When TCP was first invented, was the initial sequence number required to be random?












3














In current time, when a TCP connection is initiated, the initial sequence number is required to be random.



But I am wondering, when TCP was first invented, was the initial sequence number required to be random, or was this requirement added later?










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    When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
    – Leo B.
    2 hours ago
















3














In current time, when a TCP connection is initiated, the initial sequence number is required to be random.



But I am wondering, when TCP was first invented, was the initial sequence number required to be random, or was this requirement added later?










share|improve this question







New contributor




user11455 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  • 2




    When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
    – Leo B.
    2 hours ago














3












3








3







In current time, when a TCP connection is initiated, the initial sequence number is required to be random.



But I am wondering, when TCP was first invented, was the initial sequence number required to be random, or was this requirement added later?










share|improve this question







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In current time, when a TCP connection is initiated, the initial sequence number is required to be random.



But I am wondering, when TCP was first invented, was the initial sequence number required to be random, or was this requirement added later?







history






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asked 6 hours ago









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  • 2




    When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
    – Leo B.
    2 hours ago














  • 2




    When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
    – Leo B.
    2 hours ago








2




2




When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
– Leo B.
2 hours ago




When TCP was invented, security considerations were unlikely an issue, as at the time there was no concern about adversarial agents.
– Leo B.
2 hours ago










1 Answer
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It is not actually required that the TCP initial sequence number be random. It would be more correct to say that it is chosen arbitrarily, or to put it another way, that there is no rule specifying how the starting value must be chosen. This means that it can start at 0 for every connection, or at any other number. That same starting value can be used for every new connection, or a new value may be chosen for each one.



For security reasons it's a good idea to choose an actual random value for every individual connection, but there is no actual requirement that it must be done this way.






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    1 Answer
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    It is not actually required that the TCP initial sequence number be random. It would be more correct to say that it is chosen arbitrarily, or to put it another way, that there is no rule specifying how the starting value must be chosen. This means that it can start at 0 for every connection, or at any other number. That same starting value can be used for every new connection, or a new value may be chosen for each one.



    For security reasons it's a good idea to choose an actual random value for every individual connection, but there is no actual requirement that it must be done this way.






    share|improve this answer


























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      It is not actually required that the TCP initial sequence number be random. It would be more correct to say that it is chosen arbitrarily, or to put it another way, that there is no rule specifying how the starting value must be chosen. This means that it can start at 0 for every connection, or at any other number. That same starting value can be used for every new connection, or a new value may be chosen for each one.



      For security reasons it's a good idea to choose an actual random value for every individual connection, but there is no actual requirement that it must be done this way.






      share|improve this answer
























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        It is not actually required that the TCP initial sequence number be random. It would be more correct to say that it is chosen arbitrarily, or to put it another way, that there is no rule specifying how the starting value must be chosen. This means that it can start at 0 for every connection, or at any other number. That same starting value can be used for every new connection, or a new value may be chosen for each one.



        For security reasons it's a good idea to choose an actual random value for every individual connection, but there is no actual requirement that it must be done this way.






        share|improve this answer












        It is not actually required that the TCP initial sequence number be random. It would be more correct to say that it is chosen arbitrarily, or to put it another way, that there is no rule specifying how the starting value must be chosen. This means that it can start at 0 for every connection, or at any other number. That same starting value can be used for every new connection, or a new value may be chosen for each one.



        For security reasons it's a good idea to choose an actual random value for every individual connection, but there is no actual requirement that it must be done this way.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 3 hours ago









        Ken Gober

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