MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

P.O. Box 972-60200 – Meru-Kenya.

Tel: +254(0) 799 529 958, +254(0) 799 529 959, +254 (0)712 524 293
Website: www.must.ac.ke Email: [email protected]

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2021/2022

SECOND YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR DEGREE OF BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
AND
FOURTH YEAR, SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

CIT 3202: NETWORK DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

DATE: JANUARY 2022 TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO questions.

QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)

a) A user would like to infer the path between two hosts; they suggest using the
utility ping. Make your argument for why traceroute is the more appropriate utility,
comparing and contrasting their operation. (4Marks)
b) Define the following terms as used in computer networks
i. Bandwidth (1Mark)
ii. Network congestion (1Mark)
iii. Data packet (1Mark)
iv. Bottleneck (1Mark)
c) Refer to the diagram below and answer the questions that follow:

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 i.Identify the type of network in the diagram above. Give reasons (3 Marks)
ii.Identify the network topology used on the network in the diagram above. Give
reasons (3 Marks)
iii. Identify the network architecture used in the diagram. Give reasons (3 Marks)
d) In each of the OSI layers below, give at least one network device and explain what the
network device does.
i. Physical layer (2 Marks)
ii. Datalink layer (2 Marks)
iii. Network layer (2 Marks)
e) As a network designer, you are required to provide a rationale to an organizations’
managers for a design to replace the organization’s flat network topology with a
hierarchical network topology. Describe THREE features of the hierarchical network
design to convince the management that it is a better design choice (3 Marks)
f) A user complains that their web application Times Out after successfully connecting
to a remote host, yet, an investigation with ping indicates the remote host is alive.
Propose a cause of this fault and outline a test-strategy that could be used to
automatically to detect such a fault. (4 Marks)

QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)

a) Discuss briefly Wide Area Networks and Local Area Networks under the following headings
( (5Marks)
i. Connectivity devices
ii. Data rates
iii. Ownership
iv. Transmission media
v. Geographical area
b) List and explain the 4 layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite (4 Marks)
c) State 3 factors to put into consideration in selecting cable type to be used in implementing a
network (3 Marks)
d) Explain the term network design and highlight three major Network design phases.
( (3Marks)
e) Distinguish between a network logical topology from the physical topology (4 Marks)
f) Explain why sub-netting is important (1Mark)

QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)

(a) Differentiate between Modulation and Demodulation

(2 Marks)
(b) Describe network design and state its overall goal (5 Marks)
(a) You are an administrator of a company which is planning to set up a network across 5
branches with the following number of computers:
• Branch 1 - 30 Computers
• Branch 2 -25 Computers

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 • Branch 3 -20 Computers
• Branch 4 -15 Computers
• Branch 5 - 20 Computers
Using the IP address 200.172.70.0/24, divide the network using VLSM. Include the name
and the subnet IP addresses and other information for each branch of the network including:
Name of the subnet, network address, 1st usable address, last usable address and broadcast
address.
Marks distribution:
• Branch 1 (1Mark)
• Branch 2 (1 Mark)
• Branch 3 (1 Mark)
• Branch 4 (1 Mark)
• Branch 5 (1 Mark)
(c) Distinguish the following network cables: (3 Marks)
i. Roll-over cables
ii. Straight through cables
iii. Cross-over cables
(d) Given the IP address 192.168.1.15, answer the questions below:
i. If our network design requires 8 subnets, how many bit can we take from the
host portion (1Mark)
ii. Using the answer in a) above, what is the subnet mask in decimal (1Mark)
iii. What is the number of usable hosts per subnet (2 Marks)
iv. Write down the total number subnets that we will have and their IP addresses
(4 Marks)

QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)

a) Differentiate between the following:

i. Guided and unguided transmission media (1Mark)
ii. CSMA/CD and token passing access methods (1Mark)
iii. Half Duplex and Full duplex modes (1Mark)
iv. Synchronous and asynchronous transmission (1Mark)
b) State the functions of a Network Interface Card adaptor card (2 Marks)
c) Explain the factors that influence the choice of network topology (4Marks)
d) Among the services offered by the Network management system is measuring the
Network Quality of Service (QoS). AS a network manager, describe five parameters to
consider when determining the Network quality of service. (5 Marks)
e) Explain how Domain …(DNS)is implemented and how DNS questions are resolved in
the DNS systems. (5Marks)

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QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
a) Explain two network related functions performed by a network operating systems
( (2Marks)
b) Describe the use of the following interfacing devices as used in networks. (4Marks)
a. Rj45
b. BNC Connector
c) Describe the following terms as used in network protocols: (4 Marks)
a. Connection-oriented protocol
b. Connectionless protocol
d) Why is a router more intelligent than other networking devices (2 Marks)
e) There are several components that need to be entered when configuring IPv4 for an end
device: IPv4 address – uniquely identifies an end device on the network. Explain the
following terms as used in IPV4:
i. Subnet mask (2 Marks)
ii. Default gateway (2 Marks)
iii. DNS server address (2 Marks)
iv. DHCP server address. (2 Marks)

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