What is the term for splitting up an IP packet when forwarding it from one medium to another medium with a smaller MTU?
The term for splitting up an IP packet when forwarding it from one medium to another medium with a smaller Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is called IP fragmentation.
When an IP packet is larger than the MTU of the next hop network or medium through which it needs to be forwarded, it needs to be fragmented into smaller units that fit within the MTU limit. This fragmentation process is performed by the sending device or router before the packet is transmitted.
IP fragmentation involves dividing the original packet into smaller fragments, each with its own IP header. These fragments can then be transmitted separately and reassembled at the destination device. The IP header contains specific information, such as identification, fragmentation flags, and offset, to allow the reassembly of the original packet.
At the receiving end, the IP fragments are reassembled based on the identification and offset information provided in the IP headers. The process of reassembling the fragments into the original packet ensures that the data is delivered intact.
It’s worth mentioning that IP fragmentation can lead to additional overhead and processing requirements on both the sender and receiver. Additionally, in some cases, fragmentation might cause problems if any of the fragments are lost or experience delays.
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