{"draft":"","doc_id":"RFC0970","title":"On Packet Switches With Infinite Storage ","authors":["J. Nagle"],"format":["ASCII","HTML"],"page_count":"9","pub_status":"UNKNOWN","status":"UNKNOWN","source":"Legacy","abstract":" The purpose of this RFC is to focus discussion on a particular problem in the ARPA-Internet and possible methods of solution. Most prior work on congestion in datagram systems focuses on buffer management. In this memo the case of a packet switch with infinite storage is considered. Such a packet switch can never run out of buffers. It can, however, still become congested. The meaning of congestion in an infinite-storage system is explored. An unexpected result is found that shows a datagram network with infinite storage, first-in-first-out queuing, at least two packet switches, and a finite packet lifetime will, under overload, drop all packets. By attacking the problem of congestion for the infinite-storage case, new solutions applicable to switches with finite storage may be found. No proposed solutions this document are intended as standards for the ARPA-Internet at this time. ","pub_date":"December 1985","keywords":[" "],"obsoletes":[],"obsoleted_by":[],"updates":[],"updated_by":[],"see_also":[],"doi":"10.17487\/RFC0970","errata_url":null}