docs: private SocketChannel createLeaderSocket(
              SocketAddress hostAddr,
              ConnectStrategy mode) throws IOException
      {
          SocketChannel socket;
          int connectAttempts = 0;
          do {
              try {
                  socket = SocketChannel.open();
                  socket.socket().connect(hostAddr, 5000);
              }
              catch (java.net.ConnectException
                    |java.nio.channels.UnresolvedAddressException
                    |java.net.NoRouteToHostException
                    |java.net.PortUnreachableException e)
              {
                  // reset the socket to null for loop purposes
                  socket = null;
  
                  if (mode == ConnectStrategy.PROBE) {
                      return null;
                  }
                  if ((++connectAttempts % 8) == 0) {
                      LOG.warn("Joining primary failed: " + e + " retrying..");
                  }
                  try {
                      Thread.sleep(250); //  milliseconds
                  }
                  catch (InterruptedException dontcare) {}
              }
          } while (socket == null);
          return socket;
      }