RST flag at end of TCP transmission

[Jeff Bruns <jeff.bruns () gmail com>]

Greetings-
This is more of a beginners TCP question than it is a wireshark question,
but I haven't had much success finding the answer. I have a TCP transmission
that appears to have been delivered successfully and in its entirety, but
has an RST packet sent by the sender. There are no out of order packets,
packet retransmissions or other indications of stream interruption.

It was my understanding that the reset flag was a request by the sending
party that the connection be reset and everything start over. That being the
case, I would have expected to have some packet loss or other stream issues
precipitate the RST flag. I also would have expected that immediately
following the RST flag, a new connection would be established and the whole
process repeated. There was no follow up connection or retransmission.

I am close to understanding the purpose of the RST flag? Or am I way off?

Thanks.

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