         }
 
         var host :String = _client.getHostname();
-        var pportKey :String = host + ".preferred_port";
         var pport :int = ports[0];
         var ppidx :int = Math.max(0, ports.indexOf(pport));
         var port :int = (ports[(_portIdx + ppidx) % ports.length] as int);

        _outStream = new ObjectOutputStream(_outBuffer);
        _inStream = new ObjectInputStream();

        // create our message writer
        _writer = new Timer(1);
        _writer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, sendPendingMessages);

        _portIdx = 0;
        logonToPort();
    }


    public function postMessage (msg :UpstreamMessage) :void
    {
        if (_writer == null) {
            log.warning("Posting message prior to opening socket", "msg", msg);
        }
        _outq.push(msg);
    }

