diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index a0ae373..da46ac3 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ pub async fn start() -> io::Result<()> {
     println!("{}[v{}] - {}", &cargo.pkg_name, &cargo.pkg_version, &cargo.description);
     squire::ascii_art::random();
 
+    // Log a warning message for max payload size beyond 1 GB
+    if config.max_payload_size > 1024 * 1024 * 1024 {
+        // Since the default is just 100 MB, the only way to get here is to have an env var
+        log::warn!("Max payload size is set to '{}' which exceeds the optimal upload size.",
+            std::env::var("max_payload_size").unwrap());
+        log::warn!("Please consider network bandwidth and latency, before using RuStream to upload such high-volume data.");
+    }
+
     if config.secure_session {
         log::warn!(
             "Secure session is turned on! This means that the server can ONLY be hosted via HTTPS or localhost"
@@ -61,14 +69,13 @@ pub async fn start() -> io::Result<()> {
         The closure is defining the configuration for the Actix web server.
         The purpose of the closure is to configure the server before it starts listening for incoming requests.
      */
-    let max_payload_size = 10 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024; // 10 GB
     let application = move || {
         App::new()  // Creates a new Actix web application
             .app_data(web::Data::new(config_clone.clone()))
             .app_data(web::Data::new(jinja.clone()))
             .app_data(web::Data::new(fernet.clone()))
             .app_data(web::Data::new(session.clone()))
-            .app_data(web::PayloadConfig::default().limit(max_payload_size))
+            .app_data(web::PayloadConfig::default().limit(config_clone.max_payload_size))
             .wrap(squire::middleware::get_cors(config_clone.websites.clone()))
             .wrap(middleware::Logger::default())  // Adds a default logger middleware to the application
             .service(routes::basics::health)  // Registers a service for handling requests
@@ -84,8 +91,8 @@ pub async fn start() -> io::Result<()> {
             .service(routes::upload::save_files)
     };
     let server = HttpServer::new(application)
-        .workers(config.workers as usize)
-        .max_connections(config.max_connections as usize);
+        .workers(config.workers)
+        .max_connections(config.max_connections);
     // Reference: https://actix.rs/docs/http2/
     if config.cert_file.exists() && config.key_file.exists() {
         log::info!("Binding SSL certificate to serve over HTTPS");
diff --git a/src/routes/auth.rs b/src/routes/auth.rs
index 47914b2..a396c95 100644
--- a/src/routes/auth.rs
+++ b/src/routes/auth.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pub async fn login(request: HttpRequest,
     let payload = serde_json::to_string(&mapped).unwrap();
     let encrypted_payload = fernet.encrypt(payload.as_bytes());
 
-    let cookie_duration = Duration::seconds(config.session_duration as i64);
+    let cookie_duration = Duration::seconds(config.session_duration);
     let expiration = OffsetDateTime::now_utc() + cookie_duration;
     let base_cookie = Cookie::build("session_token", encrypted_payload)
         .http_only(true)
diff --git a/src/squire/authenticator.rs b/src/squire/authenticator.rs
index b6bebf5..4563503 100644
--- a/src/squire/authenticator.rs
+++ b/src/squire/authenticator.rs
@@ -167,12 +167,12 @@ pub fn verify_token(
                     username,
                 };
             }
-            if current_time - timestamp > config.session_duration as i64 {
+            if current_time - timestamp > config.session_duration {
                 return AuthToken { ok: false, detail: "Session Expired".to_string(), username };
             }
             AuthToken {
                 ok: true,
-                detail: format!("Session valid for {}s", timestamp + config.session_duration as i64 - current_time),
+                detail: format!("Session valid for {}s", timestamp + config.session_duration - current_time),
                 username,
             }
         } else {
diff --git a/src/squire/settings.rs b/src/squire/settings.rs
index d00c563..f1551cc 100644
--- a/src/squire/settings.rs
+++ b/src/squire/settings.rs
@@ -16,16 +16,18 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// Host IP address for media streaming.
     pub media_host: String,
     /// Port number for hosting the application.
-    pub media_port: i32,
+    pub media_port: u16,
     /// Duration of a session in seconds.
-    pub session_duration: i32,
+    pub session_duration: i64,
     /// List of supported file formats.
     pub file_formats: Vec<String>,
 
     /// Number of worker threads to spin up the server.
-    pub workers: i32,
+    pub workers: usize,
     /// Maximum number of concurrent connections.
-    pub max_connections: i32,
+    pub max_connections: usize,
+    /// Max payload allowed by the server in request body.
+    pub max_payload_size: usize,
     /// List of websites (supports regex) to add to CORS configuration.
     pub websites: Vec<String>,
 
@@ -38,13 +40,13 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub cert_file: path::PathBuf,
 }
 
-/// Returns the default value for debug flag
+/// Returns the default value for debug flag.
 pub fn default_debug() -> bool { false }
 
-/// Returns the default value for utc_logging
+/// Returns the default value for UTC logging.
 pub fn default_utc_logging() -> bool { true }
 
-/// Returns the default value for ssl files
+/// Returns the default value for SSL files.
 pub fn default_ssl() -> path::PathBuf { path::PathBuf::new() }
 
 /// Returns the default media host based on the local machine's IP address.
@@ -63,22 +65,22 @@ pub fn default_media_host() -> String {
     "localhost".to_string()
 }
 
-/// Returns the default media port (8000).
-pub fn default_media_port() -> i32 { 8000 }
+/// Returns the default media port (8000)
+pub fn default_media_port() -> u16 { 8000 }
 
-/// Returns the default session duration (3600 seconds).
-pub fn default_session_duration() -> i32 { 3600 }
+/// Returns the default session duration (3600 seconds)
+pub fn default_session_duration() -> i64 { 3600 }
 
 /// Returns the file formats supported by default.
 pub fn default_file_formats() -> Vec<String> {
     vec!["mp4".to_string(), "mov".to_string(), "jpg".to_string(), "jpeg".to_string()]
 }
 
-/// Returns the default number of worker threads (half of logical cores).
-pub fn default_workers() -> i32 {
+/// Returns the default number of worker threads (half of logical cores)
+pub fn default_workers() -> usize {
     let logical_cores = thread::available_parallelism();
     match logical_cores {
-        Ok(cores) => cores.get() as i32 / 2,
+        Ok(cores) => cores.get() / 2,
         Err(err) => {
             log::error!("{}", err);
             3
@@ -86,10 +88,13 @@ pub fn default_workers() -> i32 {
     }
 }
 
-/// Returns the default maximum number of concurrent connections (3).
-pub fn default_max_connections() -> i32 { 3 }
+/// Returns the default maximum number of concurrent connections (3)
+pub fn default_max_connections() -> usize { 3 }
 
-/// Returns an empty list as the default website (CORS configuration).
+/// Returns the default max payload size (100 MB)
+pub fn default_max_payload_size() -> usize { 100 * 1024 * 1024 }
+
+/// Returns an empty list as the default website (CORS configuration)
 pub fn default_websites() -> Vec<String> { Vec::new() }
 
 /// Returns the default value for secure_session
diff --git a/src/squire/startup.rs b/src/squire/startup.rs
index 65828f1..78ccd91 100644
--- a/src/squire/startup.rs
+++ b/src/squire/startup.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use std;
-use std::ffi::OsStr;
 use std::io::Write;
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Local, Utc};
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@ fn parse_bool(key: &str) -> Option<bool> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Extracts the env var by key and parses it as a `i32`
+/// Extracts the env var by key and parses it as a `i64`
 ///
 /// # Arguments
 ///
@@ -118,17 +117,67 @@ fn parse_bool(key: &str) -> Option<bool> {
 ///
 /// # Returns
 ///
-/// Returns an `Option<i32>` if the value is available.
+/// Returns an `Option<i64>` if the value is available.
 ///
 /// # Panics
 ///
 /// If the value is present, but it is an invalid data-type.
-fn parse_i32(key: &str) -> Option<i32> {
+fn parse_i64(key: &str) -> Option<i64> {
     match std::env::var(key) {
         Ok(val) => match val.parse() {
             Ok(parsed) => Some(parsed),
             Err(_) => {
-                panic!("\n{}\n\texpected i32, received '{}' [value=invalid]\n", key, val);
+                panic!("\n{}\n\texpected i64, received '{}' [value=invalid]\n", key, val);
+            }
+        },
+        Err(_) => None,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Extracts the env var by key and parses it as a `u16`
+///
+/// # Arguments
+///
+/// * `key` - Key for the environment variable.
+///
+/// # Returns
+///
+/// Returns an `Option<u16>` if the value is available.
+///
+/// # Panics
+///
+/// If the value is present, but it is an invalid data-type.
+fn parse_u16(key: &str) -> Option<u16> {
+    match std::env::var(key) {
+        Ok(val) => match val.parse() {
+            Ok(parsed) => Some(parsed),
+            Err(_) => {
+                panic!("\n{}\n\texpected u16, received '{}' [value=invalid]\n", key, val);
+            }
+        },
+        Err(_) => None,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Extracts the env var by key and parses it as a `usize`
+///
+/// # Arguments
+///
+/// * `key` - Key for the environment variable.
+///
+/// # Returns
+///
+/// Returns an `Option<usize>` if the value is available.
+///
+/// # Panics
+///
+/// If the value is present, but it is an invalid data-type.
+fn parse_usize(key: &str) -> Option<usize> {
+    match std::env::var(key) {
+        Ok(val) => match val.parse() {
+            Ok(parsed) => Some(parsed),
+            Err(_) => {
+                panic!("\n{}\n\texpected usize, received '{}' [value=invalid]\n", key, val);
             }
         },
         Err(_) => None,
@@ -180,6 +229,76 @@ fn parse_path(key: &str) -> Option<std::path::PathBuf> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Parses the maximum payload size from human-readable memory format to bytes.
+///
+/// - `key` - Key for the environment variable.
+///
+/// ## See Also
+///
+/// - This function handles internal panic gracefully, in the most detailed way possible.
+/// - Panic outputs are suppressed with a custom hook.
+/// - Custom hook is set before wrapping the potentially panicking function inside `catch_unwind`.
+/// - Custom hook is reset later, so the future panics and go uncaught.
+/// - Error message from panic payload is also further processed, to get a detailed reason for panic.
+///
+/// # Returns
+///
+/// Returns an option of usize if the value is parsable and within the allowed size limit.
+fn parse_max_payload(key: &str) -> Option<usize> {
+    match std::env::var(key) {
+        Ok(value) => {
+
+            let custom_hook = std::panic::take_hook();
+            std::panic::set_hook(Box::new(|_panic_info| {}));
+            let result = std::panic::catch_unwind(|| parse_memory(&value));
+            std::panic::set_hook(custom_hook);
+
+            match result {
+                Ok(output) => {
+                    if let Some(value) = output {
+                        Some(value)
+                    } else {
+                        panic!("\n{}\n\texpected format: '100 MB', received '{}' [value=invalid]\n",
+                               key, value);
+                    }
+                }
+                Err(panic_payload) => {
+                    if let Some(&error) = panic_payload.downcast_ref::<&str>() {
+                        panic!("\n{}\n\t{} [value=invalid]\n", key, error);
+                    } else if let Some(error) = panic_payload.downcast_ref::<String>() {
+                        panic!("\n{}\n\t{} [value=invalid]\n", key, error);
+                    } else if let Some(error) = panic_payload.downcast_ref::<Box<dyn std::fmt::Debug + Send + 'static>>() {
+                        panic!("\n{}\n\t{:?} [value=invalid]\n", key, error);
+                    } else {
+                        panic!("\n{}\n\tinvalid memory format! unable to parse panic payload [value=invalid]\n", key);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Err(_) => {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn parse_memory(memory: &str) -> Option<usize> {
+    let value = memory.trim();
+    let (size_str, unit) = value.split_at(value.len() - 2);
+    let size: usize = match size_str.strip_suffix(' ').unwrap_or_default().parse() {
+        Ok(num) => num,
+        Err(_) => return None,
+    };
+
+    match unit.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+        "zb" => Some(size * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024),
+        "tb" => Some(size * 1024 * 1024 * 1024 * 1024),
+        "gb" => Some(size * 1024 * 1024 * 1024),
+        "mb" => Some(size * 1024 * 1024),
+        "kb" => Some(size * 1024),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
 /// Handler that's responsible to parse all the env vars.
 ///
 /// # Returns
@@ -190,15 +309,16 @@ fn load_env_vars() -> settings::Config {
     let debug = parse_bool("debug").unwrap_or(settings::default_debug());
     let utc_logging = parse_bool("utc_logging").unwrap_or(settings::default_utc_logging());
     let media_host = std::env::var("media_host").unwrap_or(settings::default_media_host());
-    let media_port = parse_i32("media_port").unwrap_or(settings::default_media_port());
-    let session_duration = parse_i32("session_duration").unwrap_or(settings::default_session_duration());
+    let media_port = parse_u16("media_port").unwrap_or(settings::default_media_port());
+    let session_duration = parse_i64("session_duration").unwrap_or(settings::default_session_duration());
     let file_formats = parse_vec("file_formats").unwrap_or(settings::default_file_formats());
-    let workers = parse_i32("workers").unwrap_or(settings::default_workers());
-    let max_connections = parse_i32("max_connections").unwrap_or(settings::default_max_connections());
+    let workers = parse_usize("workers").unwrap_or(settings::default_workers());
+    let max_connections = parse_usize("max_connections").unwrap_or(settings::default_max_connections());
     let websites = parse_vec("websites").unwrap_or(settings::default_websites());
     let secure_session = parse_bool("secure_session").unwrap_or(settings::default_secure_session());
     let key_file = parse_path("key_file").unwrap_or(settings::default_ssl());
     let cert_file = parse_path("cert_file").unwrap_or(settings::default_ssl());
+    let max_payload_size = parse_max_payload("max_payload_size").unwrap_or(settings::default_max_payload_size());
     settings::Config {
         authorization,
         media_source,
@@ -210,6 +330,7 @@ fn load_env_vars() -> settings::Config {
         file_formats,
         workers,
         max_connections,
+        max_payload_size,
         websites,
         secure_session,
         key_file,
@@ -253,7 +374,7 @@ fn validate_dir_structure(config: &settings::Config, cargo: &Cargo) {
                 let secure_dir = index_vec.last().unwrap();
                 // secure_parent_path is the secure index's location
                 let secure_parent_path = &index_vec[0..index_vec.len() - 1]
-                    .join(OsStr::new(std::path::MAIN_SEPARATOR_STR));
+                    .join(std::ffi::OsStr::new(std::path::MAIN_SEPARATOR_STR));
                 errors.push_str(&format!(
                     "\n{:?}\n\tSecure index directory [{:?}] should be at the root [{:?}] [depth={}, valid=1]\n\
                     \t> Hint: Either move {:?} within {:?}, [OR] set the 'media_source' to {:?}\n",
@@ -284,7 +405,7 @@ fn validate_dir_structure(config: &settings::Config, cargo: &Cargo) {
                                      get_time(config.utc_logging), cargo.crate_name,
                                      &secure_path.to_str().unwrap())
                         }
-                    },
+                    }
                     Err(err) => panic!("{}", err)
                 }
             }