Weblogic 8.1 cannot connect to admin server

I stated the ./startNodeManager.sh -> no error messages
I then started the startWebLogic.sh -> no error messages

Admin server stated it was in running state

netstat shows that server is listening to configured port:

root@hostname netstat -an | grep 7501
124.24.34.23.7501        *.*                0      0 49152      0 LISTEN
 
the server is configured to listen on port 7501

telnet on that port however drops......

$ more config.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Domain ConfigurationVersion="8.1.2.0" Name="cssDomain">
    <Server JDBCLoggingEnabled="true" ListenAddress="123.234.23.41"
        ListenPort="7501" Name="cssadm" NativeIOEnabled="true"
        ReliableDeliveryPolicy="RMDefaultPolicy" ServerVersion="8.1.2.0">
        <SSL Enabled="false" HostnameVerificationIgnored="true"
            IdentityAndTrustLocations="KeyStores" Name="cssadm"/>
        <Log Name="cssadm" NumberOfFilesLimited="true"/>
        <WebServer LogFileLimitEnabled="true" Name="cssadm"/>
        <ServerStart Arguments="-cp /weblogic/lib/jtds-1.2.jar"