Connection reset by peer

The error message Connection reset by peer indicates that an established network connection was forcibly closed by the remote system. This error is generated at the operating system or network stack level and commonly appears in Linux, Windows, Java applications, Spring Boot services, Docker containers, databases, and distributed server environments where TCP connections are used.

When does this error occur?

  • A server application terminates or crashes while a client connection is active
  • A firewall or network device forcefully closes an idle or restricted connection
  • A service restarts while clients are still sending requests
  • A proxy or load balancer drops the connection unexpectedly
  • A timeout or protocol mismatch causes the remote host to reset the TCP session

Root cause of Connection reset by peer

At the TCP layer, the remote system sends a reset (RST) packet instead of completing a normal connection shutdown. This means the peer decided to immediately terminate the connection, often due to application crashes, resource limits, security rules, or improper connection handling.

How to fix the error (step-by-step)

Linux / macOS

Check whether the target service is running and listening properly.

ss -lntp

Inspect system logs for crashes or forced terminations.

journalctl -xe

Windows

Verify the remote service availability and firewall behavior.

netstat -ano

Temporarily disable firewall rules to confirm network blocking.

Java / Spring Boot

Ensure the server application is not closing connections prematurely.

server.connection-timeout=60000

Review application logs for abrupt shutdowns or unhandled exceptions.

Docker / containers

Confirm the container is healthy and not restarting.

docker ps

Inspect container logs for crashes.

docker logs <container_id>

Database / network services

Check connection limits and idle timeout settings.

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'wait_timeout';

Verify the fix

Reattempt the network request or application call. A successful fix results in stable connections without unexpected disconnections, and no further Connection reset by peer messages appearing in logs.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming the client is always at fault
  • Ignoring firewall or proxy connection policies
  • Not monitoring application crashes on the server
  • Using aggressive timeout values
  • Skipping load balancer or gateway logs

Quick tip

Always align client and server timeout values to prevent forced TCP resets during long-running operations.

FAQ

Q: Is Connection reset by peer a client-side error?

A: No. It originates from the remote system closing the connection abruptly.

Q: Can high traffic cause this error?

A: Yes. Resource exhaustion or overloaded servers can reset connections.

Conclusion

Connection reset by peer occurs when the remote system forcefully terminates a TCP connection; understanding server behavior and network policies helps prevent it. Explore related ROOT errors on ErrorFixHub for deeper diagnostics.

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