1) Consider the effect of using slow start on a line with a 10 msec RTT and no congestion.
The receiver window is 24 KB and the maximum segment size is 2 KB. How long does it
take before the first full window can be sent?
Solution-
Given-
Receiver window size = 24 KB
Maximum Segment Size = 2 KB
RTT = 10 msec
Receiver Window Size-
Receiver window size in terms of MSS
= Receiver window size / Size of 1 MSS
= 24 KB / 2 KB
= 12 MSS
Slow Start Threshold-
Slow start Threshold
= Receiver window size / 2
= 12 MSS / 2
= 6 MSS
Slow Start Phase-
Window size at the start of 1st transmission = 1 MSS
Window size at the start of 2nd transmission = 2 MSS
Window size at the start of 3rd transmission = 4 MSS
Window size at the start of 4th transmission = 6 MSS
Since the threshold is reached, so it marks the end of slow start phase.
Now, congestion avoidance phase begins.
Congestion Avoidance Phase-
Window size at the start of 5th transmission = 7 MSS
Window size at the start of 6th transmission = 8 MSS
Window size at the start of 7th transmission = 9 MSS
Window size at the start of 8th transmission = 10 MSS
Window size at the start of 9th transmission = 11 MSS
Window size at the start of 10th transmission = 12 MSS
From here,
Window size at the end of 9th transmission or at the start of 10th transmission is 12 MSS.
Thus, 9 RTT’s will be taken before the first full window can be sent.
So,
Time taken before the first full window is sent
= 9 RTT’s
= 9 x 10 msec
= 90 msec
2) Consider an instance of TCP’s Additive Increase Multiplicative Decrease (AIMD)
algorithm where the window size at the start of slow start phase is 2 MSS and the
threshold at the start of first transmission is 8 MSS. Assume that a time out occurs during
the fifth transmission. Find the congestion window size at the end of tenth transmission.
Solution-
Given-
Window size at the start of slow start phase = 2 MSS
Threshold at the start of first transmission = 8 MSS
Time out occurs during 5th transmission
Slow Start Phase-
Window size at the start of 1st transmission = 2 MSS
Window size at the start of 2nd transmission = 4 MSS
Window size at the start of 3rd transmission = 8 MSS
Since the threshold is reached, so it marks the end of slow start phase.
Now, congestion avoidance phase begins.
Congestion Avoidance Phase-
Window size at the start of 4th transmission = 9 MSS
Window size at the start of 5th transmission = 10 MSS
It is given that time out occurs during 5th transmission.
TCP reacts by-
Setting the slow start threshold to half of the current congestion window size.
Decreasing the congestion window size to 2 MSS (Given value is used).
Resuming the slow start phase.
So now,
Slow start threshold = 10 MSS / 2 = 5 MSS
Congestion window size = 2 MSS
Slow Start Phase-
Window size at the start of 6th transmission = 2 MSS
Window size at the start of 7th transmission = 4 MSS
Window size at the start of 8th transmission = 5 MSS
Since the threshold is reached, so it marks the end of slow start phase.
Now, congestion avoidance phase begins.
Congestion Avoidance Phase-
Window size at the start of 9th transmission = 6 MSS
Window size at the start of 10th transmission = 7 MSS
Window size at the start of 11th transmission = 8 MSS
From here,
Window size at the end of 10th transmission
= Window size at the start of 11th transmission
= 8 MSS
3) Suppose that the TCP congestion window is set to 18 KB and a time out occurs. How big
will the window be if the next four transmission bursts are all successful? Assume that
the MSS is 1 KB.
Solution-
Congestion Window Size-
Congestion window size in terms of MSS
= 18 KB / Size of 1 MSS
= 18 KB / 1 KB
= 18 MSS
Reaction Of TCP On Time Out-
TCP reacts by-
Setting the slow start threshold to half of the current congestion window size.
Decreasing the congestion window size to 1 MSS.
Resuming the slow start phase.
So now,
Slow start threshold = 18 MSS / 2 = 9 MSS
Congestion window size = 1 MSS
Slow Start Phase-
Window size at the start of 1st transmission = 1 MSS
Window size at the start of 2nd transmission = 2 MSS
Window size at the start of 3rd transmission = 4 MSS
Window size at the start of 4th transmission = 8 MSS
Window size at the start of 5th transmission = 9 MSS
Thus, after 4 successful transmissions, window size will be 9 MSS or 9 KB.
