Everything about Wormhole Switching totally explained
Wormhole switching or
Wormhole routing is a system of simple
flow control in
computer networking based on known fixed links.Large network packets are broken into small pieces called flits (flow units). The first flit (for example address) sets up the routing behavior for all subsequent flits associated with the packet.
The name plays on the way packets are sent over the links: the address is so short that it can be translated before the message itself arrives. This allows the router to quickly set up the routing of the actual message and then "bow out" of the rest of the conversation.
The transmission from the source node to the destination node is done through a sequence of routers. Flits of a single packet may occupy multiple consecutive routers and links, like a worm.
Actually, switching is the more appropriate term than routing . "Routing" defines the route or path taken to reach the destination. Wormhole technique doesn't dictate the route (to where) but selects when the packet moves forward from a router (when).
Cut-through switching forwards packets in similar manner, but ensures that packet fits into single buffer. Consequently, cut-through doesn't occupy multiple links/routers.
In most respects, wormhole is very similar to
ATM or
MPLS forwarding, with the exception that the
cell doesn't have to be
queued.
Wormhole technique is primarily used in
multiprocessor systems, notably
hypercubes. In a hypercube computer each
CPU is attached to several neighbours in a fixed pattern, which reduces the number of hops from one CPU to another. Each CPU is given a number (typically only
8-bit to
16-bit), which is its network address, and packets to CPUs are sent with this number in the header. When the packet arrives at an intermediate router for forwarding, the router examines the header (very quickly), sets up a circuit to the next router, and then bows out of the conversation. This reduces latency (delay) notably compared to
store-and-forward switching that waits for the whole packet before forwarding.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Wormhole Switching'.
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