ruby-1.8.1 win2k apache2: mod_ruby shuts off network connections

Hello,

I am developing a small web under mod_ruby on windows. I get the most 
strange error when trying to connect via IPSocket:

  C:/Program Files/Apache Group/Apache2/cgi-bin/test-socket.rbx:3: 
getaddrinfo: no address associated with hostname.

My test program looks like this:
	require 'socket'
	a = IPSocket.getaddress('www.ruby-lang.org')

Running this from a shell (irb, ruby) does fine and gives me back an IP.

Actually, I seem to fail to make any connection at all out of Apache - 
even to localhost.

Any suggestions ?

best regards,
kaspar - code philosopher