A switched virtual circuit (SVC) is a logical network connection created on demand through signaling. The endpoints are identified when the connection is requested; unlike a permanent virtual circuit (PVC), an SVC is not provisioned to stay continuously available.
What is a switched virtual circuit?
An SVC is a virtual connection established through network signaling when communication is needed. “Virtual” means it is a logical path through the network, not a dedicated physical wire. In its definition, IETF RFC 2761, section 1.2.43, says: “A connection established via signaling. The user defines the endpoints when the call is initiated.”
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In other words, the network is asked to establish a path for specified endpoints at call initiation, rather than relying on a connection that was provisioned in advance.
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How an SVC is established in ATM
ATM is the clearest context for this definition in the cited standards. ATM SVC setup uses signaling, but the signaling interface depends on the network context: RFC 2761 describes UNI or PNNI signaling, while Cisco’s ATM PVC/SVC FAQ describes dynamic setup through NNI signaling. These interface labels are context-specific, not a single universal procedure for every SVC technology.
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RFC 2382 describes the benefit of this approach in ATM: “SVCs allow paths in the ATM network to be set up ‘on demand’.” The same RFC explains a practical trade-off: while an SVC with the desired quality of service is being established, traffic may initially use existing virtual circuits. See RFC 2382.
SVC vs. PVC
| Aspect | Switched virtual circuit (SVC) | Permanent virtual circuit (PVC) |
|---|---|---|
| How it is established | Created dynamically through signaling when requested. | Provisioned in advance between endpoints. |
| When it exists | For a requested communication or session; it is not simply provisioned for continuous availability. | Provisioned to remain available rather than established separately for each call. |
| Setup overhead | Requires signaling, which adds setup time and cost. | Avoids per-connection setup signaling. |
| Operational context | Signaling details depend on the technology and interface. | Provisioning details depend on the technology and network. |
For ATM, Cisco contrasts dynamically established SVCs with PVCs configured manually. That distinction is about how the logical connection is created; neither term means a dedicated physical cable.
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What the SVC trade-off means
An SVC gives the network flexibility to establish a path when endpoints need to communicate, but signaling takes time and consumes network resources. That setup overhead can matter when a service needs a particular quality of service quickly. RFC 2382’s example of using existing virtual circuits while a desired-QoS SVC is set up illustrates why “on demand” does not necessarily mean “instant.”
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The basic idea—establishing a virtual connection through signaling—also appears in Frame Relay materials, but the implementation details should not be assumed to match ATM. For example, RFC 4906 explicitly excludes Frame Relay SVC and SPVC emulation from its scope; it is not a definition of how those circuits work.
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Can an SVC be disconnected automatically?
Some platforms can tear down ATM SVCs after inactivity. Cisco’s FAQ discusses an idle-timeout behavior and a platform-specific default, but that setting is not universal and is not part of the core definition of an SVC. Whether an SVC persists or is cleared after use depends on the platform and configuration.
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