In networks, a runt is a packet that
is too small. For example, the Ethernet
protocol requires that each packet be at least 64 bytes long. In Ethernet, which operates on the
idea that two parties can attempt to get use of the line at the same time and sometimes do, runts
are usually the fragments of packet collisions. Runts can also be the result of bad wiring or
electrical interference. Runts are recorded by programs that use the Remote Network Monitoring
(RNM) standard information base for network adminstration. RMON calls them "undersize
packets".
A giant is a
packet that's oversize.
Contributor(s): Colin Daniel
This was last updated in April 2007
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