code: private SocketChannel connect( URI transportURI ) throws PacketTransportException
      {
          String host = transportURI.getHost();
          int port = transportURI.getPort();
          
          try
          {
          	SocketChannel socketChannel = SocketChannel.open();
          	socketChannel.configureBlocking(false);
          	SocketUtils.setupSocket(socketChannel.socket(),
          			                socketSendBufferSize,
          			                socketRecvBufferSize);
          	        	
              log.debug("#"+id+" opening a TCP connection to "+host+":"+port);
              socketChannel.connect(new InetSocketAddress(host,port));
              
              return socketChannel;
          }
          catch (Exception e)
          {
              log.error("#"+id+" could not connect to "+host+":"+port,e);
              throw new PacketTransportException("Could not connect to "+host+":"+port+" : "+e.toString());
          }
      }
docs: Connect the transport to its remote endpoint