easy_install pip == [Errno 8] nodename nor servname provided, or not known

Question

I have troubles installing pip for python 2.7.3 installed via pythonbrew:

pythonbrew update --master
pythonbrew install 2.7.3 --force

This fails on the final stage hanging when trying to fetch pip from pip.openplans.org:

Installed /Users/andrei/.pythonbrew/pythons/Python-2.7.3/lib/python2.7/site-packages/distribute-0.6.28-py2.7.egg
Processing dependencies for distribute==0.6.28
Finished processing dependencies for distribute==0.6.28
After install bootstrap.
Don't have permissions to write /Users/andrei/.pythonbrew/pythons/Python-2.7.3/lib/python2.7/site-packages/setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg-info, skipping
Creating /Users/andrei/.pythonbrew/pythons/Python-2.7.3/lib/python2.7/site-packages/setuptools-0.6c11-py2.7.egg-info
Creating /Users/andrei/.pythonbrew/pythons/Python-2.7.3/lib/python2.7/site-packages/setuptools.pth
Searching for pip
Reading http://pypi.python.org/simple/pip/
Reading http://pip.openplans.org
Download error on http://pip.openplans.org: [Errno 8] nodename nor servname provided, or not known -- Some packages may not be found!
Reading http://pip.openplans.org
Download error on http://pip.openplans.org: [Errno 8] nodename nor servname provided, or not known -- Some packages may not be found!
Reading http://pip.openplans.org
...

Running easy_install pip also results in the same error. Of course, I can still clone pip repo and install it manually, but would be nice to know why it fails via easy_install. Any idea?

Update:

$ host pip.openplans.org
pip.openplans.org is an alias for puffin.oddbird.net.
puffin.oddbird.net has address 173.203.85.138

Can't reproduce that here. What does `host pip.openplans.org` give you? — Martijn Pieters, Aug 13 '12 at 09:33
And running `dscacheutil -flushcache` doesn't improve things? — Martijn Pieters, Aug 13 '12 at 09:37
Yeah! That worked! Thanks a lot! Please, make it as an answer for other users to know. — Andrei, Aug 13 '12 at 09:41
There you go, but your question could also be closed as `Too localized`. It is certainly not a problem specific to python, pip or easy-install. — Martijn Pieters, Aug 13 '12 at 09:51

score 14 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 15 '16 at 16:15

14

I had a similar problem; the command was failing in iTerm2, but not in the default OS X Terminal. Restarting iTerm2 fixed the issue.

answered Aug 15 '16 at 16:15

WindChimes

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Ughh spent an hour on this issue until I saw this. Thanks for the correct solution. – David Corbin Jun 13 '17 at 21:12
I'd love to know what causes iterm to do this. This happens when trying to use ssh sometimes too. Very bizarre. – Chris Nov 25 '18 at 23:47

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 13 '12 at 09:51

Two things might be wrong:

The DNS lookup is failing for pip.openplans.org; test with host pip.openplans.org. This could be a local problem; test against the Google DNS servers too with host pip.openplans.org 8.8.8.8 and host pip.openplans.org 8.8.4.4. If all these lookups fail, sacrifice a chicken to the Internet Gods and wait for improvement.
If the DNS lookup is not failing, but the install is, then your local DNS cache might be holding on to a negative lookup. Flush it with the command dscacheutil -flushcache.

`sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder` is the proper way to clear the cache if using OSX 10.7 or 10.8. — FreeAsInBeer, Dec 21 '12 at 19:51

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 03 '15 at 10:57

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To me, turning WiFi on and off again helped on Max OS X Yosemite.

answered Mar 03 '15 at 10:57

Hauke

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Oddly enough, I have lost hours trying to use kafka-python in Mac OS X and I always got "nodename nor servname provided or not known" and I had no idea why. It is running locally and I wasn't expecting a problem with dns or whatever. I tried to turn off wifi as you said, without expecting much, and somehow this worked. I just need to start kafka with no wifi. It is is boring, but I will save some time while I can't find another solution. – Ataias Reis May 21 '16 at 08:01

easy_install pip == [Errno 8] nodename nor servname provided, or not known

Update:

3 Answers3