Consider a virtual-circuit network. Suppose the VC number is a 8-bit field.
a) What is the maximum number of virtual circuits that can be carried over a link?
b) Suppose a central node determines paths and VC numbers at connection setup. Suppose the same VC number is used on each link along the VC's path. Describe how the central node might determine the VC number at connection setup. Is it possible that there are fewer VCs in progress than the maximum as determined in part (a) yet there is no common free VC number?
c) Suppose that different VC numbers are permitted in each link along a VC's path. During connection setup, after an end-to-end path is determined, describe how the links can choose their VC numbers and configure their forwarding tables in a decentralized manner, without reliance on a central node.