So, Is 1492 MTU Good? Context is King!
2. When does 1492 MTU make sense?
Here's where things get interesting. Is 1492 MTU good? The answer, as with most things in tech, is "it depends." Specifically, it depends on your internet connection type. As mentioned earlier, PPPoE connections, which are common for DSL internet, often use an MTU of 1492. This is because PPPoE adds some overhead to the packets, reducing the maximum usable size.
Think of it as adding extra packaging around your shipment. The overall box size is still limited, and the actual item you're shipping needs to be smaller to fit inside with the packaging. The 1492 MTU accounts for that extra "packaging" in the form of PPP headers. If you're using a PPPoE connection and your MTU is set to 1500, you might experience fragmentation, which slows things down. Setting it to 1492 can resolve those issues.
However, if you're not using PPPoE (for example, if you have a cable or fiber connection), 1492 MTU might actually be too small. You'd be limiting the size of your packets unnecessarily, potentially hindering performance. In that case, you'd probably want to stick with the standard 1500 MTU.
The critical takeaway here? Don't just blindly set your MTU to 1492 because someone on the internet told you to! Find out what type of connection you have and whether it requires a smaller MTU. More on how to do that later!
