Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

network meltdown
     
        (By analogy with catastrophic failure of a nuclear reactor) An
        event that causes saturation, or near saturation, on a
        network.  It usually results from illegal or misrouted packets
        and typically lasts only a short time.  It is the network
        equivalent of {thrash}ing.  This may be induced by a
        {Chernobyl packet}.
     
        See also {broadcast storm}, {kamikaze packet}.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1994-11-29)