network meltdown

(By analogy with catastrophic failure of a nuclear reactor) An

event that causes saturation, or near saturation, on a

network. It usually results from illegal or misrouted packets

and typically lasts only a short time. It is the network

equivalent of thrashing. This may be induced by a

Chernobyl packet.

See also broadcast storm, kamikaze packet.

[Jargon File]

(1994-11-29)