How to read, calculate and set MTU in Windows, Linux and OSX

After I released the MTU Optimizer, a small tool for determining the optimal MTU, some days ago, let’s look at how to determine the optimal MTU by hand, how to read the currently set MTU and how to set new MTU value now. Of course we will discuss the whole thing for the three major operating systems: Windows, OSX and Linux.
Before we look at the implementation within the individual operating systems, we first briefly clarify what the MTU is and how its optimal value can be calculated.
Theory – Identify ideal MTU
The MTU (Maximum Transfer Unit) describes the maximum packet size of a protocol. It therefore indicates the maximum size of a data packet, so that it can be transmitted via a protocol. If a data packet is larger, it becomes fragmented – i.e. divided into several packages.
For example, let’s assume that we (=PC) would have a factory for sugar packets and our packet […]

Adjusting the screen resolution in VirtualBox

VirtualBox 4:3 screen-ratioFor almost two years, Windows 8 is now on the market. So enough time to find hundreds of reasons to set up a virtual machine running Windows 8. Unfortunately, you are greeted by the form factor of yesteryear already during the installation.
In plain language, the aspect ratio of the sceen was in 4:3 ratio, which looked really ugly on my laptop which is in widescreen format.
After the installation I wanted to resolve the “problem” by adjusting the screen resolution, but realized that I only had a choice between various resolutions in 4:3 factor.
Let us come to the thing – how can we fix it? The problem lies in the lack of support of the graphics driver. Normally this can be fix by re-installation of Oracle’s so-called guest […]

Win8 BTD – [B]oot[T]o[D]esktop

Win8 BTD LogoI already wrote about how you can boot directly into the classic desktop in Windows 8. However those, who do not like to get their hands dirty while working with the Windows registry or just want quickly switch back and forth, should pay me their close attention for a moment. I developed a tiny tool which is called Win8 BTD where BTD stands for Boot To Desktop.
Win8 BTD is a small tool written by me, which does not more or less than to set the appropriate settings in the registry, so that Windows 8 launches directly into the classic desktop. Of course, any changes made can also be undone with a single click, if you would rather want to start again directly into the new tile view.
Download: Win8 BTD – Version 1.0.0.0
Screenshots

How to boot directly to desktop in Windows 8

Meanwhile everybody should have seen or atleast heard of the new user interface which comes with Windows 8. One of the big changes is that your computer will directly boot into the new tile-(start-)menu. I personally do not mind about that, but I’ve heard of many people who would like to boot directly into the (classic) desktop view without beeing confronted with the metro/tile-view at first. Nothing easier than that.
To boot directly into the classic desktop, only one value needs to be adjusted in the registry. What it is and how it needs to be changed, I want to show you briefly below.
Step 1:
windows_8_direkt_in_den_desktop_booten_1
At first you have to open the registry. (Therefore either search for “regedit” in the apps menu or start the “Run as”-dialog by pressing Win+R and then enter “regedit”.)
Step 2:
windows_8_direkt_in_den_desktop_booten_2

How to install Arduino drivers on Windows 8

One of my favourite “gadgets” is the Arduino (no matter if UNO, Leonardo, Mega, …), which you will surely read some articles about in the near future. But let’s get back to the title.
Unfortunately the drivers of the Arduinos are not signed for Windows 8. So, when you try to install the drivers, you will get an error that will look similar to the following message. (Click to enlarge the picture.)
arduino_treiber_unter_windows8_installieren_3
Before installation:
So that this doesn’t happen to us, we have to make sure that we will be able to install unsigned drivers on Windows 8. How to do so, you can read in this article I’ve written some days ago. If you have followed the steps of my article, you can start to install the Arduino driver in Windows 8
Step 1:
arduino_treiber_unter_windows8_installieren_1
Connect the Arduino […]