[e2e] TCP sequence number reset

[rick jones]

On Mar 24, 2011, at 12:52 AM, Kacheong Poon wrote:

> Just want to get some opinion from the list members about an
> idea proposed in an IETF draft.  The equivalent idea when
> applied to TCP is sequence number reset.  The idea is that
> assuming an application can access TCP sequence number with
> each byte of data, an app is allowed to reset the TCP sequence
> number when it wants to.  The sequence number is set to a number
> not acceptable (add 231) in the current connection.  Note that
> there is no clear usage proposed in that draft nor any reason
> that it is needed, just a mechanism to do it.  I want to see
> whether folks on this list think that it is a good or bad idea?
> And why?

The sequence number is a rather fundamental part of TCP's correctness  
mechanisms. For an application to futz with it, well, is just wrong.   
Particularly if there is no usage of/reason for its being presented.   
Too much rope.

rick jones

http://homepage.mac.com/perfgeek