'Try to connect to the given host/port. Does not lookup for SRV record.
Returns non-empty string on success.'

def connect(self, server=None):

    try:
        if (not server):
            server = self._server
        self._sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
        self._sock.connect((server[0], int(server[1])))
        self._send = self._sock.sendall
        self._recv = self._sock.recv
        self.DEBUG(('Successfully    connected    to    remote    host    %s' % `server`), 'start')
        return 'ok'
    except socket.error as (errno, strerror):
        self.DEBUG(('Failed    to    connect    to    remote    host    %s:    %s    (%s)' % (`server`, strerror, errno)), 'error')
    except:
        pass
