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Half-Duplex vs Full-Duplex Explained

This document contains questions and answers about data communication systems. It defines the five components of a data communication system as the sender, receiver, transmission medium, message, and protocol. The three criteria for an effective network are listed as performance, reliability, and security. Point-to-point and multipoint configurations are described along with their advantages. The four basic network topologies are defined as mesh, star, bus and ring along with characteristics of each such as the number of cable links required. Other topics covered include transmission modes, factors distinguishing LANs from WANs, the roles of protocols and standards bodies.

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Fatima Alzahraa
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
70 views5 pages

Half-Duplex vs Full-Duplex Explained

This document contains questions and answers about data communication systems. It defines the five components of a data communication system as the sender, receiver, transmission medium, message, and protocol. The three criteria for an effective network are listed as performance, reliability, and security. Point-to-point and multipoint configurations are described along with their advantages. The four basic network topologies are defined as mesh, star, bus and ring along with characteristics of each such as the number of cable links required. Other topics covered include transmission modes, factors distinguishing LANs from WANs, the roles of protocols and standards bodies.

Uploaded by

Fatima Alzahraa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chapter 1

Q1. Identify the five components of a data communications system.

The five components of a data communication system are the sender, the receiver, the
transmission medium, the message, and the protocol.

Q2. What are the three criteria necessary for an effective and efficient network?

The three criteria are performance, reliability, and security.

Q3. What are the advantages of a multipoint connection over a point-to-point one?

The advantages of a multipoint over a point-to-point configuration include ease of installation


and low cost.

Q4. What are the two types of line configuration?

The two types of line configuration are point-to-point and multipoint.

Q5. Categorize the four basic topologies in terms of line configuration.

We can divide line configuration in two broad categories:

- Point-to-point: mesh, star, and ring.

- Multipoint: bus

Q6. What is the difference between half-duplex and full-duplex transmission modes?

In half-duplex transmission, only one entity can send at a time; in a full-duplex transmission,
both entities can send at the same time.

Q7. Name the four basic network topologies, and cite an advantage of each type.

We give an advantage for each of four network topologies:

- Mesh: secure

- Bus: easy installation

- Star: robust

- Ring: easy fault isolation

Q8. For n devices in a network, what is the number of cable links required for a mesh, ring, bus,
and star topology?
The number of cables for each type of network is:

- Mesh: n (n – 1) / 2

- Star: n

- Ring: n – 1

- Bus: one backbone and n drop lines

Q9. What are some of the factors that determine whether a communication system is a LAN or
WAN?

The general factors are size, distances (covered by the network), structure, and ownership.

Q10. What is an internet? What is the Internet?

An internet is an interconnection of networks. The Internet is the name of a specific worldwide


network.

Q11. Why are protocols needed?

A protocol defines what is communicated, in what way and when. This provides accurate and
timely transfer of information between different devices on a network.

Q12. In a LAN with a link-layer switch (Figure 1.8b), Host 1 wants to send a message to Host 3.
Since communication is through the link-layer switch, does the switch need to have an address?
Explain.

No, because each host in a LAN has an identifier, an address, that uniquely defines the host in
the LAN. A packet sent by a host to another host carries both the source host’s and the
destination host’s addresses.

Q13. How many point-to-point WANs are needed to connect n LANs if each LAN should be
able to directly communicate with any other LAN?

Each LAN should be connected to (n − 1) LANs, which means that we will have n × (n − 1)
connections. However, if each connection can be used in both directions, we need only [n × (n −
1)]/2 connections.

Q14. When we use local telephones to talk to a friend, are we using a circuit switched network or
a packet-switched network?

We use circuit switched network.

Q15. When a resident uses a dial-up or DLS service to connect to the Internet, what is the role of
the telephone company?
The telephone company acts as an ISP. The connection from the resident to the telephone
company is a point-to-point access WAN that connects the premises to the Internet. At the same
time, the telephone company needs to provide the necessary services such as e-mail.

Q16. What is the first principle we discussed in this chapter for protocol layering that needs to be
followed to make the communication bidirectional?

The first principle dictates that if we want bidirectional communication, we need to make each
layer so that it is able to perform two opposite tasks, one in each direction. For example, the third
layer task is to listen (in one direction) and talk (in the other direction). The second layer needs
to be able to encrypt and decrypt. The first layer needs to send and receive mail.

Q17. Explain the difference between an Internet draft and a proposed standard.

An Internet draft is a working document with no official status and a six month lifetime; an
Internet draft may become a proposed standard after six months if it has received enough
attention in the Internet community.

Q18. Explain the difference between a required RFC and a recommended RFC.

- Required. An RFC is labeled required if it must be implemented by all Internet systems to


achieve minimum conformance. For example, IP and ICMP are required protocols.

- Recommended. An RFC labeled recommended is not required for minimum conformance; it is


recommended because of its usefulness. For example, FTP and TELNET are recommended
protocols.

Q19. Explain the difference between the duties of the IETF and IRTF.

The IETF is responsible for identifying operational problems and recommending solutions; the
IRTF focuses on long-term research topics.

P1. What is the maximum number of characters or symbols that can be represented by Unicode?

Unicode uses 32 bits to represent a symbol or a character. We can define 232 different symbols or
characters.

P2. A color image uses 16 bits to represent a pixel. What is the maximum number of different
colors that can be represented?

The maximum number of different colors that can be represented are 216

P3. Assume six devices are arranged in a mesh topology. How many cables are needed? How
many ports are needed for each device?

- Cable links: n (n – 1) / 2 = (6 × 5) / 2 = 15
- Number of ports: (n – 1) = 5 ports needed per device

P4. For each of the following four networks, discuss the consequences if a connection fails.

- Mesh topology: If one connection fails, the other connections will still be working.

- Star topology: The other devices will still be able to send data through the hub;

there will be no access to the device which has the failed connection to the hub.

- Bus Topology: All transmission stops if the failure is in the bus. If the drop-line

fails, only the corresponding device cannot operate.

- Ring Topology: The failed connection may disable the whole network unless it

is a dual ring or there is a by-pass mechanism.

P5. We have two computers connected by an Ethernet hub at home. Is this a LAN or a WAN?
Explain the reason.

This is a LAN. The Ethernet hub creates a LAN.

P6. In the ring topology in Figure 1.7, what happens if one of the stations is unplugged?

Theoretically, in a ring topology, unplugging one station, interrupts the ring. However, most ring
networks use a mechanism that bypasses the station; the ring can continue its operation.

P7. In the bus topology in Figure 1.6, what happens if one of the stations is unplugged?

In a bus topology, no station is in the path of the signal. Unplugging a station has no effect on the
operation of the rest of the network.

P8. Performance is inversely related to delay. When we use the Internet, which of the following
applications are more sensitive to delay?

- E-mail is not an interactive application. Even if it is delivered immediately, it

may stay in the mail-box of the receiver for a while. It is not sensitive to delay.

- We normally do not expect a file to be copied immediately. It is not very sensitive

to delay.

- Surfing the Internet is the an application very sensitive to delay. We except to

get access to the site we are searching.


P9. When a party makes a local telephone call to another party, is this a point-to-point or
multipoint connection? Explain the answer.

In this case, the communication is only between a caller and the callee. A dedicated line is
established between them. The connection is point-to-point.

P10. Compare the telephone network and the Internet. What are the similarities? What are the
differences?

The telephone network was originally designed for voice communication; the Internet was
originally designed for data communication. The two networks are similar in the fact that both
are made of interconnections of small networks. The telephone network, as we will see in future
chapters, is mostly a circuit-switched network; the Internet is mostly a packet-switched network.

Common questions

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Circuit-switched networks, exemplified by local telephone calls, establish a dedicated communication path between two parties for the duration of the call, ensuring a continuous flow of data . In contrast, packet-switched networks, like the Internet, divide data into packets that are transmitted over various paths and reassembled at the destination, allowing for more efficient use of network resources but potentially causing variability in delivery times .

Protocols are essential in data communication systems as they define the rules for communication, ensuring that the information is transferred accurately and timely between devices. A protocol specifies what is communicated, how, and when, which is crucial for coordinating complex interactions over a network and preventing data loss or miscommunication .

Line configurations significantly impact network topology choices. Point-to-point configurations, used in mesh, star, and ring topologies, offer dedicated communication paths that enhance security and reliability. Conversely, a multipoint configuration, as seen in bus topology, connects multiple devices over a single communication path, which simplifies installation and reduces costs but may require additional management to handle data collisions and efficiency .

In a mesh topology, if one connection fails, the other connections can still function, preserving network integrity . In a star topology, failure of a connection to a hub results in the respective device being unable to communicate, while the others continue to function normally . A bus topology will see all transmission stop if the backbone fails, though failure of a drop line affects only the corresponding device . In a ring topology, failure may disrupt the entire network unless there are bypass mechanisms in place .

LAN (Local Area Network) typically covers a small geographic area like a single building or campus, using components such as Ethernet hubs or switches for connectivity. In contrast, a WAN (Wide Area Network) covers larger geographical distances and requires more complex routing and strategic planning, often involving leased telecommunication lines. Key differentiating factors include the network's size, the distances covered, and whether the network infrastructure is publicly or privately owned .

To support bidirectional communication, protocol layers must perform complementary tasks in opposite directions. For instance, in a bidirectional communication setup, the third layer may need mechanisms for listening and transmitting. Similarly, the second layer might encrypt outgoing data while decrypting incoming data, and the first layer handles sending and receiving signals. This dual functionality ensures seamless communication in both directions .

Performance in network communication is inversely related to delay; lower delay typically equates to higher perceived performance. Applications like internet browsing and real-time communication are highly sensitive to delay as they require immediate data exchange for optimal user experience. Non-interactive applications such as email or file transfers are less affected by delays since they do not require instant responses .

An internet is a generic term for any connection of multiple networks, facilitating communication between them. In contrast, 'Internet' refers to the specific global system of interconnected networks that uses the TCP/IP protocol suite to link billions of devices worldwide .

The IETF primarily focuses on identifying operational problems and developing short-term solutions to improve the efficiency and functionality of the internet. In contrast, the IRTF investigates long-term research topics, aiming to contribute to the theoretical and practical understanding of the network for future developments .

In a mesh topology with n devices, the number of cable links required is n (n-1) / 2. This accounts for the requirement that each device is directly connected to every other device, creating a complex web of links. Furthermore, each device needs n-1 ports to connect to each of the other devices directly. For instance, with 6 devices, 15 cable links and 5 ports per device are required .

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