what does 'backlog' parameter to listen do?

From: Andrei Voropaev (avorop_at_mail.ru)
Date: 07/15/04 

Date: 15 Jul 2004 08:02:47 GMT

Hi!

According to man 2 listen "The backlog parameter defines the maximum
length the queue of pending connections may grow to." But in practice
this parameter seems to mean nothing. At least when I call listen(s, 1)
there still can be hundreds of connections established even though I
didn't call accept for any. Is it because I have syn-cookies enabled? Or
I just misunderstand the man page?

Andrei