---
name: "gnutls_handshake_set_max_packet_length"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "gnutls"
version: "3.8.13-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gnutls_handshake_set_max_packet_length"
---

# gnutls\_handshake\_set\_max\_packet\_length(3)

API function

## NAME

gnutls\_handshake\_set\_max\_packet\_length - API function

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<gnutls/gnutls.h\>**

**void gnutls\_handshake\_set\_max\_packet\_length(gnutls\_session\_t** *session***, size\_t** *max***);**

## ARGUMENTS

- gnutls\_session\_t session

  is a **gnutls\_session\_t** type.

- size\_t max

  is the maximum number.

## DESCRIPTION

This function will set the maximum size of all handshake messages. Handshakes over this size are rejected with **GNUTLS\_E\_HANDSHAKE\_TOO\_LARGE** error code.  The default value is 128kb which is typically large enough.  Set this to 0 if you do not want to set an upper limit.

The reason for restricting the handshake message sizes are to limit Denial of Service attacks.

Note that the maximum handshake size was increased to 128kb from 48kb in GnuTLS 3.5.5.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bugs@gnutls.org\>.\
 Home page: https://www.gnutls.org

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2001-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc., and others.\
 Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice and this notice are preserved.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **gnutls** is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the /usr/share/doc/gnutls/ directory does not contain the HTML form visit

- https://www.gnutls.org/manual/