MTU Negotiation via Path MTU Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network performance is reduced when the path Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is smaller than the MTU of a user terminal and a server, leading to segmented data packet transmission.
Innovation Solution
Updating the MTU in handshake messages to the path MTU during communication protocol link establishment, ensuring that the data packet size does not exceed the path MTU, thereby preventing segmented transmissions and improving network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the MTU is set based on user terminal and server MTU values without considering path MTU, then the MTU negotiation is simple, but data packets may be segmented leading to reduced network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the path MTU before the MTU negotiation between user terminal and server. The network device pre-calculates the path MTU based on link layer MTU values and sends this information to both terminals in advance, so that the terminals can use this pre-determined path MTU as the basis for their MTU negotiation, avoiding packet segmentation later.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a network device as an intermediary to determine and communicate the path MTU to both user terminal and server. This intermediary network device calculates the path MTU based on the minimum link layer MTU along the transmission path and informs the terminals, enabling them to negotiate an appropriate MTU without the terminals needing to perform complex path MTU discovery themselves.
2Productivity
If data packets are transmitted without updating MTU to path MTU, then the transmission process is simple, but packets larger than path MTU are segmented causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The network device performs preliminary determination of the path MTU before data transmission begins. It calculates the path MTU based on link layer MTU values of all network elements in the transmission path and communicates this to the user terminal and server, enabling them to set their MTU appropriately before any data packets are transmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device provides feedback to the user terminal and server about the path MTU capability of the transmission path. By sending the determined path MTU value to the terminals during the connection establishment process, the network device enables informed MTU selection that prevents packet segmentation while maintaining transmission simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a maximum transmission unit (MTU) negotiation method and a data terminal. The method comprises: a data terminal receiving a first request message sent by a user terminal during establishment of a communication protocol link and carrying an MTU of the user terminal; updating the MTU of the user terminal carried in the first request message to be a path MTU; sending a second request message carrying the path MTU to a server; receiving a first reply message returned by the server and carrying an MTU of the server; updating the MTU of the server carried in the first reply message to be the path MTU; and sending a second reply message carrying the path MTU to the user terminal. The method and data terminal provided by the present invention can improve network performance.