5.3.5

How Do Packets Get Routed?

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How do Packets get Routed?

Packet switching is the process of breaking data down into packets, sending them across the Internet to another computer, and then re-assembling the data.

Sender's local area network

Sender's local area network

  • The sender will generate data in an application on their computer.
    • This happens at the application layer.
  • The data is split into packets of data.
    • This happens at the transport layer.
  • Internet Protocol adds IP addresses to each packet.
    • This happens at the Internet layer.
  • Packets are grouped into frames and sent to the router on the LAN.
    • This happens at the Network layer.
Over the Internet

Over the Internet

  • The sender's router inspects the packet to determine if the destination IP is on the current LAN.
    • If it is not then it will send the packet onto the Internet (or other wide area network).
    • This happens at the Internet layer.
  • Each packet is sent from the sender's router to the destination router via connected routers.
    • The path of each packet can be different, which maximises efficient use of the network by avoiding bottlenecks.
Recipient's local area network

Recipient's local area network

  • Because they have taken different paths, the packets at the destination will be in the wrong order.
    • These packets are unpackaged and reassembled into the correct order using the sequence number of each packet.

Packet Switching

Packet switching is the process of breaking data down into packets, sending them across the Internet to another computer, and then re-assembling the data.

Sender's local area network

Sender's local area network

  • The sender will generate data in an application on their computer.
    • This happens at the application layer.
  • The data is split into packets of data.
    • This happens at the transport layer.
  • Internet Protocol adds IP addresses to each packet.
    • This happens at the Internet layer.
  • Packets are grouped into frames and sent to the router on the LAN.
    • This happens at the Network layer.
Over the Internet

Over the Internet

  • The sender's router inspects the packet to determine if the destination IP is on the current LAN.
    • If it is not then it will send the packet onto the Internet (or other wide area network).
    • This happens at the Internet layer.
  • Each packet is sent from the sender's router to the destination router via connected routers.
    • The path of each packet can be different, which maximises efficient use of the network by avoiding bottlenecks.
Recipient's local area network

Recipient's local area network

  • Because they have taken different paths, the packets at the destination will be in the wrong order.
    • These packets are unpackaged and reassembled into the correct order using the sequence number of each packet.
Jump to other topics
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Problem Solving

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Algorithms

1.1.1Algorithm Thinking1.1.2Interpreting Algorithms1.1.3Expressing Algorithms - Pseudocode1.1.4Expressing Algorithms - Flow Charts1.1.5Correcting Algorithms1.1.6Completing Algorithms1.1.7Search Algorithms1.1.8Linear Search1.1.9Binary Search1.1.10Sort Algorithms1.1.11Bubble Sort1.1.12Merge Sort
1.2

Decomposition & Abstraction

1.2.1Computational Thinking - Abstraction1.2.2Computational Thinking - Decomposition1.2.3End of Topic Test - Algorithms
2

Programming

2.1

Develop Code

2.1.1Maintainability2.1.2Comments2.1.3Exceptions2.1.4Syntax Error2.1.5Logic Error2.1.6Runtime Error2.1.7Purpose of Testing2.1.8Test Plans
2.2

Constructs

2.2.1Selection2.2.2Sequence2.2.3Iteration
2.3

Data Types & Structures

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2.4

Input / Output

2.4.1Input and Output2.4.2Validation and Sanitation2.4.3Files2.4.4File Handling
2.5

Operators

2.5.1Arithmetic Operators2.5.2Relational Operators2.5.3Boolean Operators
2.6

Subprograms

2.6.1Modularity2.6.2End of Topic Test - Programming
3

Data

3.1

Binary

3.1.1Number Bases3.1.2Negative Binary Numbers3.1.3Binary Addition3.1.4Binary Shifts
3.2

Data Representation

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3.3

Data Storage & Compression

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3.4

Encryption

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3.5

Databases

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4

Computers

4.1

Machines & Computational Modelling

4.1.1Computational Models4.1.2Input-Process-Output Model
4.2

Hardware

4.2.1Elements of Computer Systems4.2.2Types of Computer Systems4.2.3Memory - RAM4.2.4Memory - ROM4.2.5Memory - Cache4.2.6Running Out of Memory4.2.7Virtual Memory4.2.8Magnetic Storage4.2.9Properties of Magnetic Media4.2.10Examples of Magnetic Storage4.2.11Solid State Storage4.2.12Properties of Solid State Media4.2.13Optical Storage4.2.14Properties of Optical Storage4.2.15Examples of Optical Storage4.2.16Types of Optical Disk4.2.17Von Neumann Architecture4.2.18Registers of the Central Processing Unit (CPU)4.2.19Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle4.2.20Factors Affecting CPU Performance4.2.21The Cloud4.2.22How the Cloud Works4.2.23The Cloud - Pros4.2.24The Cloud - Cons4.2.25End of Topic Test - Hardware
4.3

Logic

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4.4

Software

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4.5

Programming Languages

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5

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5.1

Networks

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5.2

Network Security

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5.3

The Internet & the World Wide Web

5.3.1IP Addresses5.3.2Types of IP Address5.3.3MAC Addresses5.3.4Packet Switching5.3.5How Do Packets Get Routed?5.3.6Did My Data Arrive Safely?5.3.7The Internet5.3.8URLs5.3.9DNS5.3.10Web Hosting5.3.11End of Topic Test - Security
6

The Bigger Picture

6.1

Emerging Trends, Issues & Impact

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Practice questions on How Do Packets Get Routed?

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Process on the Sender's Local Area Network (LAN)Put in order
  2. 2
    Process of Routing over the InternetPut in order
  3. 3
    Why is the path of each packet different?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Process on the Sender's Local Area Network (LAN)Put in order
  5. 5
    Process of Routing over the InternetPut in order
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Packet Switching

Did My Data Arrive Safely?