BEREA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Name & Surname: _____ Student No:
Qualification: Diploma in Information and Communication Technology Semester: 1
Module Name: Introduction to Computer Networks Submission Date: 22 May 2025
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA MARK EXAMINER MODERATOR
ALLOCATION MARKS MARKS
MARKS FOR CONTENT
QUESTIONS 90
QUESTION : 1-5 30
QUESTION : 6-10 30
QUESTION: 11-15 30
TOTAL 90
MARKS FOR TECHNICAL ASPECTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
Accurate numbering according to the numbering in text and page
numbers.
LAYOUT AND SPELLING 3
Font – NEW TIMES ROMAN 12
Line Spacing – 1.0
Margin should be justified.
REFERENCES 5
According to the Harvard Method
TOTAL 10
TOTAL MARKS FOR ASSIGNMENT 100
Examiner’s Comments:
Moderator’s Comments:
` Examiner Name and Surname: Miss. S. Manilall Moderator Name and Surname: Y Ramnarain
Signature of Examiner: Signature of Moderator: Y Ramnarain
Page 1 of 9
Question 1 6
XYZ Solutions is a growing consulting firm that recently expanded its operations across
multiple cities. To improve collaboration, data management, and client services, the
company’s IT department has decided to set up a robust computer network.
Currently, employees rely on standalone computers and external hard drives to share files,
leading to inefficiencies and data security concerns. The company’s leadership has
approved a proposal to implement a fully functional network that will connect all their
office locations.
1.1 Explain how computer networks improve communication and collaboration in an (2)
organization like XYZ Solutions.
1.2 XYZ Solutions is planning to expand to a new location. How can a computer network help (2)
manage this transition efficiently?
1.3 Propose a way to integrate AI-based monitoring into an enterprise network for threat (2)
detection.
Question Two 6
A multinational retail company, GlobalMart, is expanding its operations to multiple new
locations. To support its growth, the company is implementing a centralized computer
network that connects all its branches, warehouses, and offices. The company plans to use
cloud-based inventory management, secure communication channels, and remote access
for employees. However, the IT team is also concerned about network security, costs, and
potential performance issues.
2.1 Explain how resource sharing in a computer network can benefit GlobalMart’s (1)
employees and operations.
2.2 Why might GlobalMart face performance issues if too many users are connected to the (1)
network simultaneously?
2.3 Compare Centralized Data Management with Decentralized Data Management. Which (2)
approach is more suitable for GlobalMart?
2.4 How does network congestion impact GlobalMart’s ability to process real-time (1)
transactions at its retail stores?
Page 2 of 9
2.5 Suppose a cybersecurity breach occurs at GlobalMart, compromising customer payment (1)
information. What steps should the company take to mitigate damage and prevent future
breaches?
Question 3 6
Sarah, an IT manager, is preparing for an important video conference with international
clients. During the conference, her laptop will send and receive data through various
communication channels. She uses wired Ethernet at her office and switches to a wireless
connection at the hotel to ensure smooth communication. To ensure the best performance,
Sarah needs to understand the components of data communication, the importance of
network models, and how protocols function.
3.1 Imagine Sarah is in the middle of a video conference, and there’s a significant delay in (2)
audio transmission. Based on the data communication principles, what might be causing
this delay?
3.2 Compare the OSI model and the TCP/IP model in terms of their structure and function in (2)
data communication.
3.3 Based on your understanding of the OSI model, how would you diagnose a problem (2)
where two devices cannot establish a connection?
Question 4 6
4.1 You have been assigned as a network architect for a large company with multiple offices
located around the world. The company wants to implement a robust and efficient network
that connects all of its offices and allows employees to communicate effectively, access the
company's internal applications, and securely browse the internet.
4.2 If the company wants to ensure secure online transactions, which protocol should be (2)
used, and why?
4.3 Given that the company has offices in various countries, how can the differences (2)
between the OSI and TCP/IP models affect communication across different locations?
4.4 Given the company's need for reliable communication, would you recommend (2)
prioritizing high bandwidth, low latency, or high throughput? Justify your choice.
Page 3 of 9
Question 5 6
You are a network administrator in charge of setting up and securing a new corporate office
network. Your team is tasked with ensuring efficient data flow, secure communication, and
smooth operation of various devices like computers, printers, and servers. You are also
responsible for configuring the network to minimize congestion, prevent unauthorized
access, and ensure that all devices can communicate effectively.
5.1 Given the network setup in the scenario, how would you use VLANs to improve security (2)
and performance?
5.2 Explain what would happen if you replaced a switch with a hub in the corporate office (2)
network, and what issues might arise?
5.3 You are choosing between a hardware firewall and a software firewall for the corporate (2)
network. Which would be more suitable for this office setup, and why?
Question 6 6
You are the network administrator at a growing educational institution. The school recently
expanded, and you’ve been tasked with ensuring the wireless network can handle
increasing numbers of devices. The network includes a mix of students' personal devices
and school-owned laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Additionally, teachers use a smart
classroom system that requires high-bandwidth connectivity, while the staff need reliable
internet access for research and communication.
You decide to deploy multiple Wireless Access Points (WAPs) across the school to ensure
strong wireless coverage throughout the campus. The IT team has also raised concerns
about security and ensuring proper configuration to avoid potential vulnerabilities in the
network.
6.1 If you were to deploy a WAP in the school’s library, what feature would you prioritize to (2)
ensure students’ personal devices are securely connected without compromising network
integrity?
6.2 How would you configure multiple WAPs in the school to ensure seamless connectivity (2)
while preventing interference between them?
6.3 You notice that after deploying WAPs, the network still experiences slow speeds in (2)
certain areas of the school. What steps would you take to evaluate and improve the
network’s performance?
Page 4 of 9
Question 7 6
You are hired as a network engineer for a small office with 20 employees, and you are asked
with designing a network that will provide reliable internet access, secure communication,
and easy file sharing. The network will include both wired and wireless connections, a
shared printer, and essential security protections like a firewall. You decide to use a star
topology due to its simplicity and scalability, ensuring that the office network can grow as
needed. You must also ensure that the network design allows all devices to connect to the
internet securely and efficiently.
7.1 How does a switch contribute to the functionality of the office network in the star (1)
topology?
7.2 Why is it important to place the firewall between the router and the internet in the (1)
network diagram?
7.3 If the office grows and more devices need to be added to the network, how could the (2)
network diagram be updated to accommodate future expansion?
7.4 After reviewing the network diagram, you notice that the wireless access point (WAP) is (2)
located too far from some of the wireless devices. How would you improve the design to
optimize wireless coverage?
Question 8 6
You are tasked with setting up a new office network for a medium-sized company. The
office will have 30 employees, each requiring a computer, and there will be shared printers,
a router, a switch, and several wireless access points (WAPs) to ensure both wired and
wireless connectivity. You need to install the physical network components properly to
ensure the network runs smoothly. The office has a dedicated server room where the main
devices will be mounted, and you need to ensure optimal placement for all devices, proper
cable management, and device connectivity for a reliable and efficient setup.
8.1 If you are installing Ethernet cables between computers and switches, how should you (2)
measure the cable lengths to avoid excess slack or tension?
8.2 How does proper cable management improve the efficiency and longevity of network (2)
installation?
8.3 After installing the network devices and connecting the cables, how would you test the (2)
hardware to ensure that everything is working properly?
Page 5 of 9
Question 9 6
You are tasked with setting up a small office network. The network consists of a router, a
switch, two computers (PC1 and PC2), and a wireless access point (WAP). After physically
connecting the devices, you must configure each device to ensure basic connectivity within
the network. This includes setting up the router for WAN connectivity, configuring the
switch for management, and configuring the WAP to allow wireless devices to connect to
the network.
Your goal is to ensure all devices are correctly configured with proper IP addressing and
subnetting, and you will test the connectivity using the ping command to verify the
configuration.
9.1 If you need to configure a PC’s IP address manually in a network with a subnet mask of (3)
[Link], how would you assign it the IP address [Link] and verify the
connectivity?
9. 2 If PC1 is unable to ping PC2, what might be the issue, and how would you troubleshoot (3)
it?
Question 10 6
A small office network needs to be set up with the goal of enabling users to browse the
internet, transfer files, and send emails. The network consists of several workstations
connected to a router, which links the local network to the internet. The devices should also
be able to access websites, download and upload files to a shared server, and send emails
using the company's domain name.
The office uses the following protocols:
- HTTP/HTTPS for browsing websites.
- FTP for managing files stored on the server.
- DNS to resolve domain names to IP addresses.
- DHCP for automatically assigning IP addresses to all devices.
10.1 You need to transfer a large file from your workstation to the office server. Which (2)
protocol should you use, and how does it work?
10.2 Given that the network is using DHCP, what would happen if there were a (2)
configuration issue in the DHCP server?
10.3 Compare and contrast the security implications of using FTP versus SFTP for file (2)
transfers in the office network.
Page 6 of 9
Question 11 6
An office network consists of multiple workstations, printers, and a file server. The network
administrator has been tasked with configuring essential network services to ensure smooth
device connectivity and easy access to network resources.
The administrator needs to set up DHCP to automatically assign IP addresses to all devices
and DNS to allow users to access websites and network resources using domain names
rather than IP addresses.
11.1 If the DNS server fails to resolve domain names, how can the administrator diagnose (1)
the issue using the nslookup command?
11.2 Given the network's reliance on both DHCP and DNS, how would a failure in either (5)
service impact the network’s functionality, and what steps should the administrator take to
mitigate the risks?
Question 12 6
You are a network administrator at a mid-sized organization. Several employees have
reported intermittent network connectivity issues, including slow internet access, frequent
disconnections, and delays when accessing shared files on the server. The network consists
of both wired and wireless connections, and the problems seem to affect devices across the
entire office.
You suspect that there may be a mix of physical layer issues, misconfigurations, and
performance-related problems. Your task is to use network troubleshooting tools and
techniques to identify and resolve the issues promptly.
12.1 You are using the ping command to troubleshoot connectivity issues between your (2)
computer and a remote server. What do you expect to see in the output if the server is
online and reachable?
12.2 Your network monitoring tool shows a high latency and packet loss on a particular link. (2)
What could be the potential causes of this issue, and how would you proceed to diagnose
it?
12.3 You are concerned about the security of your network, and you want to identify any (2)
open ports that might be vulnerable to unauthorized access. Which tool would you use, and
how would you interpret the results?
Page 7 of 9
Question 13 6
TechSolutions Ltd. is a small office network that has been experiencing intermittent
network connectivity issues, slow performance, and occasional hardware failures. As the
network administrator, your task is to identify the problems, resolve them, and implement
preventive maintenance strategies to avoid future issues.
13.1 Explain how performing a ping test and using traceroute can help identify network (1)
connectivity issues in TechSolutions Ltd.'s network.
13.2 In Task 1, you used the ping and traceroute commands. What would you do if the ping (1)
test results show packet loss or a high response time?
13.3 After performing a traffic analysis with Wireshark, you noticed that certain devices were (2)
consuming excessive bandwidth. What steps would you take to address this?
13.4 Considering the preventive maintenance strategies listed in the content, which (2)
strategies would you prioritize for immediate implementation at TechSolutions Ltd. to
minimize network downtime and improve performance?
Question 14 6
TechSolve Inc., a mid-sized software development company, is planning to expand its
operations. The company currently has a single office with 50 employees but is expecting to
increase the workforce by 50% over the next three years. The company relies heavily on
cloud-based services like Microsoft 365 for email and file storage, and it uses VoIP for
internal communications. TechSolve is also exploring adding a second office in a different
city, which will require a robust network design to support both offices and ensure smooth
communication between teams. The IT team needs to evaluate the current network and
design a scalable solution that meets performance, security, and growth requirements.
14.1 How would you apply the concept of network segmentation to TechSolve Inc. to (2)
improve performance and security?
14.2 How would you analyze the current network performance at TechSolve Inc. to identify (2)
if it can handle future growth and increased bandwidth demands?
14.3 Factors that you would evaluate when deciding between different network topologies (2)
for TechSolve Inc.'s expanded network?
Page 8 of 9
Question 15 6
CloudTech Solutions, a rapidly growing IT services company, is planning to expand its
operations both geographically and in terms of its workforce. The company currently
operates from a single office with 80 employees, but it expects to open two new regional
offices and add an additional 40 employees over the next two years. The company relies
heavily on cloud-based services for project management, collaboration tools, and storage.
Additionally, CloudTech's clients include financial institutions, so the company needs to
ensure the highest level of security for its internal and client data. The IT team must design
a scalable and secure network to accommodate growth while safeguarding sensitive
information.
15.1 The key features of a scalable network design? (1)
15.2 Why is a modular network design important for CloudTech Solutions as the company (1)
grows?
15.3 How would you apply flexible IP addressing and subnetting to support CloudTech's (1)
network expansion?
15.4 How would you analyze CloudTech’s current security measures to ensure they can (1)
protect sensitive data from evolving cyber threats?
15.4 How would you evaluate the need for cloud services in CloudTech’s network design, (1)
considering scalability and security?
15.5 Design a scalable and secure network solution for CloudTech Solutions that (1)
accommodates both its growth and the need for high security.
Page 9 of 9