Basic Operation Data are transmitted in short packets Typically at the order of 1000 bytes Longer messages are split into series of packets Each packet contains a portion of user data plus some control Control info contains at least Routing (addressing info, so as to be routed to the intended destination -Recall the content of an ip header store and forward On each switching node packets are received, stored briefly (buffered)and passed on to the next node. 1010 Basic Operation • Data are transmitted in short packets — Typically at the order of 1000 bytes — Longer messages are split into series of packets — Each packet contains a portion of user data plus some control info • Control info contains at least — Routing (addressing) info, so as to be routed to the intended destination — Recall the content of an IP header! • store and forward — On each switching node, packets are received, stored briefly (buffered) and passed on to the next node