8.3.1 Datagram Networks
In a datagram network, each packet is treated independently of all others. Even if a
packet is part of a multipacket transmission, the network treats it as though it existed
alone. Packets in this approach are referred to as datagrams.
Datagram switching is normally done at the network layer. We briefly discuss
datagram networks here as a comparison with circuit-switched and virtual-circuitswitched
networks. In Chapter 18 of this text, we go into greater detail.
Figure 8.7 shows how the datagram approach is used to deliver four packets from
station A to station X. The switches in a datagram network are traditionally referred to
as routers. That is why we use a different symbol for the switches in the figure.