DATA PACKETS

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PACKET SWITCHING
Data Packets
֍ A packet is a small segment of a larger message.

֍ Data sent over computer networks*, such as the Internet, is divided

into packets.

֍ These packets are then recombined by the computer or device that

receives them.
Packet Structure
• A typical packet is split up into:
» a packet header
» the payload
» a trailer.
Packet Structure
Packet Switching
۞ Packet switching is a method of data transmission in which a message
is broken up into a number of packets. Each packet can then be sent
independently from start point to end point.
۞ At each stage in the transmission, there are nodes that contain a
router.
۞ Each router will determine which route the packet needs to take, in
order to reach its destination
Packet Switching
۞ Packet Switching transmits data across digital networks by breaking it
down into blocks or packets for more efficient transfer using various
network devices.
۞ Each time one device sends a file to another, it breaks the file down
into packets so that it can determine the most efficient route for
sending the data across the network at that time.
۞ The network devices can then route the packets to the destination
where the receiving device reassembles them for use.
Packet Switching
Packet Switching
Suppose our photograph (Figure 2.3) has been split up into five packets that
have been sent in the following order:
Packet Switching

» each packet will follow its own path (route)

» routers will determine the route of each packet
» routing selection depends on the number of packets waiting to be processed at each node
» the shortest possible path available is always selected – this may not always be the shortest path
that could be taken, since certain parts of the route may be too busy or not suitable
» unfortunately, packets can reach the destination in a different order to that in which they were sent.
Packet Switching
Figure 2.5 shows one possible scenario. Notice the different paths taken by each packet from
computer ‘A’ to computer ‘B’. Also notice that the packets have arrived in a different order compared
to the way they were sent, namely:
Benefits and Drawbacks of packet switching
Hop number The hop count refers to the number of network devices
through which data passes from source to destination

A hop number is added to the header of each packet, and this number is reduced by 1 every
time it leaves a router (Figure 2.6).

Reason for hop number:

Sometimes it is possible for packets to get lost because they keep ‘bouncing’ around from router to router
and never actually reach their destination. Eventually the network would just grind to a halt as the
number of lost packets mount up, clogging up the system. To overcome this, a method called hopping is
used.
Hop number

Each packet has a maximum hop number to start with. Once a hop number reaches zero, and the packet
hasn’t reached its destination, then the packet is deleted when it reaches the next router. The missing
packets will then be flagged by the receiving computer and a request to re-send these packets will be
made.
Activity 2.1 Solution:

i. yes bad sound quality laggy and glitchy video

ii. signals are weak and not very strong
(In packet switching, packets can take different routes and may not arrive in time. As packets can take many
different routes / share paths with others can be delayed)
Activity 2.1 Solution:

• Packet Switching transmits data across digital networks by breaking it down into blocks or packets for more
efficient transfer using various network devices. Each time one device sends a file to another, it breaks the
file down into packets so that it can determine the most efficient route for sending the data across the
network at that time. The network devices can then route the packets to the destination where the receiving
device reassembles them for use.
 Activity 2.1 Solution:

a. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is an error-detecting code commonly used in digital networks
and storage devices to detect accidental changes to digital data. Blocks of data entering these
systems get a short check value attached, based on the remainder of a polynomial division of their
contents.

b. It will use cyclic redundancy check which will add all the 1 bits in the payload and store this value as the
hex number before it is sent. when the data arrives the computer recalculates the 1 bits. the computer
checks this value against the one sent in the payload. if the values match then no error occurred
otherwise the data is resent.
 Activity 2.1 Solution:

a. Packet loss occurs when network congestion, hardware issues, software bugs, and a number of other
factors cause dropped packets during data transmission.

b. How do you fix packet loss?

Increase bandwidth. If the issue is only with network congestion, then increasing bandwidth enables more requests to be
handled at once, avoiding further delays.
Perform deep packet inspection.
Update hardware and software.
Use wired connections.
Reduce opposing obstructions.

c. Each packet takes a different routre, So if anyway, any packet is intercepted, hacker still won’t have the whole message.
Data packets are able to find the destination without the use of a dedicated channel. Reduces lost data packets because packe
switching allows for resending of packets. More cost-effective since there is no need for a dedicated channel for voice or data
traffic.
Activity 2.3

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