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Comment by bandrami | Hacker News Reader

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bandrami·

Packets or frames? The report mentions both (including "packet frames", which, ugh)

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These terms are interchangeable. Although typically one or other is used when speaking about a specific technology.

Also see datagram, cell and probably others I’m forgetting right now.

But packets and frames as implemented are different things. One encapsulates the other.

> terms are interchangeable

No, use frame when your talking about layer 2, packet when your talking about layer 3, and segment for layer 4. Datagram and protocol data unit (PDU) are general terms that can apply to any layer.

A switch forwards frames, while a router routes packets.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31446777/difference-betw...

You are technically correct. However, the term “Ethernet packet” is commonly used colloquially... it does not seem worth arguing about.

Yeah, but the point is you wouldn't expect a competent network engineer to use the words "packet frames". And incompetence would seem to fit with the facts of the case, i.e. 911 was down for 2 days.

It was probably down because the only person who knew how to use tcpdump (or equivalent) was on vacation. ;)

I appreciate your insistence on speaking using precise terms. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gauges the knowledge-level and overall attention to detail of a speaker based on their use of precise, correct terminology. It's a useful handshaking technique I use for calibrating the technical content of my speech.

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