Switching

In large networks, there can be multiple paths from sender to receiver. The
switching technique will decide the best route for data transmission.

Switching technique is used to connect the systems for making one-to-one

communication.Switching is the process to forward packets coming in from one
port to a port leading towards the destination.

switching can be divided into two major categories:

● Connectionless: The data is forwarded on behalf of forwarding tables.
No previous handshaking is required and acknowledgements are
optional.
● Connection Oriented: Before switching data to be forwarded to
destination, there is a need to pre-establish circuit along the path
between both endpoints. Data is then forwarded on that circuit. After
the transfer is completed, circuits can be kept for future use or can be
turned down immediately.

Classification Of Switching Techniques

1)Circuit Switching 2)Message Switching 3)Packet Switching

Circuit Switching

● Circuit switching is a switching technique that establishes a dedicated path

between sender and receiver.

● In the Circuit Switching Technique, once the connection is established then the
dedicated path will remain to exist until the connection is terminated.

● Circuit switching in a network operates in a similar way as the telephone works.

● A complete end-to-end path must exist before the communication takes

place.Meaning is that,In circuit switching, to transfer the data, a circuit must be

established so that the data transfer can take place.

 ● In case of circuit switching technique, when any user wants to send the data,
voice, or video, a request signal is sent to the receiver then the receiver sends
back the acknowledgement to ensure the availability of the dedicated path. After
receiving the acknowledgment, a dedicated path transfers the data.

Circuits can be permanent or temporary. Applications which use circuit switching may

have to go through three phases:

● Establish a circuit

● Transfer the data

● Disconnect the circuit

● Circuit switching is used in public telephone networks. It is used for voice

transmission.

● Fixed data can be transferred at a time in circuit switching technology.

Application : Circuit switching was designed for voice applications. Telephones are
the best suitable example of circuit switching. Before a user can make a call, a
virtual path between caller and callee is established over the network.

Message Switching

● Message Switching is a switching technique in which a message is transferred

as a complete unit and routed through intermediate nodes at which it is stored
and forwarded.

● In Message Switching technique, there is no establishment of a dedicated path

between the sender and receiver.This technique was considered a substitute to

circuit switching. As in circuit switching the whole path is blocked for two

entities only.

● The destination address is appended to the message. Message Switching

provides dynamic routing as the message is routed through the intermediate
nodes based on the information available in the message.

● Message switches are programmed in such a way so that they can provide the
most efficient routes.

● Each and every node stores the entire message and then forwards it to the next
node. This type of network is known as store and forward network.

● Message switching treats each message as an independent entity.

 ● Data channels are shared among the communicating devices that improve the
efficiency of using available bandwidth.

● Traffic congestion can be reduced because the message is temporarily stored in

the nodes.

● Message priority can be used to manage the network.

● The size of the message which is sent over the network can be varied. Therefore,
it supports unlimited size data.

Disadvantages Of Message Switching

● The message switches must be equipped with sufficient storage to enable them
to store the messages until the message is forwarded.

● The Long delay can occur due to the storing and forwarding facility provided by
the message switching technique.
Packet Switching:
Packet switching is a digital network transmission process in which data is broken
into suitably-sized pieces or blocks for fast and efficient transfer via different
network devices. When a computer attempts to send a file to another computer, the
file is broken into packets so that it can be sent across the network in the most
efficient way. These packets are then routed by network devices to the destination.
The message splits into smaller pieces known as packets and packets are
given a unique number to identify their order at the receiving end.

● Every packet contains some information in its headers such as source address,
destination address and sequence number.

Header Data

● Packets will travel across the network, taking the shortest path possible.

● All the packets are reassembled at the receiving end in correct order.

● If any packet is missing or corrupted, then the message will be sent to resend the
message.

● If the correct order of the packets is reached, then the acknowledgment message
will be sent.

There are two approaches of Packet switching:

 1) Datagram Packet Switching/Datagram Networks
2) Virtual Circuit switching/Virtual Circuit Networks

Datagram Packet switching:

● It is a packet switching technology in which a packet, known as a datagram, is

considered as an independent entity. Each packet contains the information about
the destination and the switch uses this information to forward the packet to the
correct destination.

● The packets are reassembled at the receiving end in correct order.

● In Datagram Packet Switching technique, the path is not fixed.

● Intermediate nodes take the routing decisions to forward the packets.

● Datagram Packet Switching is also known as connectionless

switching.Datagram packet switching is used in Network Layer.

Virtual Circuit Switching

● Virtual Circuit Switching is also known as connection-oriented switching.Virtual –

circuit switching is done at the network layer of the communication system.

● In these networks, the path between the source and the destination nodes that

is followed by the first data packet gets allocated. All other data packets

transmitted between them will use the same path.

● In the case of Virtual circuit switching, a preplanned route is established before

the messages are sent.

● Call request and call accept packets are used to establish the connection
between sender and receiver.

● In this case, the path is fixed for the duration of a logical connection.
Let's understand the concept of virtual circuit switching through a diagram:

● In the above diagram, A and B are the sender and receiver respectively. 1 and 2
are the nodes.

● Call request and call accept packets are used to establish a connection between
the sender and receiver.

● When a route is established, data will be transferred.

● After transmission of data, an acknowledgment signal is sent by the receiver that

the message has been received.

● If the user wants to terminate the connection, a clear signal is sent for the
termination.

Advantages Of Packet Switching:

● Cost-effective: In packet switching technique, switching devices do not require

massive secondary storage to store the packets, so cost is minimized to some
extent. Therefore, we can say that the packet switching technique is a
cost-effective technique.
 ● Reliable: If any node is busy, then the packets can be rerouted. This ensures that
the Packet Switching technique provides reliable communication.

● Efficient: Packet Switching is an efficient technique. It does not require any

established path prior to the transmission, and many users can use the same
communication channel simultaneously, hence makes use of available
bandwidth very efficiently.

Disadvantages Of Packet Switching:

● Packet Switching technique cannot be implemented in those applications that

require low delay and high-quality services.

● The protocols used in a packet switching technique are very complex and
requires high implementation cost.

● If the network is overloaded or corrupted, then it requires retransmission of lost

packets. It can also lead to the loss of critical information if errors are nor
recovered.