TCP flow control relies on the receiver to indicate how much buffer space is available for data at the receiver. How does the receiver provide this information to the sender?
Try an answer before revealing the guidance below.
Key Concepts
- Advertised receive window
- TCP header
- Available buffer
Answer Approach
- Name the TCP receive-window header field.
- Explain that ACKs or data segments carry updates.
- State how the sender uses the value.
Full Answer
Answer status: Verified against study notes. Revision notes, not an official marking scheme.
The receiver advertises its current available buffer space in the TCP receive-window field of segments it sends to the sender, including acknowledgments. The sender uses that advertised window to limit outstanding data.
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