System and method for improved performance using tunable TCP/IP acknowledgement

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory area accessible by the processors;
• a network interface connecting the information handling system to a computer network;
• and
• a packet receiving tool for receiving packets from a sender over the computer network, the packet receiving tool including:
• means for initializing a buffer in the memory area with a buffer size;
• means for receiving a plurality of packets from the sender, each of the packets having a packet size;
• means for storing the packets in the buffer;
• means for removing one or more of the packets from the buffer;
• means for calculating an assumed available buffer size and an actual available buffer size, wherein both the assumed and actual available buffer sizes correspond to the buffer;
• and
• means for sending an acknowledgment to the sender in response to the assumed available buffer size falling below a limit, the acknowledgment including the actual available buffer size.

A computer program product stored in a computer operable media for improving computer network throughput, said computer program product comprising:

• means for initializing a buffer in a memory area with a buffer size;
• means for receiving a plurality of packets from a sender over a computer network, each of the packets having a packet size;
• means for storing the packets in the buffer;
• means for removing one or more of the packets from the buffer;
• means for calculating an assumed available buffer size and an actual available buffer size, wherein both the assumed and actual available buffer sizes correspond to the buffer;
• and
• means for sending an acknowledgment to the sender in response to the assumed available buffer size falling below a limit, the acknowledgment including the actual available buffer size.

A method for improving computer network throughput, said method comprising:

• initializing a buffer in a memory area with a buffer size;
• receiving a plurality of packets from a sender over a computer network, each of the packets having a packet size;
• storing the packets in the buffer;
• removing one or more of the packets from the buffer;
• calculating an assumed available buffer size and an actual available buffer size, wherein both the assumed and actual available buffer sizes correspond to the buffer;
• and
• sending an acknowledgment to the sender in response to the assumed available buffer size falling below a limit, the acknowledgment including the actual available buffer size.