For an explanation of terms used, Click Here

Changing the MaxMTU and other Network Settings
These settings are for analogue modems. (Dialup Modems)
Before you begin you might want to install Client for Microsoft Networks. This will give you the advantage of automatically logging onto your ISP when ever you run a program that requires the Internet. There is improved support for TCP/IP throughput. (The way in which your MTU packets are sized before sending)

To Install Client for Microsoft Networks

1. In Control Panel, double-click Network, and then click Add.
2. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, double-click Client.
3. In the Select Network Client dialog box, click Microsoft in the Manufacturers list, and then click Client for Microsoft Networks in the Network Clients list. Click OK.
4. You now have Client for Microsoft Networks in the Installed Components window. Left click on Client For Microsoft Networks, left click Properties tab. Place a dot in Logon and Restore Network Connection. Click OK.
5. Now left click on Dial-up Adapter, and Properties. Enable Point to Point IP should read "Yes". IP Packet Size (if you are running windows 98 on an ISP), in the drop down box, should have Small. Click OK
6. Now left click on TCP/IP in the Components window, and Properties. A dialog box pops up telling you that you have requested to change your TCP/IP settings. Click OK and carry on.
7. On the DNS tab, Disable DNS Configuration
8. On the Wins Resolution tab, Disable Wins Resolution
9. On the IP Address tab, this will depend on if your ISP Automatically assigns you an IP Address when you log onto the server or not. Most ISP's do Automatically Assign one. Place a dot in the Obtain an IP address automatically if this is the case for your particular ISP.
10. Go back to the Configuration tab and in the Primary Network Logon slot use the drop arrow to select Windows Logon. Click OK
11. Now the program might ask you for the Win98 cd so it can find certain files to complete your network settings. If you are updated with your Internet Explorer Updates you might have later versions then what your computer is asking for so instead of letting it look at your Win98 CD for the files, direct the search to your C:\Windows\System folder or C:\Windows. If it doesn't find them in either of these then let it have its way and into the CD for the files.
12. Answer Yes to any questions that first states that A File That is Being Copied Is Older Then The One Already in Your System. Do You Want To Keep This File?
13. You will be prompted to restart Windows. Click OK.
14. Use Internet Explorer to connect to the Internet for the first time and be sure to put the checkmarks into the Save Password and Automatically Connect.
15. If you have a problem connecting, call your Internet Service Provider and they will help you out with getting online. It won't be anything to hard. Just some little misconfiguration.

Warning: Back up your Registry before we get started

There are four network settings that can be configured so when dialing to an ISP, you should get somewhat greater throughput.
They are the MaxMTU, MaxMSS and DefaultRcvWindow, and DefaultTTL

To find your MaxMTU setting here is a little text to run in DOS Prompt
The optimum MaxMTU is actually determined by you ISP, here's a way to determine the optimum MaxMTU setting. Open a DOS Prompt window and enter the following command until you know exactly which is the largest packet size that doesn't get fragmented:
C:\> ping -f -l [PacketSize] [www.localisp.com] ( type this without the brackets and don't forget the spaces) where [packetSize] is the size of the data packet you will send (only use values between 0 and 576) and [www.localisp.com] is the URL of your ISP.

e.g.: ping -f -l 576 www.telus.net (hit enter) (before the 576 is not a number one. it is an "el")

The biggest value that does not give you the error "Packet needs to be fragmented, but DF set" will either be the MTU of your ISP, or their MTU-28 (without the header), depending on the server settings.
tip: if the number you arrive at is 548 then your MTU is set to 576. (576 minus 28 for header) Your ISP is including header in its Maximum Transmitted Units.

Windows will then automatically set the MaxMSS setting to (MaxMTU - 40), which is 536, or you could add the value yourself too.

Setting the MaxMTU and MaxMSS

Start Regedit
Go to Hkey_Local_Machine/System/CurrentControlset/Services/Class/netTrans/000n
(where n is your particular network adapter binding.)
Right click on the right panel
Select New / String Value
Type in MaxMTU
Double click on it and enter then the number you want. The usual change is to 576
Similarly, you can add MaxMSS and give it a value of 536

Setting DefaultRcvWindows and DefaultTTL

Start Regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/VxD/MSTCP
Add a new string DefaultRcvWindow and give it a value of 2144
Add a new string DefaultTTL and give it a value of 128

These are for Win 98 only

Start Regedit
Go toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/VxD\MSTCP
Add a new dword Tcp1323Opts and give it a value of 3
Add a new string SackOptsand give it a value of 1
Add a new string BSDUrgent and give it a value of 1

Setting Com Port Speed
The Windows default Com Port speed is set very low to prevent quite old modems running into problems. This slows downloading - data passes through the Port far too slowly.

Increase the Port speed in Device Manager
Right-click My Computer and then select:
Properties • Device Manager • Ports (COM & LPT)

Select the Port you use, and then Properties • Port Settings

28,800K modem Use 38,400 or 57,600 bits per second
33,600K modem Use 57,600 or 115,200 bps
56,000K modem Use 115,200 or 230,400 bps

Note:
Internal modems should also be configured in the Modems applet in Control Panel and Dialup Networking in My Computer.

Stop Modem Time-Outs

If the modem times out during long delays, file transfers or Web downloads, you can reset the timeout variable. From Regedit, open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/Class/Modem/000n(where n is your modem number)/Settings. Double-click on Inactivity Timeout and change the number in the brackets to the amount of minutes you want the inactivity time to allow. For example, enter S19=<30> for a 30-minute toleration before timing out or 120 for a 2 hour timeout toleration.

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