problem with SocketServer -- address already in use

[Gordon McMillan]

Phil Hunt wrote:

> I'm trying to use SocketServer.py to write a TCP server. I ran
> my program with ``python serv.py'', which went into an infinite loop
> (which is what it should do). I exited my program with ^Z, and tried
> to start it up again. I got an error message:
> 
> socket.error: (98, 'Address already in use')
> 
> which I presume is because something thinks the old invokation of my
> program is still using port 7070. 
> 
> How do I clear the port, before I start up my server?

Three non-exclusive optons:

1) Wait. It will eventually go away.

2) Use a try:... finally: ... and close the bound socket in the 
finally clause.

3) Before binding the socket, use setsockopt(SOL_SOCKET, 
SO_REUSEADDR, 1)

Once it has happened, (1) is your only viable alternative.

- Gordon