RFC 547 (rfc547) - Page 2 of 3

Change to the Very Distant Host specification

RFC 547      Change to the Very Distant Host Specification13 August 1973


   The following algorithm is used to decide whether the circuit between
   an IMP and a very distant Host is dead or alive.  We first define
   what we call a special packet -- this is (logically) a one word
   packet consisting of only the control word and having the SPECIAL
   PACKET bit set to one.  All packets which are not special packets
   (i.e., which are regular data packets or null packets) have the
   SPECIAL PACKET bit set to zero.  In a special packet, none of the
   control word fields or bits have their usual meanings; consequently,
   a special packet cannot be used to acknowledge data packets or send
   data.  In a special packet, only one bit other than the SPECIAL
   PACKET bit has any meaning, the HELLO/I-HEARD-YOU bit.

   Every r seconds both IMP and Host (independently) send a HELLO
   packet, a special packet with the HELLO/I-HEARD-YOU bit set to zero.
   When either IMP or Hosts receives a HELLO packet, it must promptly
   (with highest priority) send the other an I-HEARD-YOU packet, a
   special packet with the HELLO/I-HEAR-YOU bit set to one.  In other
   words, the I-HEARD-YOU packet is an acknowledgement of the periodic
   HELLO packet, and a I-HEARD-YOU packet must only be sent as
   acknowledgement for a HELLO packet.  If either IMP or Host sends more
   than t HELLO packets without receiving an I-HEARD-YOU packet in
   acknowledgement, the IMP or Host declares the line dead.  Once either
   IMP or Host declares the line dead, it must send or accept no packets
   (either special or regular) for 2*t*r* seconds to allow the other
   party also to declare the line dead.  After waiting 2*t*r* seconds,
   an attempt is made to bring the line alive.  This is done by sending
   HELLO packets (but no regular packets) every r seconds while noting
   received I-HEARD-YOU packets until k HELLO packets in a row are
   acknowledged with I-HEARD-YOU packets.  While doing this, received
   HELLO packets must be acknowledged with I-HEARD-YOU packets.  Once
   acknowledgement for k HELLO packets have been received in a row
   (i.e., one acknowledgement every r seconds for k intervals[1]), the
   line is declared alive, and regular packets again may be sent,
   received, and acknowledged along with the periodic (every r seconds)
   HELLO packets.  If a regular data packet is received while a party is
   trying to bring the line up (due perhaps to slight timing differences
   between the parties at the ends of the line), the data packet must
   not be acknowledged.

   The odd/even bits, the used/unused bits, and the channel filling and
   emptying sequences must be initialized at start up[2] and
   reinitialized every time the line is declared dead.  If either the
   IMP or Host decides the line is dead, the same action is taken as the
   IMP or Host normally takes when the other's ready line is down.  The
   line being up causes the same action as is normally taken when the
   ready line is up.  The value of r is currently 1.25 seconds, the
   value of t is currently 4, and the value of k is currently also 4.




Walden