FYI: Set your MTU to 1478 for best performance on ADSL

I've recently googled and run some tests, and my ADSL (PPPoA)
connection runs fastest if I set MTU to 1478 bytes.
Its faster by about 1.7% compared to the standard MTU of 1500 (yeah,
I know "whoop-de-doo..." ;-)

See:
http://www.webservertalk.com/archive216-2004-10-432094.html

Check your MTU here:
http://www.speedguide.net/analyzer.php

Set your MTU using DRTCP:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/drtcp

Also set your RWIN (TCP Receive Window Size).
"For best results, the TCPWindow should be a (even) multiple of MSS
(Maximum Segment Size). MSS is generally MTU - 40"
http://www.speedguide.net/read_articles.php?id=157
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/5. RWIN

On my 256kbps Bitstream connection, assuming a max latency of 500ms,
I have set RWIN to 17256 bytes (=12 * MSS)
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/5.+RWIN#6181

Having a too high an RWIN can slow down downloads when high packet
loss occurs (such as Orcon bitstream with packet loss).
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/tweaks/5.+RWIN#2475

HTH,
Mark

 

Hmm interesting. I came across this issue before but at the time, there
was only Lawrence Baldwin's post which is only right for PPPoE on DSL
(possibly not even right for that). I asked him but he said he switched
over from DSL to cable and never completed the new calculations. I did
some more searching and did my own calculations and can't remember
whether I reached the same conclusions but it looks like it since I
think I just did the same thing as the other person did. I believe I
posted something about this to the NZ-Dsl list. In any case, it didn't
matter much at the time since it was the days when we we're speed
limited at the IP level (or whatever it's called) which meant MTU
issues related to the ATM shouldn't apply. Now that we're limited at
the ATM/line level, it should make a difference though I suspect but as
you say, the difference is so small despite our miniscule speeds it's
of little importance to most of us