Switching Techniques

Module - 1
What is Switching ?
• In large networks, there can be multiple paths from
sender to receiver.
• The switching technique will decide the best route for
data transmission.
Switched Network
Taxonomy of Switched Network
 1. 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.
• 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.
Phases in Circuit Switching

1. Connection Establishment
2. Data transfer
3. Tear down
Connection Establishment / Setup Phase
In this phase, a dedicated circuit is established from the
source to the destination through a number of intermediate
switching centres.
The sender and receiver transmits communication signals to
request and acknowledge establishment of circuits.
Data Transfer
Once the circuit has been established, data and voice are
transferred from the source to the destination.
The dedicated connection remains as long as the end
parties communicate.
Teardown
When data transfer is complete, the connection is
relinquished.
The disconnection is initiated by any one of the user.
Disconnection involves removal of all intermediate links
from the sender to the receiver.
Advantages of Circuit Switching
• It is suitable for long continuous transmission, since a
continuous transmission route is established, that
remains throughout the conversation.
• The dedicated path ensures a steady data rate of
communication.
• No intermediate delays are found once the circuit is
established. So, they are suitable for real time
communication of both voice and data transmission.
Disadvantages of Circuit
Switching
• Circuit switching establishes a dedicated connection
between the end parties. This dedicated connection
cannot be used for transmitting any other data, even if
the data load is very low.
• Bandwidth requirement is high even in cases of low
data volume.
• There is underutilization of system resources. Once
resources are allocated to a particular connection, they
cannot be used for other connections.
• Time required to establish connection may be high.
 2. 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. 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.
 3. Packet Switched
Network
• 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.
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
Routing table
Virtual Circuit Network
• It is a cross between Circuit switched and Datagram switched networks.
• It has some characteristics of both.

VCI (Virtual Circuit Identifier)