Question

Internet data is broken up as
A.) Length packets
B.) Variable length packets
C.) Not packetized
D.) 64 bytes packets

Answer 1

Hint: It is better to eat sliced bread pieces than the full loaf. Like this, we are dividing the specific data into pieces of data for the easy and fastest transfer.

Complete step by step answer:

Computer networks use packet switches to allow packets to travel from one host to another, even when no direct connection exists between those hosts. Packet switching is a methodology in which the sending data is divided into several packet forms. Mainly it uses variable size of packets. These divided packets forwarded through the network to the destination and reassembled to form the combined data. The size of the packet is determined by the network and the governing protocols. Hence, the correct option is (B). Internet data is broken up as variable length packets.

Additional information: Packet switching mechanism derived around the 1970's. During packet switching, each packet may travel through different routes to the destination and they are recompiled into the original message. The upper bound of packet size is actually 1000 octets. If a sender has a longer information to send, then it breaks it up into a series of small packets. Each packet consists of some control information as well as user’s data. Destination address and source address are the control information.

Advantages are;
1.) line efficiency
2.) Fast transmission
3.) Many packets at a time
4.) Packets are accepted even when network is busy
5.) Priorities can be used

Two types of packet switching are used commonly; datagram approach and virtual circuit approach. In the datagram approach each packet is treated independently without any references. So, there is a chance of missing packages. It takes more processing time per packet per node.
In virtual circuit approach, a well planned route is established before the sending of packets. All packets follow the same route and reach the destination. Instead of a destination address they carry a virtual circuit identifier.

Note: Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) uses fixed length packets. But most of the internet mechanisms are carried out with variable length packets.