What is the maximum duration for an idle TCP connection before it is terminated?

The maximum duration for an idle TCP connection before it is terminated in Google Cloud is indeed 10 minutes. This time frame is important because idle connections consume resources on both the client and server sides.

In many networking environments, particularly in public cloud settings, there are defaults and configurations concerning idle connections to manage resource utilization, enhance security, and maintain performance. If a TCP connection has no activity (no packets being sent or received), it is deemed idle and can be closed by load balancers or other network devices after reaching a preset timeout duration.

In this case, the 10-minute idle timeout strikes a balance between allowing enough time for potential reconnections and efficiently releasing unused resources, thereby improving overall system performance and responsiveness. This approach also helps in managing the expected number of connections effectively and in compliance with security best practices, as prolonged idle connections may pose certain risks.

Understanding this configuration is crucial for cloud network engineers when designing and optimizing network applications to ensure that they function correctly under various network conditions.