intermittent smtp module problems (with sendmail) in python 2.2.1

[Karl Ehr]

Christopher T King <squirrel at WPI.EDU> wrote in message news:<Pine.LNX.4.44.0408041442380.14974-100000 at ccc9.wpi.edu>...
> On 4 Aug 2004, Karl Ehr wrote:
> 
> > I have written the following simple program to monitor a single URL,
> > and notify me via email whenever this URL changes.    Intermittently,
> > I raise the following exception:
> > 
> > smtplib.SMTPServerDisconnected: Connection unexpectedly closed
> 
> This is probably happening because of a timeout on the SMTP server.  Try 
> moving this line:
> 
> > server = smtplib.SMTP('localhost') # server to relay smtp through for
> 
> To right in front of where you use it:
> 
> >     server.set_debuglevel(1)
> >     server.sendmail(sourceAddress, emailAddress, message)
> >     server.quit()
> 
> the SMTP() constructor doesn't just set up a connection (and open it on 
> .sendmail()); it opens the connection when it's called and leaves it open 
> until you call .quit() (or delete the object).

Aha!!   Thank you this works fine now... I'll keep that snag in mind
when referencing other "external" apps in the future...