breath-of-life packet

(XEROX PARC) An Ethernet packet that contains

bootstrap code, periodically sent out from a working

computer to infuse the "breath of life" into any computer on

the network that has crashed. Computers depending on such

packets have sufficient hardware or firmware code to wait for

(or request) such a packet during the reboot process.

See also dickless workstation.

The notional "kiss-of-death packet", with a function

complementary to that of a breath-of-life packet, is

recommended for dealing with hosts that consume too many

network resources. Though "kiss-of-death packet" is usually

used in jest, there is at least one documented instance of an

Internet subnet with limited address-table slots in a

gateway computer in which such packets were routinely used to

compete for slots, rather like Christmas shoppers competing

for scarce parking spaces.

[Jargon File]

(1995-01-26)