PayPal EC API error

Yesterday I received this error as someone was checking out using PayPal Express checkout:

- (6) Couldn't resolve host 'api-3t.paypal.com'

I received the order and payment fine. But I have noticed that the paypal pages are running very slow when I do a test order.

I contacted Paypal and this is the response I received:

You're using a wrong endpint. Take a look at the list below and make sure you are using the correct one.

Endpoints:
Live API Certificate Name-Value Pair https://api.paypal.com/nvp
Live API Signature Name-Value Pair https://api-3t.paypal.com/nvp
Live API Certificate SOAP https://api.paypal.com/2.0/
Live API Signature SOAP https://api-3t.paypal.com/2.0/
Sandbox API Certificate Name-Value Pair https://api.sandbox.paypal.com/nvp
Sandbox API Signature Name-Value Pair https://api.sandbox.paypal.com/nvp
Sandbox API Certificate SOAP https://api.sandbox.paypal.com/2.0/
Sandbox API Signature SOAP https://api.sandbox.paypal.com/2.0/


I am not sure what to do with this information and I am looking for some guidance.

I have 1.3.8 (some of 1.3.8a)
latest PayPal patch

Zen Cart is correctly using the required endpoint:

Quote:

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Live API Signature Name-Value Pair https://api-3t.paypal.com/nvp

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PayPal has been having problems with some of their "3t" servers since their recent maintenance updates in the last couple weeks. You might get more attention if you keep complaining to them when the problem occurs.

Additionally, if the "cannot resolve host" message is constant, you may have a problem on your hosting company's webserver with respect to DNS lookups, and should be reporting the matter to them.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for more errors and talk with my host if necessary.

:D

I've having this same problem quite frequently. Sometimes 20 times in a day. It's been going on for the past week and is very frustrating.

I reported it to PayPal and they basically said they couldn't figure it out because it was intermitant. They requested I ping their server right when it happens. As you can imagine, that's pretty much impossible.

I am still getting this error intermittently. In addition I received this error this morning:

10002 Authentication/Authorization Failed - Internal Error

I have sent a follow up email to PayPal support. I suspect a misconfiguration with my API settings since I recently moved my store to a new domain. Still doesn't explain why these issues showed up over a month after the fact. I am concerned because these issues are hurting conversions.

I will post any responses I receive. Also sending a support ticket to my host.

Still no answer from PayPal about the API error. They did respond to my inquiry about this error:

10002 Authentication/Authorization Failed - Internal Error

Quote:

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This error occurs because you need to set your permissions in your PayPal account. In order for a third party to make API calls on your behalf, you have to explicitly grant them permission to do so.

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I could not find any instructions from the zen-cart instructions for this. So I think this is just a lazy answer?

I sent a follow-up about the API error - which they have so far ignored.

Zen Cart does not use the permission-based API method.

Quote:

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10002 Authentication/Authorization Failed - Internal Error

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An "internal error" would be an error that was happening internally at PayPal.
Unless your debug logs show more details in the "long message" text accompanying the short message, then you're at the mercy of PayPal tech staff to tell you what's really causing it and to fix it.

I had the same problem for the last 3 days and finally the issue was resolved, so here are some pointers:
1- Using Paypal standard payment worked but not the express checkout option, I was getting same message (6) Couldn't resolve host 'api-3t.paypal.com'. I was having the same problem with the UPS shipping and USPS shipping modules. In a nutshell every time I was trying to reach an outside server, it was failing
2- I have my own vps server and have many websites, and the problem was the same on all websites so it was not site related but server related.
3- Looking around forums, I finally found a temporary solution which consisted of changing the scripts in question. For example for UPS in the file includes/modules/shipping/ups.php on line 388 I replaced
if ($http->Connect('www.ups.com',80)) by
if ($http->Connect('153.2.228.50',80)) which is the IP address of the UPS server.
Note that this is a quick fix that will not resolve the larger problem at hand.
4- The real problem was that there has been an update of cpanel that created the problem and my hosting provider kept on ignoring that fact ( they usually wont admit to a problem being their responsibility). After 3 days of bugging them, they finally found the problem and solution on their end and ALL the problems disappeared as they appeared, instantly!!!
So basically if you run into this kind of problems it is most likely a server related problem. I am posting this hoping it will help some people from going thru the same loss of time I did and because often on these threads people don't post what the solution of the problem was (which is frustrating).

I never posted a solution because the problem has not come up in the last few weeks. Whether it was my host or paypal, the issue appears resolved. Since I don't know what the exact problem was, I couldn't post a solution. Your workaround gives one possible resolution!