资料来源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

breath-of-life packet
     
        ({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)