COMPUTER NETWORK

Questions & Answers

1. Define Network?

A network is a set of devices connected by physical media links. A network is recursively is a

connection of two or more nodes by a physical link or two or more networks connected by one or
more nodes.

2. What is a Link?

At the lowest level, a network can consist of two or more computers directly connected by some
physical medium such as coaxial cable or optical fiber. Such a physical medium is called as Link.

3. What is a node?

A network can consist of two or more computers directly connected by some physical medium
such as coaxial cable or optical fiber. Such a physical medium is called as Links and the computer
it connects is called as Nodes.

4. What is point-point link?

If the physical links are limited to a pair of nodes it is said to be point-point link.

5. What is Multiple Access?

If the physical links are shared by more than two nodes, it is said to be Multiple Access.

6. Name the factors that affect the performance of the network?

a. Number of Users
b. Type of transmission medium
c. Hardware
d. Software

7. Name the factors that affect the reliability of the network?

a. Frequency of failure
b. Recovery time of a network after a failure

8. Name the factors that affect the security of the network?

a. Unauthorized Access
b. Viruses

9. What is Protocol?

A protocol is a set of rules that govern all aspects of information communication.

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10. What are the key elements of protocols?

The key elements of protocols are

a. Syntax
It refers to the structure or format of the data, that is the order in which they are presented.
b. Semantics
It refers to the meaning of each section of bits.
c. Timing
Timing refers to two characteristics: When data should be sent and how fast they can be sent.

11. What are the key design issues of a computer Network?

a. Connectivity
b. Cost-effective Resource Sharing
c. Support for common Services
d. Performance

12. What is a peer-peer process?

The processes on each machine that communicate at a given layer are called peer-peer process.

13. Define the terms Unicasting, Multiccasting and Broadcasting?

>If the message is sent from a source to a single destination node, it is called Unicasting.
>If the message is sent to some subset of other nodes, it is called Multicasting.
>If the message is sent to all the m nodes in the network it is called Broadcasting.

14. What is Multiplexing?

Multiplexing is the set of techniques that allows the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
across a single data link.

15. Name the categories of Multiplexing?

a. Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

b. Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
i. Synchronous TDM
ii. ASynchronous TDM Or Statistical TDM. c. Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM)

16. What is FDM?

FDM is an analog technique that can be applied when the bandwidth of a link is greater than the
combined bandwidths of the signals to be transmitted.

17. What is WDM?

WDM is conceptually the same as FDM, except that the multiplexing and demultiplexing involve
light signals transmitted through fiber optics channel.

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18. What is TDM?

TDM is a digital process that can be applied when the data rate capacity of the transmission
medium is greater than the data rate required by the sending and receiving device

19. What is Synchronous TDM?

In STDM, the multiplexer allocates exactly the same time slot to each device at all times, whether
or not a device has anything to transmit.

20. List the layers of OSI

a. Physical Layer
b. Data Link Layer
c. Network Layer
d. Transport Layer
e. Session Layer
f. Presentation Layer
g. Application Layer

21. Which layers are network support layers?

a. Physical Layer
b. Data link Layer and
c. Network Layers

22. Which layers are user support layers?

a. Session Layer
b. Presentation Layer and
c. Application Layer

23. Which layer links the network support layers and user support layers?

The Transport layer links the network support layers and user support layers.

24. What are the concerns of the Physical Layer?

Physical layer coordinates the functions required to transmit a bit stream over a physical medium.
a. Physical characteristics of interfaces and media
b. Representation of bits
c. Data rate
d. Synchronization of bits
e. Line configuration
f. Physical topology
g. Transmission mode

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25. What are the responsibilities of Data Link Layer?

The Data Link Layer transforms the physical layer, a raw transmission facility, to a reliable link
and is responsible for node-node delivery.
a. Framing
b. Physical Addressing
c. Flow Control
d. Error Control
e. Access Control

26. What are the responsibilities of Network Layer?

The Network Layer is responsible for the source-to-destination delivery of packet possibly
across multiple networks (links).
a. Logical Addressing
b. Routing

27. What are the responsibilities of Transport Layer?

The Transport Layer is responsible for source-to-destination delivery of the entire message.
a. Service-point Addressing
b. Segmentation and reassembly
c. Connection Control
d. Flow Control
e. Error Control

28. What are the responsibilities of Session Layer?

The Session layer is the network dialog Controller. It establishes, maintains and synchronizes the
interaction between the communicating systems. a. Dialog control
b. Synchronization

29. What are the responsibilities of Presentation Layer?

The Presentation layer is concerned with the syntax and semantics of the information exchanged
between two systems.
a. Translation
b. Encryption
c. Compression

30. What are the responsibilities of Application Layer?

The Application Layer enables the user, whether human or software, to access the network. It
provides user interfaces and support for services such as e-mail, shared database management and
other types of distributed information services. a. Network virtual Terminal
b. File transfer, access and Management (FTAM)
c. Mail services
d. Directory Services

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31. What are the different link types used to build a computer network?

a. Cables
b. Leased Lines
c. Last-Mile Links

32. What are the categories of Transmission media?

a. Guided Media
i. Twisted - Pair cable
1. Shielded TP
2. Unshielded TP
ii. Coaxial Cable
iii. Fiber-optic cable b. Unguided Media
i. Terrestrial microwave
ii. Satellite Communication

33. What is cladding?

A layer of a glass surrounding the center fiber of glass inside a fiber-optic cable.

34. What is point-to-point protocol?

A communications protocol used to connect computers to remote networking services including

Internet service providers.

35. What is MAC address?

The address for a device as it is identified at the Media Access Control (MAC) layer in the
network architecture. MAC address is usually stored in ROM on the network adapter card and is
unique.

36. Difference between bit rate and baud rate.

Bit rate is the number of bits transmitted during one second whereas baud rate refers to the number
of signal units per second that are required to represent those bits.
baud rate = (bit rate / N)
where N is no-of-bits represented by each signal shift.

37. What is Bandwidth?

Every line has an upper limit and a lower limit on the frequency of signals it can carry. This
limited range is called the bandwidth.

38. What are the types of Transmission media?

Signals are usually transmitted over some transmission media that are broadly classified in to two
categories.

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a.) Guided Media: These are those that provide a conduit from one device to another that include
twisted-pair, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable. A signal traveling along any of these media is
directed and is contained by the physical limits of the medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use
metallic that accept and transport signals in the form of electrical current. Optical fiber is a glass or
plastic cable that accepts and transports signals in the form of light.

b.) Unguided Media: This is the wireless media that transport electromagnetic waves without
using a physical conductor. Signals are broadcast either through air. This is done through radio
communication, satellite communication and cellular telephony.

39. What are the data units at different layers of the TCP / IP protocol suite?

The data unit created at the application layer is called a message, at the transport layer the data unit
created is called either a segment or an user datagram, at the network layer the data unit created is
called the datagram, at the data link layer the datagram is encapsulated in to a frame and finally
transmitted as signals along the transmission media.

40. What is difference between ARP and RARP?

The address resolution protocol (ARP) is used to associate the 32 bit IP address with the 48 bit
physical address, used by a host or a router to find the physical address of another host on its
network by sending a ARP query packet that includes the IP address of the receiver.

The reverse address resolution protocol (RARP) allows a host to discover its Internet address
when it knows only its physical address.

41. What is the range of addresses in the classes of internet addresses?

Class A - 0.0.0.0 - 127.255.255.255

Class B - 128.0.0.0 - 191.255.255.255
Class C - 192.0.0.0 - 223.255.255.255
Class D - 224.0.0.0 - 239.255.255.255
Class E - 240.0.0.0 - 247.255.255.255

42. Why should you care about the OSI Reference Model?

It provides a framework for discussing network operations and design.

43. What is logical link control?

One of two sublayers of the data link layer of OSI reference model, as defined by the IEEE 802
standard. This sublayer is responsible for maintaining the link between computers when they are
sending data across the physical network connection.

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44. What is virtual channel?

Virtual channel is normally a connection from one source to one destination, although multicast
connections are also permitted. The other name for virtual channel is virtual circuit.

45. What is virtual path?

Along any transmission path from a given source to a given destination, a group of virtual circuits
can be grouped together into what is called path.

46. What is IP?

It's a unique 32 bits software address of a node in a network.

47. What is private IP?

Three ranges of IP addresses have been reserved for private address and they are not valid
for use on the Internet. If you want to access internet with these address you must have to
use proxy server or NAT server (on normal cases the role of proxy server is played by your
ISP.).If you do decide to implement a private IP address range, you can use IP addresses
from any of the following classes:
Class A 10.0.0.0 10.255.255.255
Class B 172.16.0.0 172.31.255.255
Class C 192.168.0.0 192.168.255.255

48.What is public IP address?

A public IP address is an address leased from an ISP that allows or enables direct Internet

communication.

49. What are the differences between static ip addressing and dynamic ip addressing?

With static IP addressing, a computer (or other device) is configured to always use the same IP

address. With dynamic addressing, the IP address can change periodically and is managed by a

centralized network service

50. What is a protocol?

Protocol is a set of rules for data communication and transfer. It defines what is communicated,
how it is communicated, when it can be communicated. Key elements of protocol are semantics,
syntax and timing.

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51. Tell about TCP/IP protocol?

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the basic communication protocol. It
also used in Intranet and extranet. TCP/IP uses the client/server model of communication in which
a computer user request and he/she will be provided a service.

52. What is switching?

Switching in data communication is of 3 types

>Circuit switching, Packet switching and Massage switching

53. Difference between Analog and digital signals?

Analog signals have unlimited number of values where as digital signal has limited number of
values.

54. In which form Data is transmitted over a medium?

Data is transmitted over a medium in the form of electromagnetic signals.

55. What is Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is the range (difference between highest frequency and lowest frequency) of frequency
that a medium can pass.

56. List the factors on which Data transmission depends?

It depends on Bandwidth, quality of signals and levels of signals.

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*What is a computer Network?

A network is any collection of independent computers that communicate with one another
over a shared network medium. A computer network is a collection of two or more connected
computers. When these computers are joined in a network, people can share files and peripherals
such as modems, printers, tape backup drives, or CD-ROM drives. When networks at multiple
locations are connected using services available from phone companies, people can send e-mail,
share links to the global Internet, or conduct video conferences in real time with other remote
users. When a network becomes open sourced it can be managed properly with online
collaboration software. As companies rely on applications like electronic mail and database
management for core business operations, computer networking becomes increasingly more
important.

*Internet

The Internet is a system of linked networks that are

worldwide in scope and facilitate data communication
services such as remote login, file transfer, electronic mail,
the World Wide Web and newsgroups.
With the meteoric rise in demand for connectivity, the Internet has become a communications
highway for millions of users. The Internet was initially restricted to military and academic
institutions, but now it is a full-fledged conduit for any and all forms of information and
commerce. Internet websites now provide personal, educational, political and economic resources
to every corner of the planet.

*The OSI Model:

Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model has become an International standard and
serves as a guide for networking. This model is the best known and most widely used guide to
describe networking environments. Vendors design network products based on the specifications
of the OSI model.
It provides a description of how network hardware and software work together in a layered fashion
to make communications possible. It also helps with trouble shooting by providing a frame of
reference that describes how components are supposed to function.

There are seven to get familiar with and these are the physical layer, data link layer, network layer,
transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and the application layer.

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Physical Layer, is just that the physical parts of the network such as wires, cables, and there
media along with the length. Also this layer takes note of the electrical signals that transmit
data throughout system.

Data Link Layer, this layer is where we actually assign meaning to the electrical signals in
the network. The layer also determines the size and format of data sent to printers, and other
devices. Also I don't want to forget that these are also called nodes in the network. Another
thing to consider in this layer is will also allow and define the error detection and correction
schemes that insure data was sent and received.

Network Layer, this layer provides the definition for the connection of two dissimilar
networks.
Transport Layer, this layer allows data to be broken into smaller packages for data to be
distributed and addressed to other nodes (workstations).

Session Layer, this layer helps out with the task to carry information from one node
(workstation) to another node (workstation). A session has to be made before we can transport
information to another computer.

Presentation Layer, this layer is responsible to code and decode data sent to the node.
Application Layer, this layer allows you to use an application that will communicate with say
the operation system of a server. A good example would be using your web browser to interact
with the operating system on a server such as Windows NT, which in turn gets the data you
requested.

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*What Is TCP/IP?

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol and IP stands for Internet Protocol. The term
TCP/IP is not limited just to these two protocols, however. Frequently, the term TCP/IP is used to
refer to a group of protocols related to the TCP and IP protocols such as the User Datagram
Protocol (UDP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Terminal Emulation Protocol (TELNET), and so
on.

*The Origins of TCP/IP

In the late 1960s, DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency), in the United States,
noticed that there was a rapid proliferation of computers in military communications. Computers,
because they can be easily programmed, provide flexibility in achieving network functions that is
not available with other types of communications equipment. The computers then used in military
communications were manufactured by different vendors and were designed to interoperate with
computers from that vendor only. Vendors used proprietary protocols in their communications
equipment. The military had a multi vendor network but no common protocol to support the
heterogeneous equipment from different vendors

*Net work Cables and Stuff:

In the network you will commonly find three types of cables used these are the, coaxial cable,
fiber optic and twisted pair.

*Thick Coaxial Cable

This type cable is usually yellow in color and used in what is called thicknets, and has two
conductors. This coax can be used in 500-meter lengths. The cable itself is made up of a solid
center wire with a braided metal shield and plastic sheathing protecting the rest of the wire.

*Thin Coaxial Cable

As with the thick coaxial cable is used in thicknets the thin version is used in thinnets. This type
cable is also used called or referred to as RG-58. The cable is really just a cheaper version of the
thick cable.

*Fiber Optic Cable

As we all know fiber optics are pretty darn cool and not cheap. This cable is smaller and can carry
a vast amount of information fast and over long distances.

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*Twisted Pair Cables

These come in two flavors of unshielded and shielded.

*Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Is more common in high-speed networks. The biggest difference you will see in the UTP and STP
is that the STP use's metallic shield wrapping to protect the wire from interference

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-Something else to note about these cables is that they are defined in numbers also. The bigger the
number the better the protection from interference. Most networks should go with no less than a
CAT 3 and CAT 5 is most recommended.

-Now you know about cables we need to know about connectors. This is pretty important and you
will most likely need the RJ-45 connector. This is the cousin of the phone jack connector and
looks real similar with the exception that the RJ-45 is bigger. Most commonly your connector are
in two flavors and this is BNC (Bayonet Naur Connector) used in thicknets and the RJ-45 used in
smaller networks using UTP/STP.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

This is the most popular form of cables in the network and the cheapest form that you can go with.
The UTP has four pairs of wires and all inside plastic sheathing. The biggest reason that we call it
Twisted Pair is to protect the wires from interference from themselves. Each wire is only protected
with a thin plastic sheath.

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