Netsplit

What Does Netsplit Mean?

Netsplit is a computer networking term that refers to the act of disconnecting a node from its previous connection. This phenomenon is represented specifically in Internet relay chat (IRC).

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Techopedia Explains Netsplit

The easiest way to describe netsplit is by looking at an example of IRC servers and clients. Consider an example in which four servers (A, B, C and D) are connected with each others. Server A has a single user, John; Server B has a user named Sam; Server C has a connected user that is named Smith; Server D has a user named Sohail. At the start, each user is connected to his or her respected server and all these servers are running IRC front-end applications and are connected with the others.

Suddenly, Server A disconnects and John is notified that Sohail, Smith and Sam are disconnected. In reality, this is not exactly the case. In fact, it is John who is disconnected, while the other three users are still connected to their servers.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…