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Glossary: TCP/IP in Depth, Part 1

path MTU discovery

Also written: PMTUD

Finding the path MTU by sending packets with DF set and listening for "fragmentation needed" errors (Packet Too Big in IPv6) that carry the smaller MTU. It is optional in IPv4 but required in IPv6.

Where the book teaches it

Related terms

path MTUDF (don't fragment)fragmentation neededPMTU black hole