// connect
$request = wp_remote_post( $url, array(
'timeout' => 45,
'body' => $post
));
print_r($request);
results in
WP_Error Object ( [errors:WP_Error:private] => Array ( [http_request_failed] => Array ( [0] => couldn't connect to host ) ) [error_data:WP_Error:private] => Array ( ) )