WinDOwS Tricks - Part 7
REQUIREMENTS:
This workaround applies to ALL America Online users who:
BACKGROUND INFO:
DEFINITION: Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) or packet size of a Network/ISP is the largest amount of data that can be transferred in one physical frame on that Network. Fragmentation will occur if a packet is sent across a Network that has a MTU smaller than the packet's frame length. This leads to lower performance as fragments need to be reassembled. The workaround in this case is to decrease the Winsock's MTU value to match the minimum MTU of ALL intervening Networks. Since it is virtually impossible to determine the minimum MTU of so many Networks, trial and error is almost always the best choice. Start by trying to match your MTU value with your Network/ISP's MTU. Typical cases:
The only way for ALL AOL members to connect to the Internet (so far) is by using AOL's software, [:-(] which in ALL 32-bit releases implements its own built-in version of MTU setting of 1500. AOL's "mtu" parameter is found under this Registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\America
Online\AOL\aolsock
"mtu"=dword:000005dc
and canNOT be changed when using version 3.0, 4.0 or
5.0 of AOL 32-bit client.
It is ALWAYS reset to AOL's default value of 1500 whenever one logs on to AOL, by being
"hardwired" into AOLNDI.DLL, a file installed by the AOL 32-bit software, and located both in AOL's folder and in Windows
95/98's C:\Windows\System subfolder.
And if the "aolsock" Registry key is present, AOL
32-bit software also resets (depending on different Dial-Up Networking system configurations) the NetTrans MaxMTU [Win95] or
Net IPMTU [Win98] back to 1500 under the TCP/IP Registry keys, corresponding to the "AOL Adapter"
and "TCP/IP -> AOL Adapter" items, found on the Network Control Panel applet list.
But I have
found a way around this AOL's limitation. [looks more like a bug to me... :-)]
FAST FIX:
To speed up your AOL connection, and the same time skip the techno "geek speak" in this article, I recommend using the new versions of these fine programs, the only ones that (so far) apply ALL the Win95/98/AOL/MTU recommended tweaks described below to your system:
This topic suggested by Steve Bass, PC World Editor + author of PC Annoyances book.
THE WORKAROUNDS DETAILED:
DELETE "aolsock":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\America Online
Export the ENTIRE Registry key
above to a text file, using Regedit's "Registry" -> "Export Registry
File" feature. Save it as AOLKEY.TXT, or download AOLKEY.REG.
It's safer
to choose the .TXT extension instead of the default .REG, so you don't re-register (merge this key again into the Registry)
by accident. :)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\America Online\AOL\aolsock
IMPORTANT: You need to repeat ALL STEPS described here EVERY time after you (re)install ANY 32-bit version of AOL software, because it ALWAYS rewrites the "aolsock" Registry key, and also resets the AOL "mtu", the TCP/IP NetTrans "MaxMTU" (Win95), and/or the Net "IPMTU" (Win98) values back to 1500!
Recommended Registry
values for AOL:
• Win95/OSR2 users: MaxMTU=576
• Win98/98 SE users: IPMTU=576
A MUST: READ my original/unique "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2"
tweak, also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to MAXimize your AOL analog modem
connection speed by adjusting your MTU to ANY value you want!
AOL MTU in USA and Canada is actually 1500. But AOL
servers do NOT support the "do not fragment bit" protocol, therefore you NEED to use MTU=576 with
AOL for MAXimum performance!
NOTE: MaxMTU [Win95], IPMTU [Win98], DefaultRcvWindow [RWIN], DefaultTTL [TTL] and cachesize [NDI] are NOT present in your Registry if you have never used a "MTU tweaker" like EasyMTU, or added them yourself using a Registry editor like Regedit.
WINDOWS 95 + OSR2 USERS ONLY:
• THE EASY WAY [USE THE REG FILE]:
All necessary
settings can be implemented by using the included file: AOLMTU95.REG (or
restored by using AOLDEF95.REG, also included). But FIRST open
these .REG files in Notepad and compare the Registry keys listed there with yours. To view/edit your Win95 Registry, run the
Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder), and scroll to the keys listed in AOLMTU95.REG + AOLDEF95.REG. The "DriverDesc"="TCP/IP" NetTrans keys: 0000,
0001, 0002 might have different values on your system. You may have more than one "000n"/"00nn" NetTrans keys ("n" and "nn"
are actual numbers, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings). If that is true,
you HAVE TO REPLACE THEM with the ones found in YOUR Registry!
After modifying the AOLMTU95.REG + AOLDEF95.REG keys to match YOURS, (double)-click on
AOLMTU95.REG in Explorer or File Manager, to merge (register) the new settings.
Then restart Win95, log on to AOL as
usual, and notice any differences in access speed.
• THE HARD WAY :) [MODIFY THE REGISTRY MANUALLY]:
Run the Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder) and set MaxMTU to 576 (Win95 MaxMTU default value is 1500) into ALL
your TCP/IP NetTrans Registry keys (these are the SLIP/PPP protocol keys). You may have more than
one.
Examples (these are ONLY my TCP/IP NetTrans registry keys, you MUST customize YOURS to get similar
results):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0000
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0002
"MaxMTU"="576"
"MaxMTU"="576"
"MaxMTU"="576"
MEANING:
"MaXMTU" =
Maximum Transmission Unit, or MTU (packet size in Bytes).
Valid values: MTU = MSS + 40.
Respectively: 576, 1006, 1500 (other values are valid
as well, depending on the MTU used by different ISPs).
AOL in USA/Canada: MTU = 1500. But AOL servers do NOT support the "do not fragment bit" protocol, therefore you NEED to
use MTU = 576 with AOL for maximum performance!
Default: 1500.
Recommended: 576.
Data type: string:
"MaxMTU"="576"
To determine EXACTLY which NetTrans keys you need to alter (and NO others), bear in mind that you MUST have this entry:
"DriverDesc"="TCP/IP"
under EACH of your TCP/IP NetTrans keys you want
to modify! Change/add the MaxMTU string ONLY under your NetTrans keys that have "TCP/IP" on the
"DriverDesc" line!
You may have more than one "00nn" NetTrans keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings).
Here there are two possibilities:
Repeat the steps above for ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans keys, to include the recommended values for MaxMTU.
Restart
Windows 95 when done so all changes can take effect.
WINDOWS 98 + 98 SE(U) USERS ONLY:
• THE EASY WAY [USE THE REG FILE]:
All necessary settings can be implemented by using the included file: AOLMTU98.REG (or restored by using AOLDEF98.REG, also included). But FIRST open these .REG files in
Notepad and compare the Registry keys listed there with yours. To view/edit your Win98 Registry, run the Registry editor
(REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win98 folder), and scroll to the keys listed in AOLMTU98.REG + AOLDEF98.REG. The "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter" and
"DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter" Net keys: 0000, 0001 etc might have different values on your system. You may have more than one
"00nn" Net keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up
settings). If that is true, you HAVE TO REPLACE THEM with the ones found in YOUR Registry!
After modifying the AOLMTU98.REG + AOLDEF98.REG keys to match YOURS, (double)-click on AOLMTU98.REG in
Explorer or File Manager, to merge (register) the new settings.
Then restart Win98, log on to AOL as usual, and notice any
differences in access speed.
• THE HARD WAY :) [MODIFY THE REGISTRY MANUALLY]:
These are the Registry settings you can change to get the fastest possible AOL/Internet connection under Windows 98, using the TCP/IP protocol (Dial-Up Networking) and AOL (America Online) 32-bit 3.0/4.0/5.0, only if you connect to AOL through an AOL local phone number:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000
"SLOWNET"=hex:00
"IPMTU"="576"
Make sure you modify these values ONLY under the Net keys that display "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter" and/or "DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter" in the right hand pane!
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\00nn
Then track down all "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" instances and modify them as described above. Example (nn = 01):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0001
"IPMTU"="576"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000\Ndi\params\IPMTU
"default"="576"
The same 00nn -> 0000, 0001... etc substitution principle (see above) applies
here.
Change the "default" string found in the right hand pane from 0 (Win98's default
"Automatic" setting) to 576.
Restart Windows 98 when done so all changes can take effect.
Tweak these other Registry settings (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!) to speed-up your AOL connection (ALL Win98 AND Win95 users): follow the guidelines in the "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 2" topic, also in REGISTRY.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
You may gain MORE modem transfer speed by adding/modifying this line under your SYSTEM.INI's [386enh] section to read:
COMBoostTime=1
SYSTEM.INI is a text file
located in your Windows folder. Open it for editing in Notepad.
The "COMBoostTime" setting affects
the time (in milliseconds) the Operating System processes a COM port interrupt. The default value is 2. If you notice
a loss of keyboard characters while using your ISP/AOL/communications programs, increase COMBoostTime to 4 (further
experimenting may be necessary to determine your own optimal setting).
NOTE: You need to RESTART Windows EVERY time after modifying ANY SYSTEM.INI settings!
"One more speedup trick: You can save two to six seconds every time you go to your favorite web pages.
Just use a HOSTS file. This is your very own DNS server, right in your own PC, and it translates the domain name into an IP
address. That means when your browser tries to contact www.microsoft.com, the HOSTS file runs interference, changes the URL
into an IP address (207.46.131.137) and speeds up the time it takes to get there.
Many programs create and manage HOSTS
files. I don't have a favorite... any of them will do the job."
See HOSTS Files, Guides +
Tools [freeware].
This topic courtesy of Steve Bass, PC World
Editor + author of PC Annoyances book.
HINT: By default the HOSTS file (no extension) is located in your Win95/98 folder. Edit it with Notepad, to
read the usage guidelines and then add your frequently visited web sites IP addresses/host names.
To get the IP address of
your favorite server, let's say www.pcworld.com, run PING (a Networking tool found also in your Win95/98 folder) from a DOS
prompt box/session, while connected to the Internet:
ping www.pcworld.com
These are the IP numbers you need:
Pinging www.pcworld.com [209.1.23.30] etc...
Copy them on a separate line into your Hosts file:
209.1.23.30 www.pcworld.com # PC World
Everything after the pound sign
(#) is a comment.
Repeat this operation for each web site you want added.
TIP: Most web sites use
dynamic IP addresses, meaning the numbers change every time you try to access them. Therefore you might want to PING the same
site more than once, and then add ALL IP numbers found for that site, followed by the host/website name (see example above)
on separate lines in your Hosts file. Read "AOL PROXY SERVER", also in AOLTIPS.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for step-by-step
guidelines. NOTE: The AOL MTU workaround (described above) needs to be applied AFTER enabling
the AOL proxy feature, in order to make the faster AOL MTU of 576 work properly! Enabling the AOL proxy in your browser might
revert the AOL MTU back to 1500 on some Win9x systems!
In this case, if you'd like to speedup your AOL connection by using
a MTU of 576, you might have to disable the AOL proxy.
RESTORE DEFAULTS:
If you experience slow-downs accessing AOL and/or the Internet after applying the above workarounds:
; COMBoostTime=1
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:
Download ALL above mentioned Registration files (.REG) + complete usage guidelines (MAXSPEED.TXT): MAXSPEED.ZIP [12 KB]!
TIPS:
MANDATORY UPGRADES: You might also see modem speed improvements over the Internet by installing these free Microsoft communications upgrades:
You may need to switch back to AOL's default "mtu" value of 1500 if your connection slows down (you have to wait a while longer to access web sites/download files), depending on your location, phone number/protocol used to connect, or if you use a 3rd party ISP to connect to AOL that requires a MTU value of 1500 at server end.
To determine the EXACT MTU value used by your ISP/Online Service, especially if you connect to the Internet/AOL using an ISP other than AOL, apply one of the following methods:
BTW: ... Almost forgot: [:-)]
ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR FILES TO A SAFE LOCATION BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES!
Respectively:
Happy surfing!
ISP/Online Service Location MTU value --------------------------------------------------------- America Online (AOL) USA 1500 [*] America Online (AOL) Canada 1500 [*] AT&T Worldnet USA 576 CompuServe (CS) USA 576 Concentric Network USA 576 EarthLink USA 576 Verizon USA 576 MicroSoft Network (MSN) USA 576 NetZero USA 576 Prodigy USA 576 SNiP USA 576
[*] = AOL in USA/Canada: MTU = 1500. But AOL servers do NOT support the "do not fragment bit" protocol, therefore you NEED to use MTU = 576 with AOL for maximum performance! For details on how to tweak your AOL connection to the MAX, read "AOL MAXMTU REVISITED", also in AOLTIPS.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
To obtain your ISP's EXACT MTU value:
PING -f -l MTU www.your_isp_name.com
or for ISPs that have the "net" suffix instead of "com":
PING -f -l MTU www.your_isp_name.net
You MUST use a MTU packet size (i.e. 576) IDENTICAL with or LOWER than the one in your Registry [see "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2", also in TIPS98.TXT (part of W95-11D.EXE), for complete details!], to obtain non-fragmented "pings". Using a MTU larger than the one in your Registry will return ALL packets as fragmented! Replace "your_isp_name" above (don't type the quotes) with your actual ISP name. Example:
PING -f -l 576 www.att.net
if using AT&T WorldNet as your ISP.
Compare the PING times with different packet sizes and adjust
your MTU for maximum speed, as described in "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2", also in TIPS98.TXT
[part of W95-11D.EXE].
NOTE: In certain cases you need to add 28 to the MTU value returned after pinging your ISP's server, because some ISPs do NOT account for the IP or ICMP header values when reporting their MTUs!
The table below contains the Win95/98 recommended Internet settings for the following ISPs and AOL, valid in USA and Canada:
ISP MTU RWIN TTL Cachesize Port speed Modem speed FIFO Buffers COMBoostTime -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AOL 576 2144 128 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4 AT&T Worldnet 576 2144 64 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4 CompuServe 576 2144 64 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4 EarthLink 576 2144 128 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4 MSN 576 2144 64 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4 Prodigy 576 2144 64 16 921,600 115,200 Full 4
IMPORTANT: To learn how to modify your MaxMTU (Win95 users) or IPMTU (Win98 users) values, and many other important Win95/98 settings (DefaultRcvWindow, DefaultTTL, cachesize, COM Port speed, COMBoostTime etc) to boost your Internet connection to the MAX, read these related topics, also included with W95-11D.EXE:
NOTE: If you have knowledge of MTU values used by other ISPs not listed here, recommended settings for
your ISP, or have corrections regarding this topic, please e-mail me.
I will NOT post your name or
e-mail address here for privacy reasons, because some ISPs don't like to have their MTU values made available publicly (?),
but your time and concern are greatly appreciated nonetheless.
IMPORTANT:
The AOL
MTU ©workaround, also in AOLTIPS.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], needs to be applied AFTER
enabling the AOL proxy feature, in order to make the faster AOL MTU of 576 work properly!
Also, enabling the AOL
proxy in your browser might revert the AOL MTU back to 1500 on some Win9x systems! In this case, if you'd like to speedup
your AOL connection by using a MTU of 576, you might need to disable it.
The AOL proxy server works ONLY IF YOU:
AOL PROXY SERVER USING NETSCAPE BROWSERS:
... Appears courtesy of Jason, and updated courtesy of Ben:
AOL PROXY SERVER USING MICROSOFT BROWSERS:
To use the AOL proxy server feature with your 32-bit Windows 9x/ME Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5/6 browser (started separately, NOT using AOL's custom IE interface from within AOL), apply these easy steps, courtesy of The Captain, and updated courtesy of Ben:
"This works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0x 32-bit (instructions for 1.0x, 2.0x, 3.0x, 5.0x + 6.0x are slightly different) and AOL 32-bit software in Windows 9x/ME.
Open IE4 -> click View
-> Internet Options -> Connection tab. Place a check mark in "Access the Internet using a proxy server". Type
in:
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
in the Address field, then type:
80
for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
443
for secure sites (HTTPS) in
the Port field, and check "Bypass proxy server for local (Intranet) addresses".
Click OK twice.
Open IE5 -> click
Tools -> Internet Options -> click "LAN Settings" under the "Connection" tab to list the "Proxy Server" options
on the bottom half of the window that comes up. Place a check mark in "Use a proxy server". In the "Address"
box type:
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
In the "Port" box type:
80
for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
443
for secure sites
(HTTPS).
Click OK twice."
NOTE: If you use another ISP besides AOL as your alternative or primary Internet connection (and then eventually log on to AOL through AOL's TCP/IP protocol), you need to disable the AOL proxy in your web browser while connected to your other ISP, and eventually enable the specific proxy for your ISP, if available.
UPDATE: [Thank you
Ben!]
"I investigated the AOL proxy server option further, and discovered that
"ie3.proxy.aol.com" and "www3.proxy.aol.com" must be "generic" names for all "vip-**.proxy.aol.com"
servers.
Maybe they're juggling this around because too many users who aren't "Very Important People" (VIP) are using the
"ie3.proxy.aol.com" setting. :)
If "ie3.proxy.aol.com" is used, the actual server will vary:
vip-wo.proxy.aol.com
vip-wn.proxy.aol.com
vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
etc...
To see what I mean, run:
PING -a -l 548 ie3.proxy.aol.com
eventually changing 548 to various packet (MTU) sizes."
"Any AOLer should ALWAYS use their browser as a STANDALONE and NOT
under the AOL shell, which cripples AOL's internal (built-in) browser (eg. MS Internet Explorer 3/4/5/6) in several ways.
Some Java and JavaScript problems disappear when one loads a web site using MS IE/Netscape as a standalone, outside the AOL
interface.
Many AOLers (especially newbies) don't realize that STANDALONE browsing is possible and BETTER. It also
gets rid of the annoying AOL toolbar that hogs the screen."
FYI:
