def open(self):
        """
        Open a connection to the AMQP compliant broker.
        """
        self._connection = \
          amqp.Connection(host='%s:%s' % (self.hostname, self.port),
                          userid=self.username, password=self.password,
                          virtual_host=self.virtual_host, insist=False)
        self.channel = self._connection.channel()
Open a connection to the AMQP compliant broker.