Lecture 4:Switched Communications

Networks
Dr. Amitava Nag
Associate Professor and Head
Dept. of IT
Academy of Technology
amitava.nag@aot.edu.in
 CIRCUIT SWITCHING

A dedicated communication path is required

between two stations.
 The path follows a fixed sequence of intermediate links.
 A logical channel gets defined on each physical link.
• Dedicated to the connection.
 CIRCUIT SWITCHING (CONT.)

In circuit switching, three steps are required

for communication:
Connection establishment
• Required before data transmission.
Data transfer
• Can proceed at maximum speed.
Connection termination
• Required after data transmission is over.
• For deallocation of network resources.
Figure 1: CIRCUIT SWITCHING
 CIRCUIT SWITCHING (CONT.)
Drawbacks:
Channel capacity gets dedicated during the entire
duration of communication.
• Acceptable for voice communication.
• Very inefficient for bursty traffic.
There is an initial delay.
• For connection establishment.
 PACKET SWITCHING

 Modern form of long-distance data

communication.
• Network resources are not dedicated.
• A link can be shared.
 The basic technology has evolved over time.
• Basic concept has remained the same.
• Widely used for long-distance data communication.
 PACKET SWITCHING (CONT.)

 Data are transmitted in short packets (~ Kbytes).

• A longer message is broken up into smaller chunks.
• The chunks are called packets.
• Every packet contains a header.
• Relevant information for routing, etc.
 Packet switching is based on store-and-forward
concept.
• Each intermediate network node receives a whole packet.
• Decides the route.
• Forwards the packet along the selected route.
Figure 2: Packet Switching
 PACKET SWITCHING (CONT.)

Advantages:
 Links can be shared; so link utilization is better.
 Suitable for computer-generated traffic.
• Typically bursty in nature.
 Buffering and data rate conversion can be
performed easily.
 Some packets may be given priority over
others, if desired.
 PACKET SWITCHING (CONT.)
How are the packets transmitted?
 Two alternative approaches:
• Virtual Circuits
• Datagram
 VIRTUAL CIRCUIT APPROACH

Similar in concept to circuit switching.

 A route is established before packet
transmission starts.
 All packets follow the same path.
 The links comprising the path are not
dedicated.
• Different from circuit switching in this respect.
Analogy: Telephone system.
 DATAGRAM APPROACH

Basic concept:
 No route is established beforehand.
 Each packet is transmitted as an independent entity.
 Does not maintain any history.
Analogy: Postal system.

Every intermediate node has to take routing decisions

dynamically.
 Makes use of a routing table.
 Every packet must contain source and destination addresses.
 A comparison of circuit-switched and packet
switched network
Item Circuit switched Packet switched
Call setup Required Not Required
Dedicated physical path YES NO
Message follows the same route YES NO
Out of order delivery NO YES
Bandwidth available Fixed Dynamic
Potentially wasted bandwidth YES NO
Store-and forward transmission NO YES
Charging Per minute Per packet
 A Comparison of Virtual Circuit and Datagram
Networks
Item Virtual -circuit network
Path setup Required
Routing Route chosen when VC is
set up; all packets follow it
Effect of router failures All VCs that passed through
the failed router are
terminated
Out of order delivery NO
Delay Path setup delay; Packet
transmission delay
Datagram network
Not Needed
Each packet is routed
independently
None, except for packets
lost during the crash
YES
Packet transmission delay