NOTIFICATION BY NETWORK ELEMENT OF PACKET DROPS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for implementing notification by network elements of packet drops. In response to determining a packet is to be dropped, a network element such as a switch or router determines the source of the packet and returns a dropped packet notification message to the source. Upon receipt of notification, networking software or embedded hardware on the source causes the dropped packet to be retransmitted. The notification may also be sent from the network element to the destination computer to inform networking software or embedded logic implemented by the destination computer that the packet was dropped and notification to the source has been sent, thus alleviating the destination from needing to send a Selective ACKnowledge (SACK) message to inform the source the packet was not delivered. (Too narrow)

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a network element, a packet originating from a source computer and addressed to a destination that is not the network element; determining if the packet is to be dropped; and if the packet is to be dropped, returning a dropped packet notification message to the source computer containing indicia identifying the packet and indicating the packet has been dropped.