firehose syndrome

2 definitions found

firehose syndrome - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  firehose syndrome
  
     <networking, jargon> An absence, failure or inadequacy of flow
     control mechanisms causing the sender to overwhelm the
     receiver.  The implication is that, like trying to drink from
     a firehose, the consequenses are worse than just loss of data,
     e.g. the receiver may crash.
  
     See ping-flood.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (2007-03-12)
  

firehose syndrome - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  firehose syndrome
   n.
  
     In mainstream folklore it is observed that trying to drink from a
     firehose can be a good way to rip your lips off. On computer
  networks,
     the absence or failure of flow control mechanisms can lead to
     situations in which the sending system sprays a massive flood of
     packets at an unfortunate receiving system, more than it can handle.
     Compare overrun, buffer overflow.