How does fast switching differ from process switching?

Fast switching operates by establishing a cache of route information after the first packet is processed, allowing subsequent packets to be forwarded without further involvement from the CPU. This significantly enhances overall performance because once the forwarding information is cached, packets can be switched more rapidly, relying on this cached data rather than requiring the CPU to analyze each packet individually.

In contrast, process switching involves the CPU for every single packet, leading to higher latency and reduced efficiency, especially in environments with heavy traffic. Process switching can be described as a more resource-intensive method that does not benefit from the performance optimizations provided by caching in fast switching.

Therefore, the statement about fast switching's efficiency in bypassing the CPU after the initial packet processing is the core distinction that highlights why this answer is accurate. This caching mechanism is what sets fast switching apart, enabling faster packet forwarding compared to process switching.