title: Getting a machine's external IP address with Python
body: <p>Looking for a better way to get a machines current external IP #... Below works, but would rather not rely on an outside site to gather the information ... I am restricted to using standard Python 2.5.1 libraries bundled with Mac OS X 10.5.x</p>
  
  <pre><code>import os
  import urllib2
  
  def check_in():
  
      fqn = os.uname()[1]
      ext_ip = urllib2.urlopen('http://whatismyip.org').read()
      print ("Asset: %s " % fqn, "Checking in from IP#: %s " % ext_ip)
  </code></pre>