TTL

TTL (Time To Live)

This parameter defines the value of a field sent in the IP header that controls how long a data packet is to be allowed to "survive" before it is discarded. The number specifies the number of servers the packet can pass through on its way to its destination ("hops") before it is considered lost. Although TTL doesn't affect throughput speed directly, larger values can make access times much longer because they increase the time it takes for a packet to be considered lost, discarded and retransmitted. Values that are too small can make it impossible for the packets to reach distant servers at all, as they will always be discarded. The default setting in Windows® 95 was 32, but the Internet has grown very rapidly since then and this is now often too low. The Windows® 98 default is 128 and this is still good for most purposes.