MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) is a networking term that refers to the largest size of a data packet that can be transmitted over a network path without being fragmented. Fragmentation is the process of breaking up a large packet into smaller packets so that they can be transmitted over a network with a smaller MTU. Fragmentation can cause performance problems, as it introduces additional overhead and can lead to packets being dropped if they are not reassembled correctly.
The MTU is typically set by the network administrator and can vary depending on the type of network and the equipment being used. The default MTU for Ethernet networks is 1500 bytes, but it can be increased to improve performance on networks with high-speed links. However, increasing the MTU can also increase the risk of fragmentation, so it is important to find the optimal MTU for each network.
