Can't Access ANY url from python (errno 61)

[Chris Rebert]

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 5:06 PM, MattB <mattbarkan at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Feb 19, 7:20 pm, MattB <mattbar... at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Feb 19, 6:02 pm, "Martin P. Hellwig" <martin.hell... at dcuktec.org>
>> wrote:
>> > On 02/19/10 21:48, MattB wrote:
>> > > Hey all,
>>
>> > > I've been working on a program that accesses my school's password
>> > > protected website and downloads directory names. I'm using mechanize.
>>
>> > > Recently, the program has been unable to open the website, returning
>> > > the 'errno 61 connection refused' error. I presume the school's server
>> > > was blocking me because of many automated logins.
>>
>> > Being a former school BOFH, I can assure you that if I was annoyed by
>> > your 'misuse' I would have tracked you down and made you aware of it.
>>
>> > > However, it turns out that I cannot now open ANY url from within
>> > > Python on my computer using mechanize (or urllib for that matter).
>> > > And I've tried in several places -- my place, a friend's place (who
>> > > also has comcast as an ISP) and the school -- but no dice, constant
>> > > errno 61's whenever I try to open a url.
>>
>> > As mentioned by Jonathan Gardener, this is most likely a proxy gateway.
>>
>> > > The strangest thing about this is that firefox still works flawlessly
>> > > on any site.
>>
>> > Your system might have been centrally configure so that applications are
>> > aware of the proxy, firefox probably has been piggybacking on those
>> > settings (as it should). Most platforms can be made aware of a proxy by
>> > a DHCP option send by the DHCP server (that is when you automatically
>> > get an IP address).
>>
>> > > Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
<snip>
> Breakthrough:
>
> I tried switching from a wireless connection to my router, and instead
> used an ethernet connection -- and now everything works.
>
> Why would this make a difference? MAC address? Is it possible for an
> external server to see my MAC address and block it? Clearly wasn't an
> IP address issue!

If you're using the campus network and depending on the exact network
details, yes, they very likely can know your MAC address and thus
block it.
Since your Wi-Fi card and Ethernet card have different hardware MAC
addresses, yes, switching would change your visible MAC address, thus
circumventing any blocks based on it.

Cheers,
Chris
--
Hi ACMS!
http://blog.rebertia.com