2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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breath-of-life packet
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2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
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n. [XEROX PARC] An Ethernet packet that contains bootstrap (see boot ) code,
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periodically sent out from a working computer to infuse the breath of life
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into any computer on the network that has happened to crash. Machines
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depending on such packets have sufficient hardware or firmware code to wait
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for (or request) such a packet during the reboot process. See also dickless
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workstation. The notional kiss-of-death packet , with a function
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complementary to that of a breath-of-life packet, is recommended for dealing
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with hosts that consume too many network resources. Though kiss-of-death
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packet is usually used in jest, there is at least one documented instance of
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an Internet subnet with limited address-table slots in a gateway machine in
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which such packets were routinely used to compete for slots, rather like
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Christmas shoppers competing for scarce parking spaces.
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