Windows 2000/XP Registry Tweaks to speed up networking
Windows 2000 and XP are built on NT technology and both are generally better optimized for networking than Windows 9x and even NT4. Regardless, both XP and 2000 are still configured with respect to Ethernet rather than high-speed Internet connections, where latency plays a major role in throughput. Here, you will find specific information on how to optimize the Windows 2000/XP Registry for Cable Modems, DSL, or any similar type of broadband Internet connection.
Customizing the Windows Registry assumes some proficiency in tuning Windows configuration files. If you don’t feel comfortable editing it, please use our TCP Optimizer program, or the Windows 2000/XP registry patches from the Downloads section of the site. both those options will add all the parameters and set all the optimal values in the Registry automatically for you.
If you’d rather make the changes yourself, or prefer to experiment with different values to fine-tune your connection, follow the directions for editing the Registry below.
Editing the Windows 2000/XP Registry
To edit the Registry, you need to use an editor, such as Regedit. As with previous Windows versions, it can be accessed from the Start Menu ( START > Run > type “Regedit” ). Note that most of the values recommended on these pages are not present in the Registry by default and you might have to add them manually. Also, for most of the tweaks to take effect you must Reboot.
It is strongly recommended that you backup your Registry before editing. The easiest way to backup your Registry is from within the Registry Editor, just choose “Export Registry File” from the pull-down menu.
Recommended settings for Windows 2000 / XP
Windows 2000 & XP, unlike NT supports large windows as described in RFC1323 ( the ‘RcvWindow’ has a maximum value of 2**30 rather than 64K), and includes some other improvements over its predecessors you can use to speed up any TCP/IP transfers. The best settings are listed in red, the descriptions and other options are added to provide you with better understanding and enable you to customize your settings.
All the following entries, unless otherwise noted should be placed in the Windows 2000/XP Registry under the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
TCPWindowSize
The value of TCP Window in the Windows 2000 Registry is DWORD, representing number of bytes, with range from 0 to 2^30. The recommended values (in red) optimize TCP for any high speed Internet connection and work best in most cases, however if you’d like to use a custom value follow these guidelines:
For best results, the TCPWindow should be a multiple of MSS (Maximum Segment Size). MSS is generally MTU - 40, where MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) is the largest packet size that can be transmitted. MTU is usually 1500 (1492 for PPPoE connections). To determine the MTU value of your ISP, check out the Advanced Registry Editing section of our site.
There are three places in the Windows 2000 Registry where you can add the TCP Window parameter.
HKLM/SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
GlobalMaxTcpWindowSize=”256960″ (DWORD, number of bytes) Valid range is from MSS to 2^30. Add the value as a decimal. Note: For best results RWIN has to be a multiple of MSS lower than 65535 times a scale factor that’s a power of 2, i.e. 44 x 1460 = 64240 x 2^2 = 256960. If you choose to use a RWIN lower than 65535, you can simply make it multiple of MSS and turn scaling off (Tcp1323Opts=0)
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
TcpWindowSize=”256960″ (DWORD, number of bytes) Valid range is from MSS to 2^30. Add the value as a decimal. TcpWindowSize can also exist under TcpipParametersInterface - if added at this location, it overrides the global setting for this particular . Note (10/20/00): Seems MS has found another bug in Windows 2000, the TCPWindowSize should be configured with the global setting (GlobalMaxTcpWindowsSize) rather than this one - Q263088
Note: For best results RWIN has to be a multiple of MSS lower than 65535 times a scale factor that’s a power of 2, i.e. 44 x 1460 = 64240 x 2^2 = 256960. If you choose to use a RWIN lower than 65535, you can simply make it multiple of MSS and turn scaling off (Tcp1323Opts=0)
Part-II Continue here
[...] February 22, 2008 by culpritz Read Part-I here [...]
Does the TCPIP driver for XP run from the Hard Disk. We have a simulation environment that uses sockets extensively. What I have picked up is that if one can run the tcpip.sys driver from a ramdisk it improves speed tremedously but this tweak only works for Windows 2000 and not XP ->> Please advise