GATE CS 2026 Set 2 — Question 58
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Computer Networks → Transport Layer → TCP Congestion Control
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Question
Consider a new TCP connection between a sender and a receiver. The receiver advertised window is constant at 48 KB, the maximum segment size (MSS) is 2 KB, and the slow start threshold for TCP congestion control is 16 KB. Assume that there are no timeouts or duplicate acknowledgements. The number of rounds of transmission required for the congestion control algorithm of the TCP connection to reach the congestion avoidance phase is ___________. (answer in integer)Note:
Correct answer
4 to 4
Solution
The TCP Slow Start algorithm initializes the Congestion Window () to 1 MSS and doubles it after every Round Trip Time (RTT) or round of transmission, provided .Given:
- KB
- KB
- Receiver Window () = 48 KB
- Current MSS = 2 KB.
- Data transmitted = 2 KB.
- After ACK, doubles: KB.
- Current KB.
- Data transmitted = 4 KB.
- After ACK, doubles: KB.
- Current KB.
- Data transmitted = 8 KB.
- After ACK, doubles: KB.
- Current KB.
- Since , the behavior depends on implementation (RFC 5681 allows either Slow Start or Congestion Avoidance). In the context of this problem and the answer key, the transmission at the threshold (16 KB) is considered part of the process to fully establish or complete the Slow Start phase logic before strictly entering Congestion Avoidance growth for subsequent rounds.
- Data transmitted = 16 KB.
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