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Switching

Switching is a technique used to transfer information between computer networks via switches, which operate at the data link layer and forward packets based on MAC addresses. There are three main switching techniques: Circuit Switching, which establishes a dedicated path; Message Switching, which transfers messages as complete units through nodes; and Packet Switching, which divides messages into packets sent individually. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages, impacting factors such as cost, reliability, and efficiency.

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10 views

Switching

Switching is a technique used to transfer information between computer networks via switches, which operate at the data link layer and forward packets based on MAC addresses. There are three main switching techniques: Circuit Switching, which establishes a dedicated path; Message Switching, which transfers messages as complete units through nodes; and Packet Switching, which divides messages into packets sent individually. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages, impacting factors such as cost, reliability, and efficiency.

Uploaded by

sanidhyasengar07
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Switching

 When a user accesses the internet or another computer


network outside their immediate location, messages are
sent through the network of transmission media. This
technique of transferring the information from one
computer network to another network is known as
switching.
 Switching in a computer network is achieved by using
switches. A switch is a small hardware device which is
used to join multiple computers together with one local
area network (LAN).
 Network switches operate at layer 2 (Data link layer) in
the OSI model.
 Switches are used to forward the packets based on MAC
addresses.
 A Switch is used to transfer the data only to the device
that has been addressed. It verifies the destination
address to route the packet appropriately.
 It is operated in full duplex mode.
 Packet collision is minimum as it directly communicates
between source and destination.
Advantages of Switching:

 Switch increases the bandwidth of the network.


 It increases the overall performance of the network by
reducing the traffic on the network.

Disadvantages of Switching:

 A Switch is more expensive than network bridges.


 A Switch cannot determine the network connectivity
issues easily.
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.
 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
Advantages of Circuit Switching:

 In the case of Circuit Switching technique, the communication channel is


dedicated.
 It has fixed bandwidth.

Disadvantages Of Circuit Switching:

 It takes a long time to establish a connection approx 10 seconds during


which no data can be transmitted.
 It is more expensive than other switching techniques as a dedicated path
is required for each connection.

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.
 Each and every node stores the entire message and then forward it to the
next node.
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.

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.
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.

Difference between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching:

Circuit Switching Packet Switching

In-circuit switching has there are 3


phases:
In Packet switching directly data transfer
i) Connection Establishment.
takes place.
ii) Data Transfer.
iii) Connection Released.

In Packet switching, each data unit just


In-circuit switching, each data unit
knows the final destination address
knows the entire path address which
intermediate path is decided by the
is provided by the source.
routers.

In-Circuit switching, data is In Packet switching, data is processed at


Circuit Switching Packet Switching

processed at the source system only all intermediate nodes including the
source system.

Circuit switching is more reliable. Packet switching is less reliable.

Transmission of the data is done not only


Transmission of the data is done by
by the source but also by the
the source.
intermediate routers.

In-Circuit Switching there is a In Packet Switching there is no physical


physical path between the source path between the source and the
and the destination destination

Circuit Switching does not support Packet Switching supports store and
store and forward transmission forward transmission

In-circuit switching each packet In packet switching packets can follow


follows the same route. any route.

The circuit switching network is Packet switching is implemented at the


implemented at the physical layer. datalink layer and network layer

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