What is IP fragmentation?
When data is physically transported on a network, it has to be broken up into MTU (maximum transmission units) because not all equipment can handle large packets. IP fragmentation is when a packet is split into several packets of a specific size (the specified MTU). Once divided, the packets then go on their merry way through the network. This is done so the packet can be routed across a network with equipment that has different specification. Its not neccesarily a bad thing, or needs to be avoided. It decreases overall speed because of associated overhead, but its unrealistic to have huge packets. It’s in fact better to have smaller packets, so at higher levels in the protocol stack, packets can be resent if they’re damaged. If you really wanted to dinker with it, there’s settings on your router, and also inside your OS to set the MTU (what a packet will be fragmented into). But, it shouldn’t make any perceivable difference.
