Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Adjusting the Maximum Segment Size (MSS) value in TCP primarily addresses how much data can be sent in a single segment. The MSS helps to avoid fragmentation of packets, which can occur if the segments are too large for the underlying network infrastructure. When the MSS is configured appropriately, it reduces the risk of fragmentation that might lead to TCP session drops, especially in networks that have varied Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) sizes.

Properly setting the MSS ensures that packets remain within the limits that the network can handle, helping to maintain the integrity of the TCP session. It also optimizes the flow of data by preventing scenarios where a packet would need to be split up, which can lead to increased latency and the need to resend packets if they become lost. This contributes to a more stable TCP connection with fewer interruptions, thus resulting in a lower likelihood of session drops.

The other options do not appropriately reflect the implications of adjusting the MSS. While reduced overhead in data transmission might occur as a secondary effect, the primary focus of MSS adjustments is on maintaining session integrity rather than improving encryption or routing speeds.