The packet duplication feature replicates a random packet within the network stream, simulating the behaviour of faulty network devices. It helps evaluate the performance and resilience of network applications under such conditions.
When a TCP/IP packet is duplicated in a computer network, an exact copy of the packet is created and sent separately. This duplication mainly affects transport layer protocols like TCP, potentially causing:
- Out-of-order packet delivery issues, disrupting the correct sequence of data delivery.
- Retransmission confusion due to incorrect acknowledgments or delays.
- Performance impact from increased network traffic and processing overhead.
- Application-specific handling of duplicates, depending on design.