Switching techniques

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
Classification Of Switching Techniques
Figure 8.2 Taxonomy of switched networks

8.3
Figure 8.1 Switched network

8.4
 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.
In case of circuit switching technique, when any user wants to send the data,
voice, video, a request signal is sent to the receiver then the receiver sends back the
acknowledgment to ensure the availability of the dedicated path. After receiving the
acknowledgment, dedicated path transfers the data.
Circuit switching is used in public telephone network. It is used for voice
transmission.
Fixed data can be transferred at a time in circuit switching technology.
Communication through circuit switching has
3 phases:

Circuit establishment
Data transfer
Circuit Disconnect
Phases of Circuit Switching
Circuit Establishment
A dedicated circuit between the source and the
destination is established with the help of numerous
intermediate switching centres. The requesting and
receiving of the communication signals are possible when
the sender and receiver transmit signals across the
circuit.
Data Transfer
The transfer of data and voice signals are possible
between the source and the destination after the
establishment of the circuit. The connection between
both the end parties continues as long as they
communicate.
Circuit Disconnection
The disconnection in the circuit happens when one of the
users initiates to disconnect. When the disconnection
takes place, all the intermediate links between the
 Example 8.1

As a trivial example, let us use a circuit-switched network

to connect eight telephones in a small area.
Communication is through 4-kHz voice channels. We
assume that each link uses FDM to connect a maximum of
two voice channels. The bandwidth of each link is then 8
kHz. Figure 8.4 shows the situation. Telephone 1 is
connected to telephone 7; 2 to 5; 3 to 8; and 4 to 6. Of
course the situation may change when new connections are
made. The switch controls the connections.

8.8
Figure 8.4 Circuit-switched network used in Example 8.1

8.9
Advantages Of Circuit Switching:
•In the case of Circuit Switching technique, the
communication channel is dedicated.
•It has fixed bandwidth.
Disadvantages Of Circuit Switching:
•Once the dedicated path is established, the only delay occurs in the
speed of data transmission.
•It takes a long time to establish a connection during which no data
can be transmitted.
•It is more expensive than other switching techniques as a dedicated
path is required for each connection.
•It is inefficient to use because once the path is established and no
data is transferred, then the capacity of the path is wasted.
•In this case, the connection is dedicated therefore no other data can
be transferred even if the channel is free.
 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.
The destination address is appended to the message. Message
Switching provides a 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 forward
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.
 Advantages Of Message Switching

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 the data of unlimited size.

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
The packet switching is a switching technique in which the message is sent in one go, but it
is divided into smaller pieces, and they are sent individually.
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.
Packets will travel across the network, taking the shortest path as 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.
Approaches Of Packet Switching:
There are two approaches to Packet Switching:

1. Datagram Packet switching:

2. Virtual Circuit Switching

Datagram Packet switching:

It is a packet switching technology in which packet is known as a datagram, is
considered as an independent entity. Each packet contains the information about the
destination and 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.
Figure 8.7 A datagram network with four switches (routers)

8.16
Note
The destination address in the header of a packet in a datagram network
remains the same during the entire journey of the packet.

8.17
Figure 8.9 Delay in a datagram network

8.18
Note
Switching in the Internet is done by using the datagram approach
to packet switching at
the network layer.

8.19
Virtual Circuit Switching
Virtual Circuit Switching is also known as connection-oriented switching.
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.
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.
Note
In virtual-circuit switching, all packets belonging to the same source and
destination travel the same path;
but the packets may arrive at the destination with different delays
if resource allocation is on demand.

8.22
Figure 8.16 Delay in a virtual-circuit network

8.23
Note
Switching at the data link layer in a switched WAN is normally
implemented by using
virtual-circuit techniques.

8.24
 Differences b/w Datagram approach and Virtual Circuit approach

Datagram approach Virtual Circuit approach

Node takes routing Node does not take any

decisions to forward the routing decision.
packets.
Congestion cannot occur Congestion can occur
as all the packets travel in when the node is busy,
different directions. and it does not allow other
packets to pass through.
It is more flexible as all It is not very flexible.
the packets are treated as
an independent entity.
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.
Basics Circuit Switching Message Switching Packet Switching
Connection Creation Connection is created between Links are created independently Links are created
the source and destination by one by one between the nodes on independently one by one
establishing a dedicated path the way. between the nodes on the
between source and destination. way.

Queuing No queue is formed. Queue is formed. Queue is formed.

Message and Packets There is one big entire data There is one big entire data stream The big message is divided
stream called a message. called a message. into a small number of
packets.

Routing One single dedicated path exists Messages follow the independent Packets follow the
between the source and route to reach a destination. independent path to hold the
destination. destination.

Addressing and Messages need not be addressed Messages are addressed as Packets are addressed, and
sequencing as there is one dedicated path. independent routes are established. sequencing is done as all the
packets follow the
independent route.

Propagation Delay No Yes Yes

Transmission Capacity Low Maximum Maximum

Sequence Order Message arrives in Sequence. Message arrives in Sequence. Packets do not appear in
sequence at the destination.

Use Bandwidth Wastage Bandwidth is used to its maximum Bandwidth is used to its
extent. maximum extent.