We run oor Jenkis Server in DMZ (Intranet), where direct Internet access is not allowed, so we can't update plugin direct from web with admin console. We are mirroring (see attached script wget_plugins.sh to do the job) the public Jenkins plugins server and rewrite the original jenkins update-center.json, this way that we repalce all hpi urls with the urls that point on our server (see attached script symlink_plugins.sh to do that job). We then configure new update-center urls in our jenkins amdin cosnole to point on our ApacheServer wioth our modified update-center.json file.
This whole thing worked for about 3 months. We did several jenkins updates and we don't know since what jenkins version but now this stopped working.
We get following expetion when trying to update the plugins, wher new version are shows as available in admin console in browser.

Nov 3, 2011 12:17:02 PM hudson.model.UpdateCenter$DownloadJob run
SEVERE: Failed to install Email-ext plugin
java.net.ConnectException: Connection refused: connect
at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection$6.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getChainedException(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(Unknown Source)
at hudson.model.UpdateCenter$UpdateCenterConfiguration.download(UpdateCenter.java:624)
at hudson.model.UpdateCenter$DownloadJob._run(UpdateCenter.java:967)
at hudson.model.UpdateCenter$InstallationJob._run(UpdateCenter.java:1075)
at hudson.model.UpdateCenter$DownloadJob.run(UpdateCenter.java:949)
at java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Unknown Source)
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.net.ConnectException: Connection refused: connect
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.socketConnect(Native Method)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.doConnect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connectToAddress(Unknown Source)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.SocksSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.NetworkClient.doConnect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.<init>(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getNewHttpClient(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.connect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getHeaderField(Unknown Source)
at java.net.URLConnection.getHeaderFieldInt(Unknown Source)
at java.net.URLConnection.getContentLength(Unknown Source)
at hudson.model.UpdateCenter$UpdateCenterConfiguration.download(UpdateCenter.java:623)
... 9 more
Nov 3, 2011 12:17:01 PM hudson.model.UpdateCenter$DownloadJob run
INFO: Starting the installation of Email-ext plugin on behalf of 00001276
Nov 3, 2011 12:14:37 PM hudson.ExpressionFactory2$JexlExpression evaluate
WARNING: Caught exception evaluating: descriptor.getPropertyType(instance,field).itemTypeDescriptorOrDie. Reason: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.util.PropertyExecutor.execute(PropertyExecutor.java:125)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.util.introspection.UberspectImpl$VelGetterImpl.invoke(UberspectImpl.java:314)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.parser.ASTArrayAccess.evaluateExpr(ASTArrayAccess.java:185)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.parser.ASTIdentifier.execute(ASTIdentifier.java:75)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.parser.ASTReference.execute(ASTReference.java:83)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.parser.ASTReference.value(ASTReference.java:57)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.parser.ASTReferenceExpression.value(ASTReferenceExpression.java:51)
at org.apache.commons.jexl.ExpressionImpl.evaluate(ExpressionImpl.java:80)
at hudson.ExpressionFactory2$JexlExpression.evaluate(ExpressionFactory2.java:72)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$3.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:134)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.WhenTag.doTag(WhenTag.java:46)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.ChooseTag.doTag(ChooseTag.java:38)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.WhenTag.doTag(WhenTag.java:46)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.ChooseTag.doTag(ChooseTag.java:38)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.JellyViewScript.run(JellyViewScript.java:63)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.IncludeTag.doTag(IncludeTag.java:146)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.OtherwiseTag.doTag(OtherwiseTag.java:41)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.ChooseTag.doTag(ChooseTag.java:38)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.TagSupport.invokeBody(TagSupport.java:161)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.ForEachTag.doTag(ForEachTag.java:150)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$1.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript$1.run(CallTagLibScript.java:98)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.define.InvokeBodyTag.doTag(InvokeBodyTag.java:91)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.TagScript.run(TagScript.java:270)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.ReallyStaticTagLibrary$1.run(ReallyStaticTagLibrary.java:99)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.impl.ScriptBlock.run(ScriptBlock.java:95)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.CallTagLibScript.run(CallTagLibScript.java:119)
at org.apache.commons.jelly.tags.core.CoreTagLibrary$2.run(CoreTagLibrary.java:105)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.JellyViewScript.run(JellyViewScript.java:63)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.DefaultScriptInvoker.invokeScript(DefaultScriptInvoker.java:63)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.DefaultScriptInvoker.invokeScript(DefaultScriptInvoker.java:53)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.jelly.JellyFacet$1.dispatch(JellyFacet.java:92)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.Stapler.tryInvoke(Stapler.java:561)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.Stapler.invoke(Stapler.java:646)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.Stapler.invoke(Stapler.java:477)
at org.kohsuke.stapler.Stapler.service(Stapler.java:159)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:722)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:306)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
at hudson.util.PluginServletFilter$1.doFilter(PluginServletFilter.java:95)
at net.bull.javamelody.MonitoringFilter.doFilter(MonitoringFilter.java:157)
at net.bull.javamelody.MonitoringFilter.doFilter(MonitoringFilter.java:131)
at net.bull.javamelody.PluginMonitoringFilter.doFilter(PluginMonitoringFilter.java:82)
at org.jvnet.hudson.plugins.monitoring.HudsonMonitoringFilter.doFilter(HudsonMonitoringFilter.java:84)
at hudson.util.PluginServletFilter$1.doFilter(PluginServletFilter.java:98)
at hudson.plugins.greenballs.GreenBallFilter.doFilter(GreenBallFilter.java:74)
at hudson.util.PluginServletFilter$1.doFilter(PluginServletFilter.java:98)
at hudson.util.PluginServletFilter.doFilter(PluginServletFilter.java:87)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:244)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
at hudson.security.csrf.CrumbFilter.doFilter(CrumbFilter.java:47)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:244)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:84)
at hudson.security.UnwrapSecurityExceptionFilter.doFilter(UnwrapSecurityExceptionFilter.java:51)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.ui.ExceptionTranslationFilter.doFilter(ExceptionTranslationFilter.java:166)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.providers.anonymous.AnonymousProcessingFilter.doFilter(AnonymousProcessingFilter.java:125)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.ui.rememberme.RememberMeProcessingFilter.doFilter(RememberMeProcessingFilter.java:142)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.ui.AbstractProcessingFilter.doFilter(AbstractProcessingFilter.java:271)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.ui.basicauth.BasicProcessingFilter.doFilter(BasicProcessingFilter.java:173)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at jenkins.security.ApiTokenFilter.doFilter(ApiTokenFilter.java:61)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at org.acegisecurity.context.HttpSessionContextIntegrationFilter.doFilter(HttpSessionContextIntegrationFilter.java:249)
at hudson.security.HttpSessionContextIntegrationFilter2.doFilter(HttpSessionContextIntegrationFilter2.java:66)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter$1.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:87)
at hudson.security.ChainedServletFilter.doFilter(ChainedServletFilter.java:76)
at hudson.security.HudsonFilter.doFilter(HudsonFilter.java:164)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:244)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
at hudson.util.CharacterEncodingFilter.doFilter(CharacterEncodingFilter.java:81)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:244)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:240)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:161)
at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:496)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:164)
at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:100)
at org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve.invoke(AccessLogValve.java:541)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:118)
at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:383)
at org.apache.coyote.ajp.AjpAprProcessor.process(AjpAprProcessor.java:283)
at org.apache.coyote.ajp.AjpAprProtocol$AjpConnectionHandler.process(AjpAprProtocol.java:189)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.AprEndpoint$SocketProcessor.run(AprEndpoint.java:1684)
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(Unknown Source)
at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.lang.AssertionError: null is missing its descriptor
at jenkins.model.Jenkins.getDescriptorOrDie(Jenkins.java:1077)
at hudson.model.Descriptor$PropertyType.getItemTypeDescriptorOrDie(Descriptor.java:187)
... 175 more
Nov 3, 2011 10:57:18 AM hudson.WebAppMain$2 run
INFO: Jenkins is fully up and running
Nov 3, 2011 10:57:07 AM hudson.TcpSlaveAgentListener <init>