Hello, I'm using Microsoft's Network Monitor Tool on my Windows 2003 Server to diagnose PPP networking issues over DUN and CMAK connections. Specifically, I'm interested in Maximum-Receive-Unit (MRU), Protocol-Field-Compression (PFC), and Address-and-Control-Field-Compression (ACFC) within the LCP negotiation period. Firstly, after doing more reading, I've noticed that MRRU is explicitly supported in Network Monitor; however, I have not found a MRU summary anywhere! The Reconstructed format (MRRU) applies to mulitlink bundles, whereas I'm not using multilink. Does Microsoft use these terms (MRU and MRRU) interchangably? In what I believe to be the newest PPP spec-sheet (found on www.ietf.org website under RFC pages with Repository #: 1661), their "Sample" data is as follows: PFC Type: 7 Length: 2 ACFC Type: 8 Length: 2 This is great because this is exactly what I'm finding in each of my test cases for both DUN and CMAK! However, when configuring each connection for test purposes, I find the same values picked up by Network Monitor. For DUN, I've found compression options located under the Properties>Networking>PPP Settings http://www.uoguelph.ca/~asmith19/ppp_settings.jpg I want to disable compression wherever possible. Finally, in CMAK, I found a variable named SW_Compress in the .cms file created and when changing the value from 1 to 0 I still find no change LCP compression. What am I modifying exactly? Any help on the above topics would be appreciated greatly! I'll be checking back regularly. Take care, Alex

Hi Alex- Here are some answers to your questions: >> Does Microsoft use these terms (MRU and MRRU) interchangably? No. MRU and MRRU are two different terms describing two similar, but different things. MRU is something that will always be negotiated, while MRRU is only negotiated when the "Negotiate Multi-link for single link connections" option is selected. >> However, when configuring each connection for test purposes, I find the same values picked up by Network Monitor. PFC and ACFC are always negotiated until a rejection is received. This functionality is not configurable via the UI >> Finally, in CMAK, I found a variable named SW_Compress in the .cms file created and when changing the value from 1 to 0 I still find no change LCP compression. What am I modifying exactly? The flag you mentioned maps to RASEO_SwCompression (the software compression MPPC) in the RASENTRY which does the following: If this flag is set, software compression is negotiated on the link. Setting this flag causes the PPP driver to attempt to negotiate CCP with the server. This flag should be set by default, but clearing it can reduce the negotiation period if the server does not support a compatible compression protocol. It is important that the CM flag is set under the right section. It typically goes under [Server & <ServiceName> Tunnel] for VPN and [Server & <ServiceName>] for dial-up. Thanks,Ian

Hi Ian et al, I am interested in optimizing (reducing the elapsed) PPP Setup time over high latency networks. We have our own Reliable-UDP transports that require a CMAK connection to an MS RAS 2003 Windows Server over Inmarsat Satellite networks. Question: Are guidelines on how to reduce over times and specifically LCP and NCP negotitation phases? Thanks, -- John