sorcerer's apprentice mode
 n.

    [from Goethe's Der Zauberlehrling via Paul Dukas's L'apprenti sorcier in
    the film Fantasia.] A bug in a protocol where, under some circumstances,
    the receipt of a message causes multiple messages to be sent, each of
    which, when received, triggers the same bug. Used esp. of such behavior
    caused by bounce message loops in email software. Compare broadcast
    storm, network meltdown, software laser, ARMM.

sorcerer's apprentice mode

    (From Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Der
   Zauberlehrling", via the Walt Disney film "Fantasia") A bug
   in a protocol where, under some circumstances, the receipt
   of a message causes multiple messages to be sent, each of
   which, when received, triggers the same bug.  Used especially
   of such behaviour caused by bounce message loops in
   electronic mail software.

   Compare broadcast storm, network meltdown, software
   laser, ARMM.

   <Der Zauberlehrling>.

   [Jargon File]

   (1999-10-08)