(
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)