:1433;databaseName=databasename;user=username;password=password;autoReconnect=true;"
-		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-	}
-}
-```
-
-### Postgres
-With thanks to [@roflmao](https://github.com/roflmao)
-```
-input
-{
-	stdin { }
-}
-output {
-	jdbc {
-		connection_string => 'jdbc:postgresql://hostname:5432/database?user=username&password=password'
-		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-	}
-}
-```
-
-### Oracle
-With thanks to [@josemazo](https://github.com/josemazo)
-  * Tested with Express Edition 11g Release 2
-  * Tested using http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/jdbc-112010-090769.html (ojdbc6.jar)
-```
-input
-{
-	stdin { }
-}
-output {
-	jdbc {
-		connection_string => "jdbc:oracle:thin:USER/PASS@HOST:PORT:SID"
-		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-	}
-}
-```
-
-### Mysql
-With thanks to [@jMonsinjon](https://github.com/jMonsinjon) 
-  * Tested with Version 14.14 Distrib 5.5.43, for debian-linux-gnu (x86_64)
-  * Tested using http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/file.php?id=457911 (mysql-connector-java-5.1.36-bin.jar)
-```
-input
-{
-	stdin { }
-}
-output {
-	jdbc {
-		connection_string => "jdbc:mysql://HOSTNAME/DATABASE?user=USER&password=PASSWORD"
-		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-	}
-}
-```
-
-### MariaDB
-  * Tested with Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS, Server version: 10.1.9-MariaDB-1~trusty-log mariadb.org binary distribution
-  * Tested using https://downloads.mariadb.com/enterprise/tqge-whfa/connectors/java/connector-java-1.3.2/mariadb-java-client-1.3.2.jar (mariadb-java-client-1.3.2.jar)
-```
-input
-{
-    stdin { }
-}
-output {
-    jdbc {
-        connection_string => "jdbc:mariadb://HOSTNAME/DATABASE?user=USER&password=PASSWORD"
-        statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-    }
-
-}
-```
-
-### Apache Phoenix (HBase SQL)
-  * Tested with Ubuntu 14.04.03 / Logstash 2.1 / Apache Phoenix 4.6
-  * <!> HBase and Zookeeper must be both accessible from logstash machine <!>
-```
-input
-{
-    stdin { }
-}
-output {
-    jdbc {
-        connection_string => "jdbc:phoenix:ZOOKEEPER_HOSTNAME"
-        statement => [ "UPSERT INTO EVENTS log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
-    }
-
-}
-```
diff --git a/examples/apache-phoenix-hbase-sql.md b/examples/apache-phoenix-hbase-sql.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bfb3fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/apache-phoenix-hbase-sql.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Example: Apache Phoenix (HBase SQL)
+  * Tested with Ubuntu 14.04.03 / Logstash 2.1 / Apache Phoenix 4.6
+  * <!> HBase and Zookeeper must be both accessible from logstash machine <!>
+```
+input
+{
+    stdin { }
+}
+output {
+    jdbc {
+        connection_string => "jdbc:phoenix:ZOOKEEPER_HOSTNAME"
+        statement => [ "UPSERT INTO EVENTS log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+    }
+
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/mariadb.md b/examples/mariadb.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eaf9856
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/mariadb.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Example: MariaDB
+  * Tested with Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS, Server version: 10.1.9-MariaDB-1~trusty-log mariadb.org binary distribution
+  * Tested using https://downloads.mariadb.com/enterprise/tqge-whfa/connectors/java/connector-java-1.3.2/mariadb-java-client-1.3.2.jar (mariadb-java-client-1.3.2.jar)
+```
+input
+{
+    stdin { }
+}
+output {
+    jdbc {
+        connection_string => "jdbc:mariadb://HOSTNAME/DATABASE?user=USER&password=PASSWORD"
+        statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+    }
+
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/mysql.md b/examples/mysql.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9241d45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/mysql.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Example: Mysql
+With thanks to [@jMonsinjon](https://github.com/jMonsinjon) 
+  * Tested with Version 14.14 Distrib 5.5.43, for debian-linux-gnu (x86_64)
+  * Tested using http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/file.php?id=457911 (mysql-connector-java-5.1.36-bin.jar)
+```
+input
+{
+	stdin { }
+}
+output {
+	jdbc {
+		connection_string => "jdbc:mysql://HOSTNAME/DATABASE?user=USER&password=PASSWORD"
+		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+	}
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/odps.md b/examples/odps.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4650db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/odps.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Example: ODPS
+With thanks to [@onesuper](https://github.com/onesuper)
+```
+input
+{
+    stdin { }
+}
+output {
+    jdbc {
+        driver_class => "com.aliyun.odps.jdbc.OdpsDriver"
+        driver_auto_commit => false
+        connection_string => "jdbc:odps:http://service.odps.aliyun.com/api?project=meta_dev&loglevel=DEBUG"
+        username => "abcd"
+        password => "1234"
+        max_pool_size => 5
+        flush_size => 10
+        statement => [ "INSERT INTO test_logstash VALUES(?, ?, ?);", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+    }
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/oracle.md b/examples/oracle.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e33f62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/oracle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Example: Oracle
+With thanks to [@josemazo](https://github.com/josemazo)
+  * Tested with Express Edition 11g Release 2
+  * Tested using http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/enterprise-edition/jdbc-112010-090769.html (ojdbc6.jar)
+```
+input
+{
+	stdin { }
+}
+output {
+	jdbc {
+		connection_string => "jdbc:oracle:thin:USER/PASS@HOST:PORT:SID"
+		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+	}
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/postgres.md b/examples/postgres.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39a3a66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/postgres.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Example: Postgres
+With thanks to [@roflmao](https://github.com/roflmao)
+```
+input
+{
+	stdin { }
+}
+output {
+	jdbc {
+		connection_string => 'jdbc:postgresql://hostname:5432/database?user=username&password=password'
+		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, CAST (? AS timestamp), ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+	}
+}
+```
+
diff --git a/examples/sql-server.md b/examples/sql-server.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59064e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sql-server.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Example: SQL Server
+  * Tested using http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/sqlserver/aa937724.aspx
+```
+input
+{
+	stdin { }
+}
+output {
+	jdbc {
+		connection_string => "jdbc:sqlserver://server:1433;databaseName=databasename;user=username;password=password;autoReconnect=true;"
+		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+	}
+}
+```
diff --git a/examples/sqlite.md b/examples/sqlite.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e421bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/sqlite.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Example: SQLite3
+  * Tested using https://bitbucket.org/xerial/sqlite-jdbc
+  * SQLite setup - `echo "CREATE table log (host text, timestamp datetime, message text);" | sqlite3 test.db`
+```
+input
+{
+	stdin { }
+}
+output {
+	stdout { }
+
+	jdbc {
+		connection_string => 'jdbc:sqlite:test.db'
+		statement => [ "INSERT INTO log (host, timestamp, message) VALUES(?, ?, ?)", "host", "@timestamp", "message" ]
+	}
+}
+```
diff --git a/lib/logstash/outputs/jdbc.rb b/lib/logstash/outputs/jdbc.rb
index 1db7d45..ba41064 100644
--- a/lib/logstash/outputs/jdbc.rb
+++ b/lib/logstash/outputs/jdbc.rb
@@ -83,19 +83,6 @@ class LogStash::Outputs::Jdbc < LogStash::Outputs::Base
 
     load_jar_files!
 
-    @pool = Java::ComZaxxerHikari::HikariDataSource.new
-
-    @pool.setAutoCommit(@driver_auto_commit)
-    @pool.setDriverClassName(@driver_class) if @driver_class
-
-    @pool.setJdbcUrl(@connection_string)
-
-    @pool.setUsername(@username) if @username
-    @pool.setPassword(@password) if @password
-
-    @pool.setMaximumPoolSize(@max_pool_size)
-    @pool.setConnectionTimeout(@connection_timeout)
-
     @exceptions_tracker = RingBuffer.new(@max_flush_exceptions)
 
     if (@flush_size > 1000)
@@ -109,6 +96,8 @@ class LogStash::Outputs::Jdbc < LogStash::Outputs::Base
     if (!@unsafe_statement and @statement.length < 2) 
       @logger.error("JDBC - Statement has no parameters. No events will be inserted into SQL as you're not passing any event data. Likely configuration error.")
     end
+
+    setup_and_test_pool!
     
     buffer_initialize(
       :max_items => @flush_size,
@@ -152,6 +141,29 @@ class LogStash::Outputs::Jdbc < LogStash::Outputs::Base
 
   private
 
+  def setup_and_test_pool!  
+    # Setup pool
+    @pool = Java::ComZaxxerHikari::HikariDataSource.new
+
+    @pool.setAutoCommit(@driver_auto_commit)
+    @pool.setDriverClassName(@driver_class) if @driver_class
+
+    @pool.setJdbcUrl(@connection_string)
+
+    @pool.setUsername(@username) if @username
+    @pool.setPassword(@password) if @password
+
+    @pool.setMaximumPoolSize(@max_pool_size)
+    @pool.setConnectionTimeout(@connection_timeout)
+
+    # Test connection
+    test_connection = @pool.getConnection()
+    unless test_connection.isValid(10)
+      @logger.error("JDBC - Connection is not valid. Please check connection string or that your JDBC endpoint is available.")
+    end
+    test_connection.close()
+  end
+
   def load_jar_files!
     # Load jar from driver path
     unless @driver_jar_path.nil?
diff --git a/logstash-output-jdbc.gemspec b/logstash-output-jdbc.gemspec
index cb0b812..f04d1e4 100644
--- a/logstash-output-jdbc.gemspec
+++ b/logstash-output-jdbc.gemspec
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name = 'logstash-output-jdbc'
-  s.version = "0.2.2.rc1"
+  s.version = "0.2.2"
   s.licenses = [ "Apache License (2.0)" ]
   s.summary = "This plugin allows you to output to SQL, via JDBC"
   s.description = "This gem is a logstash plugin required to be installed on top of the Logstash core pipeline using $LS_HOME/bin/plugin install gemname. This gem is not a stand-alone program"