this allows the HTTP code to *not* return a failure just because no data
has been received from the server

Dirk Manske, but modified by me.

the search path since we want the build-version rather than the one in the
source dir

Vanem

header using -H

so that the automatic testing hosts will test these changes over the weekend.

the dump file to make it easier to understand and debug the situation

multi-threaded

added commented more aggressive compiler options for gcc, subject to be used
instead of the current ones when --enable-debug is used

2. now reads the socket error before check connect status, also to make us
   run fine on MPE/iX

run in a sane manner on his MPE/iX operating system.

warnings. Minor edits by me.