A defined connection between two end-points in a packetized network. While the two ends of the virtual circuit are defined, the path used by the network to connect the two end-points is not necessarily predetermined. See Permanent Virtual Circuit and Switched Virtual Circuit.

A logical connection between two points or devices on a network that may use different circuits during transmission but appears to be a dedicated path.

In packet switching, network facilities that appear to users to be an end-to-end circuit, but are in fact a dynamically variable network connection in which sequential user data packets may be routed differently during the course of a "virtual connection." Transmission facilities may be shared by many virtual circuits simultaneously.

A connection which "appears" and "performs" as if a physical connection exists between source and destination even if one does not.

a circuit in an OOPic that appears to be a discrete, physical electronic circuit but is actually the Objects within the OOPic emulating the functionality of the circuit

a circuit in an OOPic that appears to be a physical discrete electronic circuit, but is actually the OOPic operating system emulating the functionality of the circuit

a communications link that appears to be a dedicated point-to-point link but is not

a connection to a database instance through a dispatcher and the shared server currently processing the user's request

a logical connection established between two DTEs

an a priori fixed path which packets follow

The connection between two ATM end stations for the duration of the connection.

Transmission path set up, end to end, by connection protocol before transmission. A packet-switching mechanism in which a logical connection (virtual circuit) is established between two stations at the start of transmission. All packets follow the same route, need not carry a complete address, and arrive in sequence.

Portion of a virtual path or virtual channel used to establish a single virtual connection between two endpoints.

A connection between devices that appears to be a direct circuit when it may actually circuitous or even packet switched. Virtual circuits are either permanent (PVC) or switched on and off as needed (SVC).

A point-to-point connection for the transmission of data. This allows greater control of call attributes, such as bandwidth, latency, delay variation, and sequencing.

Packet switching, network facilities that give the appearance of an actual end-to-end circuit. A dynamically variable, network connection where sequential user data packets may be routed differently.

is a logical connection across a packet-switched network that temporarily has the appearance of a dedicated physical circuit.

A link that seems and behaves like a dedicated point to point line or a system that delivers packets in sequence, as happens on an actual point to point network. In reality, the data is delivered across a network via the most appropriate route. The sending and receiving devices do not have to be aware of the options and the route is chosen only when a message is sent. There is no prearrangement, so each virtual connection exists only for the duration of that one transmission.

A channel or circuit established between two points on an ATM network. Circuit numbers 0 through 31 are reserved; circuit 5 is the signalling channel. Virtual circuits can be Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC) or Switched Virtual Circuit (SVC) (dynamic).

a network service that allows two processes to communicate as if they were directly connected to each other

A both-way connection between two devices that acts as though it is a direct connection between them even though it may use more than one real circuit configuration during a single period of communication. The term is used most frequently to describe connections between two terminal devices in a packet-switching network connection. In this case, the two devices can communicate as though they have a dedicated connection even though the packets might actually travel very different routes before arriving at their destination.

In X.25 communications, those facilities provided by a network that give the appearance to the user of an actual connection. See also switched virtual circuit and permanent virtual circuit.

An X.25 VC is a packet level procedure logical connection between an X.25 DTE and an X.25 DCE. X.25 supports both switched VCs (SVCs) and permanent VCs (PVCs).

A piece of shared memory used by the dispatcher for client database connection requests and replies. The dispatcher places a virtual circuit on a common queue when a request arrives. An idle shared server picks up the virtual circuit from the common queue, services the request, and relinquishes the virtual circuit before attempting to retrieve another virtual circuit from the common queue.

Circuit-like service provided by the software protocols of a network, enabling two end points to communicate as though connected by a physical circuit. Network nodes provide the addressing information needed in the packets that carry the source data to the destination.

A connection where bandwidth is available on demand but not permanently allocated. A logical transmission path.

A network service which provides connection-oriented service regardless of the underlying network structure. See also: connection-oriented.

A logical communication path between a terminal server and a host. The LAT transport mechanism is a virtual circuit.

(1) Connection between two points in a data network that use different circuits during a transmission but behaves as a dedicated path. (2) Route for packets between a user's terminal and host computer. Circuit is virtual because it appears to the user to be a direct, dedicated circuit between him and the destination.

A virtual circuit is a logical circuit created to ensure reliable communications between two network devices.

A connection that acts (and appears to the end user) as a dedicated point-to-point circuit, though an indirect physical path might be used. Generally faster and cheaper than dedicated lines.

A term derived from packet-switching networks. A virtual circuit is supported by facilities which are shared between many users, although each circuit appears to its users as a dedicated end-to-end connection.

A logical connection or packet-switching mechanism established between two devices at the start of transmission. An interface between Access Node and network. May have multiple physical connections although may also carry all signals across a single physical connection.

A communications arrangement in which data from a source user may be passed to a destination user over various real circuit configurations during a single period of communication, usually on a per call basis, although permanent connections can be established.

A type of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection involving establishment and release procedures such that the label associated with each cell need not contain complete routing information.

Logical circuit created to ensure reliable communication between two network devices. A virtual circuit is defined by a VPI/VCI pair, and can be either permanent (a PVC) or switched (an SVC). Virtual circuits are used in Frame Relay and X.25. In ATM, a virtual circuit is called a virtual channel. Sometimes abbreviated VC. See also PVC, SVC, VCI, virtual route, and VPI.

A series of logical, rather than physical, connections between sending and receiving devices. With a virtual circuit, two hosts can communicate as though they have a dedicated connection, although the packets may be taking very different routes to arrive at their destination.

A temporary connection path, set up between two points by software and packet switching, that appears to the user to be available as a dedicated circuit. This "phantom" circuit can be maintained inde ... more

This term refers to a predefined path through a network that provides a connection-oriented session between two applications.

n. A communications link that appears to be a direct connection between sender and receiver, although physically the link can be routed through a more circuitous path.

(n.) An apparent connection between process es that is facilitated by the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). A virtual circuit enables applications to “talk” to each other as if they had a physical circuit.

Represents a logical connection between two Layer 2 devices in a network.

A virtual circuit (VC) is a communications arrangement in which data from a source user may be passed to a destination user over more than one real communications circuit during a single period of communication, but the switching is hidden from the users. Virtual circuit techniques are widely used in Asynchronous Transfer Mode and Frame Relay. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) should not be considered as an example of virtual circuit application, which although is connection-oriented.