What is an advantage of packet-switched technology over circuit-switched technology?

Answer 1

In packet switching, packets can take the quickest route between nodes and arrive independently of when other packets in their data stream arrive.

network + guide to networks Chapter 5 Review Question 7

Answer 2

The basis of a Packet Switched Network is the Packet Switch. This network enables the service user to connect to any number of hosts via a local POTS dial-up/port. The various hosts pay to be connected to this type of network, and that's why there is often a surcharge for connection to larger public services like Compuserve or The Source. A Packet Switched Network provides efficient data transfer and lower rates than normal circuit switched calls, which can be a great convenience if you are planning to do a lot of transferring of files between you and the host. Not only is the communication efficient, it is virtually error free. Whereas in normal circuit switched calls, there could be a drastic increase in errors, thus creating a bad transfer of data. When using a Packet Switched Network, it is not important that you communicate at the same baud rate as your host. A special device regulates the speed so that the individual packets are sped up or slowed down, according to your equipment. Such a device is called a PAD (Packet Assembler Disassembler). A PSN also provides access to a variety of information and news retrieval services. The user pays nothing for these calls, because the connections are collect. Although the user may have to subscribe to the service to take advantage of it's services, the connection is usually free, except for a surcharge on some of the larger subscription services.

Answer 3

Circuit switching has the following advantages

Reliable

Low latency which makes it faster with low error

Circuit switching also has a guaranteed link with a reserved bandwidth between hosts. With circuit switching once the connection is established it can be accessed whenever needed. Versus with packet switching where resources are used on demand and can only transmit when it has access to the connection link.

Answer 4

In telecommunications, a circuit switching network is one that establishes a circuit (or channel) between nodes and terminals before the users may communicate, as if the nodes were physically connected with an electrical circuit.

Packet switching is a digital network communications method that groups all transmitted data, irrespective of content, type, or structure into suitably-sized blocks, called pubes. The network over which packets are transmitted is a shared network which routes each packet independently from all others and allocates transmission resources as needed. The principal goals of packet switching are to optimize utilization of available link capacity, minimise response times and increase the robustness of communication. When traversing network adapters, switches and other network nodes, packets are buffered and queued, resulting in variable delay and throughput, depending on the traffic load in the network.

The advantage to circuit switching is that it is a dedicated circuit. Packet switching has to share the resource with other users and packets.

Answer 5

Packet switching has to distinct advantages.

1. A damaged packet can be resent - only the damaged part is sent, no need to resent an entire file.

2. It allows multiplexing; different users, or different processes from the same user, can communicate at the same time.

Answer 6

Packet-switched networks can efficiently use multiple routes inside a service provider network.