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Network Packet Fragmentation Guide

Fragmentation refers to splitting up large packets into smaller fragments so they can travel through networks with size limitations. This allows networks with different maximum packet sizes to interconnect. There are two types of fragmentation: transparent, where fragments are recombined at intermediate gateways, and non-transparent, where fragments are treated as individual packets between gateways and only recombined at the destination host. Non-transparent fragmentation is used by the Internet Protocol and increases overhead but allows more routing flexibility.

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247 views13 pages

Network Packet Fragmentation Guide

Fragmentation refers to splitting up large packets into smaller fragments so they can travel through networks with size limitations. This allows networks with different maximum packet sizes to interconnect. There are two types of fragmentation: transparent, where fragments are recombined at intermediate gateways, and non-transparent, where fragments are treated as individual packets between gateways and only recombined at the destination host. Non-transparent fragmentation is used by the Internet Protocol and increases overhead but allows more routing flexibility.

Uploaded by

shashwat2010
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FRAGMENTATION

- An Internetworking concept

Shashwat Shriparv
dwivedishashwat@[Link]
InfinitySoft
What is fragmentation?

Splitting up things into smaller more


manageable entities for incorporating
ease in use and flexibility in transport.

Where could it possibly come in


Networks ?
Each n/w imposes some maximum
size on its packets, the reason being;
 Hardware (frame size)
 Operating System (buffers size 512 bytes)
 Protocols (no. of bits in packet length field)
 Compliance with some standard
 To reduce error-induced retransmission to
some level
 Prevent packet from choking channel
Problems

 A large packet wants to travel through


a network whose maximum packet
size is small.
 What if the original source packet is
too large to be handled by the
destination network?
 Routing algorithms to prevent such
situation (not applicable)
Fragmentation in networks

 Allow gateways to break up packets


into fragments, sending each packet
as a separate internet packet
 Breaking up a thing is easy, but fixing
it back is not that easy
Types of fragmentation

 Transparent
 Non transparent
Transparent Fragmentation
 Caused by a “small packet” network
transparent to any subsequent networks
through which the packet may pass on its
way to the destination
 Gateways fragment oversized packets,
each addressed to the same exit gateway,
where they are recombined
 The process carries on until destination is
reached
Problems

 Exit gateway should know that it has


received all fragments to start
combination sequence
 All packets must exit via the same
gateway, else data loss occurs
 Overhead required to fragment and
reassemble at each gateway
Non transparent Fragmentation

 Refrain from recombining fragments


at intermediate gateways
 Fragments are considered as packets
and are passed through the gateways
 Recombination occurs only at the
destination host
 IP follows this methodology
Problems

 Requires all hosts to do Reassembly


 Increases overhead, larger the
packet, more the headers
 An advantage being multiple exit
gateways can be employed increasing
the efficiency of the transmission
Schemes
 Fragments should be numbered in a way
that aids recombination
 Trees can be used
 0 can be split as 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 …..
 These can be again fragmented as 0.0.0,
0.0.1, 0.0.2, …….., 0.1.0, 0.1.1 etc.
 Only if enough space is reserved in header
such terminology can be employed
 Sufficient to reorder fragments
THANK YOU
Shashwat Shriparv
dwivedishashwat@[Link]
InfinitySoft

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