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A virtual circuit (VC) is a means of transporting data over a data network, based on packet switching and in which a connection is first established across the network between two endpoints. The network, rather than having a fixed data rate reservation per connection as in circuit switching, takes advantage of the statistical multiplexing on its transmission links, an intrinsic feature of packet switching.

A 1978 standardization of virtual circuits by the CCITT imposes per-connection flow controls at all user-to-network and network-to-network interfaces. This permits participation in congestion control and reduces the likelihood of packet loss in a heavily loaded network.[1][2] Some circuit protocols provide reliable communication service through the use of data retransmissions invoked by error detection and automatic repeat request (ARQ).

Before a virtual circuit may be used, it must be established between network nodes in the call setup phase. Once established, a bit stream or byte stream may be exchanged between the nodes, providing abstraction from low-level division into protocol data units, and enabling higher-level protocols to operate transparently.

An alternative to virtual-circuit networks are datagram networks.

Comparison with circuit switching

Virtual circuit communication resembles circuit switching, since both are connection oriented, meaning that in both cases data is delivered in correct order, and signaling overhead is required during a connection establishment phase. However, circuit switching provides a constant bit rate and latency, while these may vary in a virtual circuit service due to factors such as:

Virtual call capability

In telecommunication, a virtual call capability, sometimes called a virtual call facility, is a service feature in which:

An alternative approach to virtual calls is connectionless communication using datagrams.[3]

In the 1970s, the virtual call concept was used in the British EPSS and enhanced by Rémi Després as virtual circuits in the French RCP.[4][5][6]

Layer 4 virtual circuits

Connection oriented transport layer protocols such as TCP[7][8] may rely on a connectionless packet switching network layer protocol such as IP, where different packets may be routed over different paths, and thus be delivered out of order. However, it is possible to use TCP as a virtual circuit,[8][9][10] since TCP includes segment numbering that allows reordering on the receiver side to accommodate out-of-order delivery.

Layer 2/3 virtual circuits

Data link layer and network layer virtual circuit protocols are based on connection-oriented packet switching, meaning that data is always delivered along the same network path, i.e., through the same nodes. Advantages with this over connectionless packet switching are:

Example protocols

Examples of transport layer protocols that provide a virtual circuit:

Examples of network-layer and data-link-layer virtual circuit protocols, where data always is delivered over the same path:

Permanent and switched virtual circuits in ATM, Frame Relay, and X.25

Switched virtual circuits (SVCs) are generally set up on a per-call basis and are disconnected when the call is terminated; however, a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) can be established as an option to provide a dedicated circuit link between two facilities. PVC configuration is usually preconfigured by the service provider. Unlike SVCs, PVC are usually very seldom broken/disconnected.

A switched virtual circuit (SVC) is a virtual circuit that is dynamically established on demand and is torn down when transmission is complete, for example after a phone call or a file download. SVCs are used in situations where data transmission is sporadic and/or not always between the same data terminal equipment (DTE) endpoints.

A permanent virtual circuit (PVC) is a virtual circuit established for repeated/continuous use between the same DTE. In a PVC, the long-term association is identical to the data transfer phase of a virtual call. Permanent virtual circuits eliminate the need for repeated call set-up and clearing.

See also

References

  1. ^ "X.25 - Interface between Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (DCE) for terminals operating in the packet mode and connected to public data networks by dedicated circuit". ITU-T. October 1976.
  2. ^ Rybczynski, A; Wessler, B; Després, R; Wedlake, J (1976-06-07). "A new communication protocol for accessing data networks: The international packet-mode interface". In AFIPS (ed.). Proceedings of the June 7-10, 1976, national computer conference and exposition on - AFIPS '76. p. 477. doi:10.1145/1499799.1499869. S2CID 8790311.
  3. ^ Tanenbaum, Andrew S.; Wetherall, David J. (2011). Computer Networks (5th international ed.). Pearson. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-13-255317-9.
  4. ^ Smith, Ed; Miller, Chris; Norton, Jim (2017). "Packet Switching: The first steps on the road to the information society". National Physical Laboratory.
  5. ^ "RCP, The Experimental Packet-Switched Data Transmission Service of The French PTT". 21 January 2022.
  6. ^ R. Despres, "A packet switching network with graceful saturated operation", in Computer Communications: Impacts and Implications, S. Winkler, Ed. Washington, D.C., 1972
  7. ^ RFC 793
  8. ^ a b RFC 1180
  9. ^ RFC 955
  10. ^ RFC 1644
  11. ^ ITU-T, B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer specification: Type 3/4 AAL, Recommendation I.363.3 (08/96), International Telecommunication Union, 1996, p5.
  12. ^ ITU-T, B-ISDN ATM Adaptation Layer specification: Type 5 AAL, Recommendation I.363.5 (08/96), International Telecommunication Union, 1996, p5.
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