Switching and Types of Switching in Computer Networks

Changing the flow of data in a network so that it can send or receive information along the most efficient path possible for data transmission is what "switching" essentially refers to. It operates in a manner analogous to that of a railroad track, in which trains must make multiple course adjustments before reaching their destination.

There are many different switching methods that are utilized in order to send the data throughout the networks.

The following is a list of the various types of switching that are used to enable two computers to communicate with one another:

You will be taken through each of the aforementioned methods of switching one at a time, with each technique having its own section of instruction. Let's start with the "circuit switching."

Circuit Switching

The process of circuit switching begins with the establishment of a full physical connection between two computers. After this is done, data is sent from the computer that generated the signal to the computer that will receive it.

When a computer initiates a telephone call in this scenario, the switching equipment contained within the telephone system searches for a physical copper path that extends all the way from the sender's telephone to the telephone of the receiver.

Before any data can be transferred, the circuit switching method necessitates the establishment of a connection or path between all of the computers involved in the process. This is the technique's defining characteristic.

Message Switching

During the process of message switching, the source computer will first transmit the data or the message to the switching office, which will then store the information in its buffer. After that, it searches for an available link to another switching office and transfers the data to that location. This process will continue until the data has been transferred to the computers that are the final destination.

Store and forward is another name for this method, which is derived from the operating principle of message switching. That is, first store the information in the switching office, and then forward it one step at a time after some time has passed.

Packet Switching

The maximum allowable size of a block is constrained by the use of packet switching. There is a limitation placed on the maximum size of the packet that can be sent across the network.

When performing packet switching, each data packet of a particular size is saved in the computer's main memory. This results in an improvement in performance because the access time, that is, the amount of time required to access the data packet, is decreased. As a result, the throughput, which is a measure of the network's performance, also improves.

Computer Networking Quiz


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