Fixed the semantic of timeout for socket.create_connection and
all the upper level libraries that use it, including urllib2.
Added and fixed some tests, and changed docs correspondingly.
Thanks to John J Lee for the patch and the pusing, :)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ftplib.py b/Lib/test/test_ftplib.py
index 5f961d2..c7cd3a5 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ftplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ftplib.py
@@ -53,35 +53,52 @@
         # connects
         ftp = ftplib.FTP(HOST)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
+        ftp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
-        # default
-        ftp = ftplib.FTP(HOST)
+        # default -- use global socket timeout
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            ftp = ftplib.FTP("localhost")
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+        self.evt.wait()
+        ftp.close()
+
+    def testTimeoutNone(self):
+        # no timeout -- do not use global socket timeout
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            ftp = ftplib.FTP("localhost", timeout=None)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertTrue(ftp.sock.gettimeout() is None)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
+        ftp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutValue(self):
         # a value
         ftp = ftplib.FTP(HOST, timeout=30)
         self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
+        ftp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutConnect(self):
         ftp = ftplib.FTP()
         ftp.connect(HOST, timeout=30)
         self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
+        ftp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDifferentOrder(self):
         ftp = ftplib.FTP(timeout=30)
         ftp.connect(HOST)
         self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
+        ftp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDirectAccess(self):
         ftp = ftplib.FTP()
@@ -89,18 +106,6 @@
         ftp.connect(HOST)
         self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         self.evt.wait()
-        ftp.sock.close()
-
-    def testTimeoutNone(self):
-        # None, having other default
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
-        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
-        try:
-            ftp = ftplib.FTP(HOST, timeout=None)
-        finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
-        self.assertEqual(ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-        self.evt.wait()
         ftp.close()
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_httplib.py b/Lib/test/test_httplib.py
index fcbddd0..e2560b6 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_httplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_httplib.py
@@ -214,27 +214,32 @@
         '''This will prove that the timeout gets through
         HTTPConnection and into the socket.
         '''
-        # default
-        httpConn = httplib.HTTPConnection(HOST, TimeoutTest.PORT)
-        httpConn.connect()
-        self.assertTrue(httpConn.sock.gettimeout() is None)
-        httpConn.close()
-
-        # a value
-        httpConn = httplib.HTTPConnection(HOST, TimeoutTest.PORT, timeout=30)
-        httpConn.connect()
+        # default -- use global socket timeout
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            httpConn = httplib.HTTPConnection(HOST, TimeoutTest.PORT)
+            httpConn.connect()
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertEqual(httpConn.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         httpConn.close()
 
-        # None, having other default
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+        # no timeout -- do not use global socket default
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
         try:
             httpConn = httplib.HTTPConnection(HOST, TimeoutTest.PORT,
                                               timeout=None)
             httpConn.connect()
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEqual(httpConn.sock.gettimeout(), None)
+        httpConn.close()
+
+        # a value
+        httpConn = httplib.HTTPConnection(HOST, TimeoutTest.PORT, timeout=30)
+        httpConn.connect()
         self.assertEqual(httpConn.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         httpConn.close()
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_poplib.py b/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
index 54b8786..18ed224 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_poplib.py
@@ -40,28 +40,29 @@
         pop.sock.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
-        # default
-        pop = poplib.POP3(HOST, self.port)
-        self.assertTrue(pop.sock.gettimeout() is None)
-        pop.sock.close()
-
-    def testTimeoutValue(self):
-        # a value
-        pop = poplib.POP3(HOST, self.port, timeout=30)
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            pop = poplib.POP3("localhost", self.port)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertEqual(pop.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         pop.sock.close()
 
     def testTimeoutNone(self):
-        # None, having other default
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
         try:
             pop = poplib.POP3(HOST, self.port, timeout=None)
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
-        self.assertEqual(pop.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertTrue(pop.sock.gettimeout() is None)
         pop.sock.close()
 
+    def testTimeoutValue(self):
+        pop = poplib.POP3("localhost", self.port, timeout=30)
+        self.assertEqual(pop.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+        pop.sock.close()
 
 
 def test_main(verbose=None):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py b/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
index 9e63110..be28de7 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
@@ -54,41 +54,43 @@
     def testBasic1(self):
         # connects
         smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port)
-        smtp.sock.close()
+        smtp.close()
 
     def testBasic2(self):
         # connects, include port in host name
         smtp = smtplib.SMTP("%s:%s" % (HOST, self.port))
-        smtp.sock.close()
+        smtp.close()
 
     def testLocalHostName(self):
         # check that supplied local_hostname is used
         smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port, local_hostname="testhost")
         self.assertEqual(smtp.local_hostname, "testhost")
-        smtp.sock.close()
+        smtp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
-        # default
-        smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port)
-        self.assertTrue(smtp.sock.gettimeout() is None)
-        smtp.sock.close()
-
-    def testTimeoutValue(self):
-        # a value
-        smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port, timeout=30)
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertEqual(smtp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-        smtp.sock.close()
+        smtp.close()
 
     def testTimeoutNone(self):
-        # None, having other default
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
         try:
             smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port, timeout=None)
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertTrue(smtp.sock.gettimeout() is None)
+        smtp.close()
+
+    def testTimeoutValue(self):
+        smtp = smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port, timeout=30)
         self.assertEqual(smtp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-        smtp.sock.close()
+        smtp.close()
 
 
 # Test server thread using the specified SMTP server class
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_socket.py b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
index 48c9346..ba5eea9 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_socket.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
@@ -901,8 +901,25 @@
 
     testTimeoutDefault = _justAccept
     def _testTimeoutDefault(self):
-        self.cli = socket.create_connection((HOST, self.port))
-        self.assertTrue(self.cli.gettimeout() is None)
+        # passing no explicit timeout uses socket's global default
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(42)
+        try:
+            self.cli = socket.create_connection((HOST, self.port))
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEquals(self.cli.gettimeout(), 42)
+
+    testTimeoutNone = _justAccept
+    def _testTimeoutNone(self):
+        # None timeout means the same as sock.settimeout(None)
+        self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            self.cli = socket.create_connection((HOST, self.port), timeout=None)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEqual(self.cli.gettimeout(), None)
 
     testTimeoutValueNamed = _justAccept
     def _testTimeoutValueNamed(self):
@@ -914,17 +931,6 @@
         self.cli = socket.create_connection((HOST, self.port), 30)
         self.assertEqual(self.cli.gettimeout(), 30)
 
-    testTimeoutNone = _justAccept
-    def _testTimeoutNone(self):
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
-        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
-        try:
-            self.cli = socket.create_connection((HOST, self.port), timeout=None)
-        finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
-        self.assertEqual(self.cli.gettimeout(), 30)
-
-
 class NetworkConnectionBehaviourTest(SocketTCPTest, ThreadableTest):
 
     def __init__(self, methodName='runTest'):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_telnetlib.py b/Lib/test/test_telnetlib.py
index e4ee1b5..838f6fb 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_telnetlib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_telnetlib.py
@@ -40,34 +40,36 @@
         telnet.sock.close()
 
     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
-        # default
-        telnet = telnetlib.Telnet(HOST, self.port)
-        self.assertTrue(telnet.sock.gettimeout() is None)
-        telnet.sock.close()
-
-    def testTimeoutValue(self):
-        # a value
-        telnet = telnetlib.Telnet(HOST, self.port, timeout=30)
-        self.assertEqual(telnet.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-        telnet.sock.close()
-
-    def testTimeoutDifferentOrder(self):
-        telnet = telnetlib.Telnet(timeout=30)
-        telnet.open(HOST, self.port)
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+        try:
+            telnet = telnetlib.Telnet("localhost", self.port)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertEqual(telnet.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         telnet.sock.close()
 
     def testTimeoutNone(self):
         # None, having other default
-        previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
         try:
             telnet = telnetlib.Telnet(HOST, self.port, timeout=None)
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertTrue(telnet.sock.gettimeout() is None)
+        telnet.sock.close()
+
+    def testTimeoutValue(self):
+        telnet = telnetlib.Telnet("localhost", self.port, timeout=30)
         self.assertEqual(telnet.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
         telnet.sock.close()
 
+    def testTimeoutOpen(self):
+        telnet = telnetlib.Telnet()
+        telnet.open("localhost", self.port, timeout=30)
+        self.assertEqual(telnet.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+        telnet.sock.close()
 
 
 def test_main(verbose=None):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_urllib.py b/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
index 0c669d0..61e0202 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_urllib.py
@@ -568,6 +568,7 @@
 # .   Facundo
 #
 # def server(evt):
+#     import socket, time
 #     serv = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
 #     serv.settimeout(3)
 #     serv.setsockopt(socket.SOL_SOCKET, socket.SO_REUSEADDR, 1)
@@ -592,6 +593,7 @@
 # class FTPWrapperTests(unittest.TestCase):
 #
 #     def setUp(self):
+#         import ftplib, time, threading
 #         ftplib.FTP.port = 9093
 #         self.evt = threading.Event()
 #         threading.Thread(target=server, args=(self.evt,)).start()
@@ -603,31 +605,37 @@
 #     def testBasic(self):
 #         # connects
 #         ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [])
-#         ftp.ftp.sock.close()
-#
-#     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
-#         # default
-#         ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [])
-#         self.assertTrue(ftp.ftp.sock.gettimeout() is None)
-#         ftp.ftp.sock.close()
-#
-#     def testTimeoutValue(self):
-#         # a value
-#         ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [], timeout=30)
-#         self.assertEqual(ftp.ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-#         ftp.ftp.sock.close()
+#         ftp.close()
 #
 #     def testTimeoutNone(self):
-#         # None, having other default
-#         previous = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+#         # global default timeout is ignored
+#         import socket
+#         self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
 #         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
 #         try:
 #             ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [])
 #         finally:
-#             socket.setdefaulttimeout(previous)
+#             socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
 #         self.assertEqual(ftp.ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
-#         ftp.ftp.close()
+#         ftp.close()
 #
+#     def testTimeoutDefault(self):
+#         # global default timeout is used
+#         import socket
+#         self.assert_(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+#         socket.setdefaulttimeout(30)
+#         try:
+#             ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [])
+#         finally:
+#             socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+#         self.assertEqual(ftp.ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+#         ftp.close()
+#
+#     def testTimeoutValue(self):
+#         ftp = urllib.ftpwrapper("myuser", "mypass", "localhost", 9093, [],
+#                                 timeout=30)
+#         self.assertEqual(ftp.ftp.sock.gettimeout(), 30)
+#         ftp.close()
 
 
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_urllib2.py b/Lib/test/test_urllib2.py
index 8d17e05..1e93fdb 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_urllib2.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_urllib2.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from test import test_support
 
 import os
+import socket
 import StringIO
 
 import urllib2
@@ -551,14 +552,15 @@
 
         class NullFTPHandler(urllib2.FTPHandler):
             def __init__(self, data): self.data = data
-            def connect_ftp(self, user, passwd, host, port, dirs, timeout=None):
+            def connect_ftp(self, user, passwd, host, port, dirs,
+                            timeout=socket._GLOBAL_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
                 self.user, self.passwd = user, passwd
                 self.host, self.port = host, port
                 self.dirs = dirs
                 self.ftpwrapper = MockFTPWrapper(self.data)
                 return self.ftpwrapper
 
-        import ftplib, socket
+        import ftplib
         data = "rheum rhaponicum"
         h = NullFTPHandler(data)
         o = h.parent = MockOpener()
@@ -691,7 +693,7 @@
                 self.req_headers = []
                 self.data = None
                 self.raise_on_endheaders = False
-            def __call__(self, host, timeout=None):
+            def __call__(self, host, timeout=socket._GLOBAL_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT):
                 self.host = host
                 self.timeout = timeout
                 return self
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_urllib2net.py b/Lib/test/test_urllib2net.py
index 1ebaf8f..ee21c55 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_urllib2net.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_urllib2net.py
@@ -189,46 +189,58 @@
 
 class TimeoutTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_http_basic(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         u = _urlopen_with_retry("http://www.python.org")
         self.assertTrue(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout() is None)
 
-    def test_http_NoneWithdefault(self):
-        prev = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+    def test_http_default_timeout(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(60)
+        try:
+            u = _urlopen_with_retry("http://www.python.org")
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEqual(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 60)
+
+    def test_http_no_timeout(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(60)
         try:
             u = _urlopen_with_retry("http://www.python.org", timeout=None)
-            self.assertEqual(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 60)
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(prev)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertTrue(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout() is None)
 
-    def test_http_Value(self):
+    def test_http_timeout(self):
         u = _urlopen_with_retry("http://www.python.org", timeout=120)
         self.assertEqual(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 120)
 
-    def test_http_NoneNodefault(self):
-        u = _urlopen_with_retry("http://www.python.org", timeout=None)
-        self.assertTrue(u.fp._sock.fp._sock.gettimeout() is None)
-
     FTP_HOST = "ftp://ftp.mirror.nl/pub/mirror/gnu/"
 
     def test_ftp_basic(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         u = _urlopen_with_retry(self.FTP_HOST)
         self.assertTrue(u.fp.fp._sock.gettimeout() is None)
 
-    def test_ftp_NoneWithdefault(self):
-        prev = socket.getdefaulttimeout()
+    def test_ftp_default_timeout(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
+        socket.setdefaulttimeout(60)
+        try:
+            u = _urlopen_with_retry(self.FTP_HOST)
+        finally:
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
+        self.assertEqual(u.fp.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 60)
+
+    def test_ftp_no_timeout(self):
+        self.assertTrue(socket.getdefaulttimeout() is None)
         socket.setdefaulttimeout(60)
         try:
             u = _urlopen_with_retry(self.FTP_HOST, timeout=None)
-            self.assertEqual(u.fp.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 60)
         finally:
-            socket.setdefaulttimeout(prev)
-
-    def test_ftp_NoneNodefault(self):
-        u = _urlopen_with_retry(self.FTP_HOST, timeout=None)
+            socket.setdefaulttimeout(None)
         self.assertTrue(u.fp.fp._sock.gettimeout() is None)
 
-    def test_ftp_Value(self):
+    def test_ftp_timeout(self):
         u = _urlopen_with_retry(self.FTP_HOST, timeout=60)
         self.assertEqual(u.fp.fp._sock.gettimeout(), 60)