Deflection routing is a
routing strategy for networks based on
packet switching
In telecommunications, packet switching is a method of grouping data into '' packets'' that are transmitted over a digital network. Packets are made of a header and a payload. Data in the header is used by networking hardware to direct the p ...
which can reduce the need of
buffering packets. Every packet has preferred outputs along which it wants to leave the
router, and when possible, a packet is sent along one of these outputs. However, two or more packets may want to leave along the same output (which is referred to as a ''contention among packets''
), and then only one of the packets may be sent along the link, while the others are sent along available outputs, even though the other links are not preferred by the packets (because, for instance, those links do not yield shortest paths).
Depending on the rate of incoming packets and the capacity of the outgoing links, deflection routing can work without any
packet buffering. Of course, it is always possible to simply drop packets in a network with a
best-effort delivery
Best-effort delivery describes a network service in which the network does ''not'' provide any guarantee that data is delivered or that delivery meets any quality of service. In a best-effort network, all users obtain best-effort service. Under b ...
strategy.
See also
*
Cut-through switching
Rat running (also known as rodent running, cut-through driving, or dive-bombing) is the practice by motorists of using residential side streets or any unintended short cut such as a parking lot, delivery service lane or cemetery road instead o ...
*
Dynamic Alternative Routing
References
Routing
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