[comp.doc] RFC1191 on Path MTU Discovery

jkrey@venera.isi.edu (Joyce K. Reynolds) (11/17/90)

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	RFC 1191:

        Title:      Path MTU Discovery
       	Author:     J. Mogul and S. Deering
	Mailbox:    mogul@decwrl.dec.com, deering@xerox.com
	Pages:      19
	Characters: 47,936 

		pathname: RFC:RFC1191.TXT


This memo describes a technique for dynamically discovering the
maximum transmission unit (MTU) of an arbitrary internet path.  It
specifies a small change to the way routers generate one type of ICMP
message.  For a path that passes through a router that has not been
so changed, this technique might not discover the correct Path MTU,
but it will always choose a Path MTU as accurate as, and in many
cases more accurate than, the Path MTU that would be chosen by
current practice.

This RFC specifies a Proposed Standard Protocol for the Internet
community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements.
Please refer to the current edition of the "IAB Official Protocol
Standards" for the standardization state and status of this protocol.
Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

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Joyce K. Reynolds
USC/Information Sciences Institute