TCP Connection and Buffer Space

In a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection, data is transferred between a sender and a receiver. The receiver has a buffer space to store the incoming data, and the sender has a window size that determines the amount of data it can send before receiving an acknowledgment.

Buffer Space and Window Size

The buffer space in the receiver represents the amount of available memory to store incoming data. It is typically measured in bytes. In this case, the buffer space size is given as 8, which means it can hold 8 bytes of data.

The sender's window size, on the other hand, represents the number of bytes that the sender is allowed to send before waiting for an acknowledgment from the receiver. In this case, the sender's window size is given as 2, which means it can send 2 bytes of data before waiting for an acknowledgment.

Congestion Window Size

The congestion window size refers to the number of packets that can be sent without causing congestion in the network. It is a mechanism used to control the flow of data and ensure that the network does not become overwhelmed.

In this case, the congestion window size is given as 2. This means that the sender can only send 2 packets before it needs to wait for an acknowledgment. The congestion window size is typically determined by the network conditions and can be adjusted dynamically to optimize the data transfer.

Explanation of the Answer

The size of the congestion window is determined by the smaller of the receiver's buffer space and the sender's window size. In this case, the receiver's buffer space is 8 and the sender's window size is 2.

Since the congestion window size is determined by the smaller value, the congestion window size is 2. This means that the sender can only send 2 packets before it needs to wait for an acknowledgment.

By limiting the number of packets that can be sent without acknowledgment, the congestion window size helps prevent congestion in the network. It ensures that the sender does not overwhelm the receiver's buffer space and allows for efficient data transfer.

Conclusion

In a TCP connection, the congestion window size is determined by the smaller value between the receiver's buffer space and the sender's window size. In this case, with a receiver buffer space of 8 and a sender's window size of 2, the congestion window size is 2. This means that the sender can send 2 packets before waiting for an acknowledgment, helping to prevent congestion in the network.