Packet Switching

 There are two broad classes of packet-

switched networks: datagram networks and
virtual-circuit networks
 Any network that routes packets according
to host destination addresses is a
datagram network
 The IP protocol of the Internet routes
packets according to the destination
addresses; hence the Internet is a
datagram network
Introduction 1-1
 Any network that routes packets according
to virtual-circuit numbers a virtual-circuit
network
 Examples of packet switching technologies
that use virtual circuits include X.25,
frame relay, and ATM

Introduction 1-2
Virtual Circuit Networks
 A virtual circuit (VC) consists of
a path (i.e., a series of links and packet
switches) between the source and destination
hosts,
 virtual circuit numbers, one number for each
link along the path,
 entries in VC-number translation tables in each
packet switch along the path

Introduction 1-3
 Once a VC is established between source
and destination, packets can be sent with
the appropriate VC numbers
 Because a VC has a different VC number on
each link, an intermediate packet switch
must replace the VC number of each
traversing packet with a new one
 The new VC number is obtained from the
VC number translation table

Introduction 1-4
 Consider the network shown in Figure 1.4-9

Introduction 1-5
 The network establish a VC between A and
host B.
 Suppose that the network chooses the
path A - PS1 -PS2 - B and assigns VC
numbers 12, 22, 32 to the three links in
this path
 When a packet as part of this VC leaves
host A, the value in the VC number field is
12; when it leaves PS1, the value is 22;
and when it leaves PS2, the value is 32
Introduction 1-6
 The numbers next to the links of PS1 are
the interface numbers
 Each switch has a VC number translation
table; for example, the VC number
translation table in PS 1 might
look something like this:

Introduction 1-7
 Whenever a new VC is established across a
switch, an entry is added to the VC
number table.
 Similarly, whenever a VC terminates, the
entries in each table along its path are
removed
 If a network employs virtual circuits, then
the network's switches must maintain
state information for the ongoing
connections
Introduction 1-8
 Each time a new connection is established
across a switch, a new connection entry
must be added to the switch's VC-number
translation table;
 Each time a connection is released, an
entry must be removed from the table

Introduction 1-9
Datagram Networks
 Datagam networks are analogous in many
respects to the postal services
 Packets are routed towards destination on
the basis of IP address
 Each packet that traverses the network
contains in its header the address of the
destination
 This address has a hierarchical
structure

Introduction 1-10
 When a packet arrives at a router in the
network, it examines a portion of the
packet's destination address and forwards
the packet to the appropriate link
 Each router has a routing table which maps
destination addresses (or portions of the
destination addresses) to an outbound link
 In contrast with VC networks, datagram
networks do not maintain connection state
information in their switches
Introduction 1-11
Telecommunication Network
Taxonomy

Introduction 1-12
Introduction 1-13
Introduction 1-14
Assignment:

 Compare and Analysis Different types of

Packet switching techniques

Introduction 1-15