sorcerer's apprentice mode

networking (From Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Der

Zauberlehrling", via the Walt Disney film "Fantasia") A bug

in a protocol where, under some circumstances, the receipt

of a message causes multiple messages to be sent, each of

which, when received, triggers the same bug. Used especially

of such behaviour caused by bounce message loops in

electronic mail software.

Compare broadcast storm, network meltdown, softwarelaser, ARMM.

Der Zauberlehrling.

[Jargon File]

(1999-10-08)