Getting strange connection refused behavior

I have a express nodejs application that has just recently exhibited strange 'connection refused' behavior. It probably is related to my upgrade of nodejs - to version 6.10.0 (and I also tried 7.9.0). Even if the upgrade is the start of the cause, I would like to understand why this is happening.

The behavior is: Consistently, it alternates between successfully bringing up the application, and getting a 'connection refused error'. This pattern is consistent. I like consistency - as opposed to intermittency - but I am having difficulty knowing where to start looking.

You see this for yourself, at http://162.243.254.205:1880/ (node 7.9.0)

When I get a "refused to connect", Chrome Devtools shows all files "connection refused". Reloading the url is then repeatedly successful. ie.

:1880/ritc_style.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/bootstrap/css/bootstrap.min.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/orion/built-editor.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/jquery/css/smoothness/jquery-ui-1.10.3.custom.min.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/jsonviewer/jsonviewer.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/font-awesome/css/font-awesome.min.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
:1880/style.css Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
jquery-1.11.1.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
bootstrap.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
jquery-ui-1.10.3.custom.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
jquery.ui.touch-punch.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
jquery.confirm.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
tinymce.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
marked.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
built-editor.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
ace.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
ext-language_tools.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
d3.v3.min.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
main.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
settings.js Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED

...

The 'connection refused' message makes it look like a network issue. However, if I substitute a simple test on the server (a helloworld express app) I do not get this behavior, so it must have something to do with nodejs.

I am at a loss!

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Colin Goldberg

via Colin G