A network communication device can implement configurable network socket retransmission timeout parameters on a per socket basis. In one embodiment, it is determined, at a first network device, whether to define a network socket with a custom or a default retransmission timeout value to transmit data to a second network device. In response to determining to define the network socket with the custom retransmission timeout value, the network socket is defined with the custom retransmission timeout value, the data is transmitted to the second network device, and it is determined whether response data is received from the second network device prior to expiration of a time period associated with the custom retransmission timeout value. In response to determining that the response data is not received from the second network device prior to the expiration of the corresponding time period, the data is retransmitted to the second network device.