Abstract: A method in a data processing system for reducing the learning curve of a transmission control protocol connection. A domain name system is queried for information. The information and a previously used transmission control protocol parameter for a transmission control protocol connection are received from the domain name system. The information and the previously used transmission control protocol parameter are used to configure a current transmission control protocol connection.

Abstract: Administering acknowledgment messages (‘ACKs’) in the Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”) that include establishing a TCP connection between a sender and a receiver, receiving by the receiver one or more TCP messages from the sender, and transmitting an ACK from the receiver to the sender only when necessary. Administering ACKs in TCP according to embodiments of the present invention may include measuring by the sender a round trip time for transmission of TCP messages between the sender and the receiver and transmitting to the receiver a data-bearing TCP message once per round trip time. Establishing a TCP connection between a sender and a receiver may include measuring by the receiver a round trip time for transmission of TCP messages between the receiver and the sender. Transmitting an ACK only when necessary may include transmitting an ACK when no message from the sender arrives at the receiver for two round trip times.

Abstract: Determining availability of a destination for computer network communications that include providing on a caching device a destination availability cache comprising at least one cache entry representing availability of a destination and providing, from the caching device to a source, through computer network communications, information indicating the availability of the destination. In typical embodiments, the cache entry comprises a network address of a destination device and a time limitation for the cache entry.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing a message size for communication in a communication network are disclosed. The method comprises identifying a connection to a target, sending to a path maximum transmission unit value server (which is not the target) a request for a path maximum transmission unit value for the connection to the target, and, in response to receiving the path maximum transmission unit value for the connection to the target from the server, optimizing a communication by sending to the target a packet having a size in accordance with the value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for discovering a path maximum transmission unit. The method comprises receiving a data packet from a first remote device for transmission to a second remote device and determining if a size of the received data packet is greater than a maximum transmission unit (MTU) value. In response to determining that the size of the received data packet is greater than the MTU value, the method further comprises transmitting a portion of the received data packet to the second remote device and transmitting a message to the first remote device indicating that the size of the received data packet exceeds the MTU value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling reordered data packets. A method comprises receiving a data packet and determining if the data packet is received out of order. The method further comprises delaying transmission of an acknowledgement indicating that a data packet is missing in response to determining that the data packet is received out of order.

Abstract: A dynamically-enforceable application-controlled quasi-reliable extension to TCP permits a client application to dynamically set a percent loss tolerance for data transmission reliability through network input/output system calls to the TCP, thereby programming the transport layer to optimistically acknowledge non-critical missing frames. The reliability requirement can be dynamically set within TCP to the level of reliability required for specific data frames within the data stream during the data transfer. Based on this loss tolerance specified, the TCP layer makes a determination whether to trigger a retransmission or continue delivering out-of-order frames to the application. A forced acknowledgement frame is sent for each missing packet until the number missing packets causing forced acknowledgments within the current receive buffer frame exceeds the loss tolerance.