Socket Error: WSAEWOULDBLOCK

NOTE: If this error occurred while trying to establish an FTP data connection, also see this: https://cknotes.com/?p=282

A WSAEWOULDBLOCK error when trying to establish a TCP/IP socket connection indicates one of the following conditions:

  1. A firewall at either the client or server side is blocking the connection.
  2. There is no server listening at the remote host:port to accept the connection
  3. Some other software, such as an anti-virus or anti-spyware program is blocking the connection.
  4. The server was too slow in accepting the connection.  Increase the value of the ConnectTimeout property.

You may open a DOS prompt and try to telnet to the remote host:port to test connectivity. This page provides more information: WSAEWOULDBLOCK

Note: It is impossible for the client to distinguish between any of the cases described above.  It’s similar to if you were knocking on a door and nobody answers — you have no information — you don’t know if the person simply chose not to answer the door, if the person is not home, or if the person simply cannot hear the knocking.  In all cases, the client’s knowledge is the same: there is no response and you have to decide how long you’re willing to wait…