Circuit-Switching and Packet-Switching Networks

Networks are devices that are connected together using special hardware and software that allows
them to exchange information. There are many methods for exchanging information between
networked devices. There are also a number of ways of categorizing and describing these methods and
the types of networks that use them.

One fundamental way to differentiate between networking technologies is on the basis of the method
used to determine the path between devices over which information will flow. In highly simplified
terms, there are two approaches: a path can be set up between the devices in advance, or the data can
be sent as individual data elements over a variable path.

Circuit Switching

In the circuit-switching networking method, a connection called a circuit, which is used for the whole
communication, is set up between two devices. Information about the nature of the circuit is
maintained by the network. The circuit may be either a fixed one that is always present or one that is
created on an as-needed basis. Even if many potential paths through intermediate devices may exist
between the two devices that are communicating, only one will be used for any given dialogue, as
shown in Figure 1. The classic example of a circuit-switched network is the telephone system. When you
call someone and she answers, you establish a circuit connection and can pass data in a steady stream.
That circuit functions the same way, regardless of how many intermediate devices are used to carry your
voice. You use it for as long as you need it and then terminate the circuit. The next time you call, you get
a new circuit, which may (probably will) use different hardware than the first circuit did, depending on
what’s available at that time in the network.

Figure 1: Circuit switching- In a circuit-switched network, before communication can occur between two
devices, a circuit is established between them. This is shown as a darker line for the conduit of data from
Device A to Device B, and a matching lighter line from B back to A. Once it’s set up, all communication
between these devices takes place over this circuit, even though there are other possible ways that data
could conceivably be passed over the network of devices between them.
Packet Switching

In the packet-switching networks, no specific path is used for data transfer. Instead, the data is chopped
up into small pieces called packets and sent over the network. You can route, combine, or fragment the
packets as required to get them to their eventual destination. On the receiving end, the process is
reversed—the data is read from the packets and reassembled to form the original data, see Figure 2.

Figure 2: Packet switching- In a packet-switched network, no circuit is set up prior to sending data
between devices. Blocks of data, even from the same file or communication, may take any number of
paths as they journey from one device to another.

KEY CONCEPT One way that networking technologies are categorized is based on the path used to carry
data between devices. In circuit switching, a circuit is first established and then used to carry all data
between devices. In packet switching, no fixed path is created between devices that communicate; it is
broken into packets, each of which may take a separate path from sender to recipient

Which Switching Method to Choose?

A common temptation when considering alternatives such as these is to ask which is better; the answer
is neither. There are places for which one is more suited than the other, but if one were clearly superior,
both methods wouldn’t be used.

One important issue in selecting a switching method is whether the network medium is shared or
dedicated. Your phone line can be used for establishing a circuit because you are the only one who can
use it. However, this doesn’t work well with LANs, which typically use a single shared medium and
baseband signaling. If two devices were to establish a connection, they would lock out all the other
devices for a long period of time. It makes more sense to chop the data into small pieces and send them
one at a time. Then, if two other devices want to communicate, their packets can be interspersed, and
everyone can share the network.

The ability to have many devices communicate simultaneously without dedicated data paths is one
reason why packet switching is becoming predominant today. However, there are some disadvantages
of packet switching compared to circuit switching. One is that since all data does not take the same
predictable path between devices, it is possible that some pieces of data may get lost in transit or show
up in the incorrect order. In some situations, this does not matter, but in others it is very important
indeed.

Although the theoretical difference between circuit and packet switching is pretty clear-cut,
understanding how to use them is a bit more complicated. One of the major issues is that in modern
networks, they are often combined.

Another issue is the relationship between circuit and packet switching, and whether a technology is
connection-oriented or connectionless. The two concepts are related but not the same, as you will see
in a moment

NOTE The word packet is only one of several terms that are used to refer to messages that are sent over
a network. Other terms that you will encounter include frame, datagram, cell, and segment.

Message Addressing and Transmission Methods: Unicast, Broadcast, and Multicast

There are several different ways of addressing and transmitting a message over a network. One way in
which messages are differentiated is in how they are addressed and how many recipients will receive
them. The method used depends on the function of the message and also on whether or not the sender
knows specifically or generally whom they are trying to contact.
Figure 3: Unicast, multicast, and broadcast message addressing and transmission The three basic types
of addressing and message delivery in networking are illustrated in this simplified LAN. Device 6 is
sending a unicast message to Device 2, shown as the dark, heavy arrow. Device 4 is sending a multicast
message to multicast group X, shown as the medium-weight arrows. In this case, that group includes
Devices 1 and 3, which are highlighted. Finally, Device 5 is sending a broadcast message, which goes to
all other devices on the LAN, shown as the thin, faint arrows

Unicast Messages These are messages that are sent from one device to another device; they are not
intended for others. Of course, there is still the possibility of overhearing or even eavesdropping on it.
Addressing a message to a particular computer doesn’t guarantee that others won’t also read it; it’s just
that they normally will not do so.

Broadcast Messages as the name suggests, these messages are sent to every device on a network. You
use them when you need to communicate a piece of information to everyone on the network, or when
the sending station needs to send it to just one recipient, but doesn’t know its address. In networks,
broadcast messages are used for a variety of purposes, including finding the locations of particular
stations or the devices that manage different services.

Multicast Messages These are a compromise between the previous two types. Multicast messages are
sent to a group of stations that meet a particular set of criteria. These stations are usually related to
each other in some way. For example, they serve a common function or are set up into a particular
multicast group. (Note that you can also consider broadcast messages to be a special case of multicast in
which the group is “everyone.”)

Since these transmission methods differ based on how many and which devices receive the
transmission, they are tied directly to the methods used for addressing, as follows:

Unicast Addressing Unicast delivery requires that a message should be addressed to a specific recipient.
This is the most common type of messaging, so this addressing capability is present in almost all
protocols.

Broadcast Addressing Broadcasts are normally implemented via a special address that is reserved for
that function. Whenever devices see a message sent to that address, they all interpret it as “This
message goes to everyone.”

Multicast Addressing Multicasts are the most complex type of message because they require a means of
identifying a set of specific devices that will receive a message. It is often necessary to create several
such groups, which may or may not partially overlap in their membership. Some mechanism is needed
to manage which devices are in which groups.

KEY CONCEPT Three basic methods are used to address and transmit data between networked devices. A
unicast transmission goes from one device to exactly one other; this is the most common method used
for most message transactions. A broadcast transmission is sent from one device to all connected
devices on a network. A multicast transmission is addressed and sent to a select group of devices

Point –to-Point in P2P networks or links, only two devices are connected together, forming what is often
called a point-to-point network. In this situation, everything sent by one device is implicitly intended for
the other, and vice versa. Thus, no addressing of messages on a point-to-point link is strictly necessary.
NOTE A new type of message-addressing method was defined as part of IP version 6 (IPv6): the anycast
message. This term identifies a message that should be sent to the closest member of a group of
devices.