Short Answer Questions:
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Networks and Network Models
1. Define data communication. List its fundamental characteristics.
Ans: Data communication is the exchange of data between devices through a transmission
medium.
Fundamental Characteristics:
• Delivery
• Accuracy
• Timeliness
• Jitter
• Bandwidth
2. What are the five components of a data communication system?
Ans: Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Transmission medium
• Protocol
3. Compare data and information with examples.
Ans: Data: Raw facts and figures (e.g., numbers, text).
Information: Processed data that is meaningful (e.g., a report summarizing sales data).
4. What is a protocol? What are its basic elements?
Ans: A protocol is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between devices.
Basic Elements:
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Timing
5. Differentiate between simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex modes of communication.
Ans:
• Simplex: One-way communication (e.g., keyboard to computer).
• Half-Duplex: Two-way communication, but not simultaneously (e.g., walkie-talkies).
• Full-Duplex: Two-way communication simultaneously (e.g., telephone).
6. Define a computer network. List its major types.
Ans: A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices that can communicate with
each other.
Major Types:
• LAN (Local Area Network)
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
• WAN (Wide Area Network)
7. What are the characteristics of a good network?
Ans:
• Reliability
• Scalability
• Performance
• Security
• Manageability
8. List the differences between LAN, MAN, and WAN.
Ans:
• LAN: Covers a small geographical area, high speed, low cost.
• MAN: Covers a city or a large campus, moderate speed, moderate cost.
• WAN: Covers large geographical areas, lower speed, high cost.
Chapter 2 - Lower Layers
1. What is Nyquist Bit Rate? How is it different from Shannon Capacity?
Ans:
• Nyquist Bit Rate: Maximum data rate for a noiseless channel.
• Shannon Capacity: Maximum data rate for a noisy channel, considering noise.
2. Define and differentiate: Bandwidth, Throughput, Latency, and Jitter.
Ans:
• Bandwidth: Maximum data transfer rate.
• Throughput: Actual data transfer rate.
• Latency: Delay in data transfer.
• Jitter: Variation in packet arrival times.
3. What are the design issues of the data link layer?
Ans:
• framing
• Error detection and correction
• Flow control
• Medium access control
4. Define framing. What are the different framing methods?
Ans:
• Framing: Dividing data into manageable units.
• Methods: Character count, flag bytes, and bit stuffing.
5. Explain the difference between static and dynamic channel allocation.
Ans:
• Static: Fixed allocation of channels.
• Dynamic: Channels allocated as needed.
6. List types of switching techniques. Explain each briefly.
Ans:
• Circuit Switching: Dedicated path for communication.
• Packet Switching: Data sent in packets over shared paths.
• Message Switching: Entire message sent to the next node.
7. What is MAC sublayer in wireless LANs?
Ans: Media Access Control sublayer manages protocol access to the physical network medium.
Chapter 3 - Network Layer
1. What is packetizing in network layer services?
Ans: The process of dividing data into packets for transmission.
2. Define subnetting and supernetting.
Ans: Subnetting: Dividing a network into smaller sub-networks.
• Supernetting: Combining multiple networks into a larger network.
3. Compare classful and classless addressing.
Ans:
• Classful: Fixed classes (A, B, C).
• Classless: Variable-length subnet masking (VLSM).
4. Explain NAT with a neat diagram.
Ans: Network Address Translation allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single
public IP address.
Diagram: (A diagram would show the mapping of private IPs to a public IP.)
5. What is fragmentation in IPv4? Why is it needed?
Ans: Breaking down packets into smaller pieces for transmission.
• Need: To accommodate different maximum transmission units (MTUs).
6. List the differences between IPv4 and IPv6.
Ans:
• IPv4: 32-bit address space, limited addresses.
• IPv6: 128-bit address space, larger address space.
7. What are the phases of Mobile IP?
Ans:
• Registration: Mobile node registers with home agent.
• Tunneling: Data is tunneled to the mobile node.
• Deregistration: Mobile node deregisters when it disconnects.
Chapter 4 - Transport Layer
1. What is process-to-process communication?
Ans: Communication between applications running on different hosts.
2. Define multiplexing and demultiplexing.
Ans:
• Multiplexing: Combining multiple signals into one.
• Demultiplexing: Separating combined signals back into individual signals.
3. Differentiate between connectionless and connection-oriented services.
Ans:
• Connectionless: No established connection (e.g., UDP).
• Connection-oriented: Connection established before data transfer (e.g., TCP).
4. What is the use of port numbers in transport layer protocols?
Ans: Purpose: To identify specific processes or services on a host.
5. Write a short note on User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
Ans: A connectionless protocol that allows for fast data transmission without error checking.
6. List the TCP services and features.
Ans:
• Reliable delivery
• Flow control
• Congestion control
• Ordered data transfer
7. What is a sliding window in TCP?
Ans: A method for controlling the flow of data packets between sender and receiver.