April
1999 QUESTION 2 Total Marks: 20 Marks |
Click here to access other
questions
Click to access
|
| Circuit switching, packet switching, and
message switching are all used in networks. Each has different characteristics.
|
||
| (a) | What is the purpose of the various switching
techniques?
|
[2] |
| (b) | Message switching and packet switching are both used to transmit data without the establishment of a dedicated path or circuit. Explain | |
| (i) how each one operates, | [4] | |
| (ii) how they differ from each other, and | [4] | |
| (iii) the disadvantages of each one.
|
[2] | |
| (c) | Is message switching suitable for interactive
traffic? Explain your answer.
|
[2] |
| (d) | An ATM network uses virtual circuits to route its cells through the network. Explain what a virtual circuit is, and how this differs from the datagram approach. | [6] |