1.3.3.7 Circuit switching and Packet switching

Question 1

What are the two methods of sending data across a network?

Answer 1

• Circuit switching
• Packet switching

Question 2

How does circuit switching work?

Answer 2

It creates a temporary and dedicated link of fixed bandwidth between the source and destination that only lasts until the transmission is complete.

Question 3

How does packet switching work?

Answer 3

Packet switching breaks streams of data into smaller blocks, each sent independently of one another.

At each node, packets are sent via whichever route the node decides is the least congested.

This means that packets can take different routes to their destination.

There is no physical path in packet switching.

Question 4

What is good about circuit switching? Where do we see it being used?

Answer 4

Guarantees the quality of the transmission through dedicated bandwidth, making circuit switching excellent for data that needs a constant link end-to-end such as real-time video.

Question 5

What is the downside of circuit switching?

Answer 5

A lot of the potential bandwidth can be wasted.

Question 6

What are the positives of packet switching?

Answer 6

• Maximises bandwidth
• More affordable and efficient
• All the bandwidth can be used at once and none of it is wasted.
• Requires less infrastructure and can easily respond.

Question 7

What are the negatives of packet switching?

Answer 7

• Packets may arrive out of order
• Doesn’t guarantee the quality of the transmission.