How do routers handle a packet that arrives faster than it can be sent out?
Per Wikipedia: “Store-and-forward buffers the entire packet before forwarding, enabling error check and rate adaptation.”
Like post office — clerk receives whole letter, checks address, then hands to next carrier, not letter-by-letter.
- Packet arrives at input port
- Stored in buffer
- Checked for errors
- Routing table consulted
- Forwarded to output port
- Enables error detection
- Needs memory for queue
- Adds store delay
- Contrasts with cut-through
packet -> buffer -> lookup -> forward- Built from: Packet Switching — store-forward is packet technique
- Contrasts with: Circuit Switching — circuit reserves path
- Related: Broadcast Links — broadcasts still need buffering
- Builds into: Packet Switching — refines
- Buffer bloat — too much buffering adds latency
- Assuming zero copy — actually copied