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Networking Intermediate

What is MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit)?

The maximum size of a data packet that can be transmitted over a network without fragmentation.

MTU defines the largest packet size a network link can handle. Standard Ethernet MTU is 1500 bytes. Packets larger than MTU are either fragmented (split into smaller packets) or dropped if the Don't Fragment flag is set.

MTU mismatches cause connectivity issues — packets are silently dropped. Path MTU Discovery automatically finds the smallest MTU along a route. Jumbo frames (MTU 9000) improve performance on local networks. VPN and tunnel overhead may require reducing MTU.

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A virtual network built on top of an existing physical network, enabling features like container networking and VPNs.
Proxy Server
An intermediary server that forwards requests between clients and destination servers, providing caching, filtering, or anonymity.
Reverse Proxy
A server that sits between clients and backend servers, forwarding client requests and returning server responses on their behalf.
Network Bridge
A device or software that connects two or more network segments at the data link layer, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses.
OSI Model
The seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection model that standardizes network communication functions from physical transmission to application protocols.
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
The routing protocol that makes the internet work by exchanging routing information between autonomous systems.
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