GATE | GATE CS 2008 | Question 85

What is the maximum size of data that the application layer can pass on to the TCP layer below?
(A) Any size
(B) 2¹⁶ bytes – size of TCP header

(C) 2¹⁶ bytes
(D) 1500 bytes


Answer: (A)

Explanation: The default TCP Maximum Segment Size is 536. Where a host wishes to set the maximum segment size to a value other than the default, the maximum segment size is specified as a TCP option, initially in the TCP SYN packet during the TCP handshake. Because the maximum segment size parameter is controlled by a TCP option, a host can change the value in any later segment.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_segment_size

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