Circuit Switching

Title: Exploring Circuit Switching in Computer Networks

Date: [Insert Date]

Introduction to Circuit Switching:

• Circuit switching is a communication method used in telecommunication networks, where a dedicated communication path or circuit is established between two parties for the duration of a communication session.

• Unlike packet switching, which breaks data into packets and sends them independently across the network, circuit switching reserves a continuous channel for the entire duration of the communication.

Key Concepts:

1. Circuit Establishment:

   • Before data transmission begins, a dedicated communication path, or circuit, is established between the sender and receiver.

   • This involves signaling between network devices to reserve resources and set up the circuit.

2. Circuit Duration:

   • Once established, the circuit remains dedicated to the communication session until it is explicitly released.

   • The resources allocated to the circuit, including bandwidth and network nodes, are exclusively reserved for the communicating parties.

3. Data Transmission:

   • Data is transmitted in a continuous stream over the established circuit.

   • Since the circuit is dedicated, there is no need for addressing or routing information in the data stream.

4. Resource Utilization:

   • Circuit switching is inefficient in terms of resource utilization, as network resources are reserved for the entire duration of the communication session, even if they are not actively transmitting data.

   • This can lead to underutilization of network capacity, especially for sporadic or bursty traffic patterns.

5. Examples of Circuit Switching:

   • Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): Traditional telephone networks use circuit switching to establish dedicated voice circuits between callers.

   • Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): ISDN provides digital circuit-switched connections for voice and data communication, offering higher-quality connections compared to analog telephone lines.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

• Advantages:

  • Guaranteed bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) for the duration of the communication session.

  • Simple and predictable behavior, suitable for real-time applications like voice and video calls.

• Disadvantages:

  • Inefficient use of network resources, especially for bursty or sporadic traffic.

  • Limited scalability and flexibility compared to packet-switched networks.

Conclusion:

• Circuit switching provides a dedicated communication path between parties for the duration of a communication session, ensuring guaranteed bandwidth and quality of service.

• While suitable for real-time applications like voice calls, it is less efficient and scalable compared to packet switching, which offers more flexible resource allocation and better adaptability to varying traffic patterns.