or at least L<SSL_set_shutdown(3)|SSL_set_shutdown(3)> was used to
set the SSL_SENT_SHUTDOWN state.
+If a session was closed cleanly, the session object will be kept and all
+settings corresponding. This explicitly means, that e.g. the special method
+used during the session will be kept for the next handshake. So if the
+session was a TLSv1 session, a SSL client object will use a TLSv1 client
+method for the next handshake and a SSL server object will use a TLSv1
+server method, even if SSLv23_*_methods were chosen on startup. This
+will might lead to connection failures (see L<SSL_new(3)|SSL_new(3)>)
+for a description of the method's properties.
+
+=head1 WARNINGS
+
+SSL_clear() resets the SSL object to allow for another connection. The
+reset operation however keeps several settings of the last sessions
+(some of these settings were made automatically during the last
+handshake). It only makes sense when opening a new session (or reusing
+an old one) with the same peer that shares these settings.
+SSL_clear() is not a short form for the sequence
+L<SSL_free(3)|SSL_free(3)>; L<SSL_new(3)|SSL_new(3)>; .
+
=head1 RETURN VALUES
The following return values can occur: