Internet Architecture: Packet Switching vs Circuit Switching (1969)
by Anonymous
ARPANET's designers chose packet switching over the telephone network's circuit switching. This made the network resilient (no single point of failure) and efficient (shared bandwidth), becoming the foundation of the internet.
Packet Switching
1969
year
No single point of failure — designed to survive nuclear attack
resilience
Shared bandwidth, dynamic routing
efficiency
Chose — became the Internet
outcome
Circuit Switching
1969
year
Single path — fails if any node goes down
resilience
Dedicated bandwidth per connection
efficiency
Remained for telephone until VoIP
outcome
Like this comparison? Make it your own.
Sign up to use as templateMore in History
Roman Capital: Rome vs Byzantium (330 CE)
Constantinople (Byzantium) vs Keep Rome as Capital vs Nicomedia
Genghis Khan: Unite the Mongol Tribes (1206)
Unite All Tribes as Genghis Khan vs Rule as Regional Clan Leader
World Wide Web: Free and Open vs Proprietary (1993)
Free and Open (No Royalties) vs Licensed/Proprietary
Magna Carta: King John's Concession (1215)
Sign the Magna Carta vs Fight the Barons
Lewis and Clark: Northern vs Southern Route (1805)
Lemhi Pass (Northern Route) vs Direct Western Crossing
Treaty of Versailles: Punish or Reconcile Germany (1919)
Harsh Punishment (French Position) vs Moderate Peace (14 Points) vs Break Up Germany