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IPv4 Fragmentation

GATE CSE 2016 Set 1 · Q53

NAT2 marksMedium

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An IP datagram of size 1000 bytes arrives at a router. The router has to forward this packet on a link whose MTU (maximum transmission unit) is 100 bytes. Assume that the size of the IP header is 20 bytes. The number of fragments that the IP datagram will be divided into for transmission is ____________.

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Official answer: 13

IPv4 Fragmentation
  1. Total payload to be fragmented: The original IP datagram size is 1000 bytes1000\text{ bytes} with an IP header of 20 bytes20\text{ bytes}.

    Data payload=1000−20=980 bytes\text{Data payload} = 1000 - 20 = 980\text{ bytes}
  2. Maximum data payload per fragment:

    Link MTU=100 bytes\text{Link MTU} = 100\text{ bytes}

    Each fragment requires its own 20 byte20\text{ byte} IP header, leaving:

    100−20=80 bytes100 - 20 = 80\text{ bytes}

    Since the data payload in IP fragments (except possibly the last one) must be a multiple of 8 bytes8\text{ bytes}, and 8080 is divisible by 88, the maximum payload per fragment is 80 bytes80\text{ bytes}.

  3. Number of fragments:

    Number of fragments=⌈98080⌉=⌈12.25⌉=13\text{Number of fragments} = \left\lceil \frac{980}{80} \right\rceil = \lceil 12.25 \rceil = 13

Thus, the IP datagram will be divided into 13 fragments (12 fragments carrying 80 bytes of data each, and 1 fragment carrying the remaining 20 bytes of data).

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This IPv4 Fragmentation previous year question is Q53 of the GATE CSE 2016 Set 1 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on IPv4 Fragmentation in Computer Networks, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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IPv4 Fragmentation in GATE CSE

IPv4 Fragmentation has 8 GATE CSE PYQs across 8 papers from 2014 to 2025. 3 of them are 2-mark NAT questions like this one, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2016 Set 1.

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2016 Set 1 · Q53 · NAT

An IP datagram of size 1000 bytes arrives at a router. The router has to forward this packet on a link whose MTU (maximum transmission unit) is 100 bytes. Assume that the size of the IP header is 20 bytes. The number of fragments that the IP datagram will be divided into for transmission is …

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.