code: def _connect(self):
          
          # Create socket
          if self.udpport > 0:
              self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
              self.port = self.udpport
          elif self.tcpport > 0:
              self.socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
              self.port = self.tcpport
          if socket is None:
              # Log Error
              self.log.error("StatsiteHandler: Unable to create socket.")
              # Close Socket
              self._close()
              return
          # Set socket timeout
          self.socket.settimeout(self.timeout)
          # Connect to statsite server
          try:
              self.socket.connect((self.host, self.port))
              # Log
              self.log.debug("Established connection to statsite server %s:%d",
                             self.host, self.port)
          except Exception as ex:
              # Log Error
              self.log.error("StatsiteHandler: Failed to connect to %s:%i. %s",
                             self.host, self.port, ex)
              # Close Socket
              self._close()
              return
docs: Connect to the statsite server