How should RWIN be set?
RWIN stands for Receive WINdow. This "window" is a buffer, or holding area, that your computer uses to sort the packets of data received when something is downloaded.
Each packet of data that your computer receives needs to be accepted in a certain order before the file you are downloading can be "put back together" on your end. Although these packets of data are sent out in the correct order, sometimes the packets can take different paths and arrive out of order or get lost altogether.
When the next packet of data your computer receives is not the right one (according to its order), your computer has to stop and send a request back to ask for the missing packet. This request takes time. However, because of the RWIN buffer, your computer downloads the data packets to a storage area first. This storage area can hold more than one packet at a time (usually four to six). If the data is received out of order, your computer will continue to download the data packets to this holding area, waiting for the packet that is supposed to come next. Your computer will only have to send a request for the missing packet if your RWIN fills before the needed data packet arrives.
It takes significantly less time for the data packets to pass from your RWIN buffer to your application's memory than it takes for your computer to make a request for a needed data packet. However, setting your RWIN size too large would result in a slower download process. Your computer's RWIN buffer would have to fill completely before it realized that a packet of data was missing (rather than just out of order) and request a retransmission of the packet.
Custom RWIN settings may have an adverse effect and should only be used by expert users and network engineers.
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