The Nagle Algorithm

The Nagle Algorithm (IETF RFC 896) is used within RT-TCP/IP to automatically concatenate a number of small buffer messages; this process (called nagling) increases the efficiency of a networks application system by decreasing the number of packets that must be sent (enabled is the standard TCP/IP configuration). RT-TCP/IP allows for the enabling or disabling of the Nagle Algorithm. Use the setsockopt function with TCP_NODELAY set to TRUE for disabled or FALSE for enabled. An example of enabling/disabling the Nagle Algorithm is contained within the client and server source code as a new command line argument (n=0 for enabling, n=1 for disabling).