why does the kernel drop packets ?

mr.moto · 12-07-2002, 01:55 AM

What is the significance of packets being dropped by the kernel when

you are connected to the internet ? Why does it do that?

thanx

DavidPhillips · 12-07-2002, 03:51 AM

sounds like your firewall is working

exactly what are you refering to

mr.moto · 12-08-2002, 12:28 AM

Sometimes when I run tcpdump I see output that says so and so many packets were dropped by the kernel. other times there will be zero packets dropped . Is tcpdump reporting the packets the firewall is filtering out?

DavidPhillips · 12-08-2002, 12:47 AM

tcpdump can't always keep up with the packets

packets "dropped by kernel'' (this is the number
of packets that were dropped, due to a lack of
buffer space, by the packet capture mechanism in
the OS on which tcpdump is running, if the OS
reports that information to applications; if not,
it will be reported as 0).