i got zero issues to connect in eve. So its for sure its your internet provider. Dont spam or blame a company for some problems when there is for sure its your internet problem. Send report use bug report and let ccp see if the can fixs it on there side of the internet but i guess its yours internet

It's not CCP.

A) It works through a VPN which is a virtual network connected directly to CCPs servers with no outside interference.
B) It's is not affecting everyone including myself.
C)I have seen my roommate get this same message on 2 of the 4 multibox clients running on the same computer off the same router as I am.

Based on these 3 pieces of data that everyone seems to ignore, it is not CCP. My earlier post was for diagnostics purposes. I am noticing clients with ISPs that use fiber optic lines in there infrastructures regardless if they are cable, DSL or what not are having this issue the most. Or, at least that is where the data is leading me. We need more information on what exactly is causing this issue and a way to reproduce the issue to determine a fix.

I've also noticed another valid point brought up earlier as I am typing this... The test servers work fine and they are running various test versions of Retribution. Maybe CCP realized what the issue is and fixed it. It doesn't mean it was on CCPs side, it just means they figured out where the problem is and took initiative to work around it since the actual fix was going to take forever and completely out of their control maybe? Not stating facts, Just brainstorming aloud and looking for positive feedback and thoughts.

I say wait until after December 4th to see if that resolves it. I just wish CCP would be able to shed more light on this issue.

All of this is why I suggested CCP's own article on pingplotter above as it will regularly check the route and you can see where the issue is. Had a couple of "socket closed" tonight and already pingplotter is showing heavy packet losses (upwards of 30%) at an item of equipment assigned to above.net one hop out from CCP's servers.

Until my ISP hands off to the above.net equipment I'm getting a ping time of less than 20ms.

If it's not their equipment that's all they CAN tell you and take it up with the equipment owner. It then depends on that equipment owner's SLAs to CCP and others who may came off the connection in the same data centre. If they can't take it down as it's a single point of failure (which shouldn't normally be the case) without breaching an SLA then they will weigh it up against any penalty clauses.

Just got the nefarious "socket closed" issue again. I could be online and playing for roughly 2.5 minutes to 5 mins. before getting "kicked", and eventually itll just give me the message at character selection. Doesn't seem like there's any real solution. I see people arguing even on the forums here, as to what may the cause may be, let alone, the solution.

not quite sure how I can help the situation but i'd love a simple answer, especially if its something i can do on my end. does VPN help? Im hearing Port Triggering/ Forwarding.... and now it seems to be caused by fiber optic lines.

This happens way too often. At least once a week for a few days at a time.

Problem is fixed for me easily!
That's how you could fix it, too:

Just disconnect from your Home Network on Windows 7 if you've connected your Computer to another.

This worked perfectly for me.
Problem solved.
Also it fixes some crash-problems in other games I've found out but I don't want to advertise ;D

Greets,

Shinni.