[comp.protocols.tcp-ip] tcp maximum-segment-size

ramana@uts.amdahl.com (Ramana Gadagottu) (11/22/89)

A non-unix tcp/ip station on our network is setting
its tcp MSS(maximum segment size) to zero causing a flood of
zero length data packets onto the network from Sun and other
BSD based-stations. It looks like the BSD code doesn't check
if the MSS is being set for zero and tries to send zero length
packets out.

I have a few questions:
 1. Is it acceptable to set the MSS to zero ?
    If not what should be the minimum value ?
 2. If not acceptable, can the host decide not to send any data
    and close the connection ?
 3. How are the non-BSD implementations deal with it ?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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