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In TCP Connection Termination, when client enters in TIME_WAIT state means the client waits for a period of time equal to double the maximum segment life (MSL) time, to ensure the ACK it sent was received.

(I read above from a book computer networking by kurose and also given in following URL http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_TCPConnectionTermination-2.htm )

But how it was detected if last ACK(send by client as a response to server FIN) lost?

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It's essentially a "don't care". The wait period is to prevent confusion with subsequent connections. Why is the final ACK then sent? It helps clear connection resources on the other side.

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  • I got that point. TIME_WAIT is time requires for clearing connection resources for preventing confusion with subsequent connections. Commented Sep 22, 2012 at 0:10
  • But that time is also for ensuring that ACK(send by client as a response to server FIN) it sent was received or not? Then my question is that, how it will detect if that last ACK was lost? further question, what happens if that last ACK lost...means will connection remains open? Commented Sep 22, 2012 at 0:22
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    @sonali: It's a fundamental issue known as the "Two Generals problem". You cannot detect the loss of the last message, because that would require another "past-the last" message. Commented Sep 24, 2012 at 8:10

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