Computer Networks

COMPLETE NOTES FOR PREPRATION

Q1. What is a network? What are its goals and applications?

Answer-
A collection of interconnected computers is called network.
Or
A network is an interconnected collection of autonomous computers that can share and exchange
information.

Application: -
(i) Resource Sharing: - Through a network, data, software and hardware resources can be shared
irrespective of the physical location of the resources and the user.
(ii) Reliability: - A file can have its copies on two or more computers of the network, so if one of them is
unavailable, the other copies could be used. That makes a network more reliable.
(iii) Reduced Costs: - Since resources can be shared, it greatly reduces the costs.
(iv) Fast communication. With network, it is possible to exchange information at very fast speed.

• Its goal is to share data, files and resources.

Q2. Discuss and compare various types of networks.

Answer-
• Server-based network: - Server-based networks provide centralized control of network resources and rely
on server computers to provide security and network administration.
• Peer-to-peer network: - Peer-to-peer network, computers can act as both servers sharing resources and
as clients using the resources.

Q3. Explain various mostly used topologies.

Answer-
Mostly used topologies are:-
• Bus or Linear Topology:- In this topology, all devices on network are connected to a single continuous
cable called a bus. Transmission from any station travels the length of the bus in both directions and can
be received by all other stations. The destination device, on identifying the address on data packet
copies the data onto its disk. When the data packet reaches at either end the terminator on that end
absorbs the signal, removing from the bus. This topology can be used for smaller networks.
• Ring Topology:- A LAN using the ring topology is connected in the closed loop. The data packets
transmitted, circulate along the ring. The destination station copies the packet content on recognizing its
address on the packet. After a packet travels a full circle, it is removed at the source station.
• Star Topology:- In this topology each workstation is directly linked to a central node. Devices can be easily
plugged or unplugged to the central node, as need dictates. Any communication between the stations
must pass through the central node.
• Tree Topology:- In this topology the network is shaped as an inverted tree with the central root branching
and sub-branching to the extremities of the network. Transmission in this topology takes place in the
same way as in bus topology.

Q4. Discuss the factors that govern the selection of a topology for a network.
Answer-
• Cost:- For a network to be cost effective, one would try to minimize installation cost. This may be
achieved by using well understood media and also, to a lesser extent, by minimizing the distances
involved.
• Flexibility:- Because the arrangement of furniture, internal walls etc. in offices is often subject to change,
the topology should allow for easy reconfiguration of the network. This involves moving existing nodes
and adding new ones.
• Reliability:- Failure in a network can take two forms. Firstly, an individual node can malfunction. This is not
nearly as serious as the second type of fault where the network itself fails to operate. The topology
chosen for the network can help by allowing the location of the fault to be detected and to provide some
means of isolating it.

Q5. Compare and contrast

(i) Star and Bus topologies
(ii) Star and Tree topologies
(iii) Bus and Ring topologies.
Answer-
(i)
• Star Topology:- In this topology each workstation is directly linked to a central node. Devices can be easily
plugged or unplugged to the central node, as need dictates. Any communication between the stations
must pass through the central node.
• Bus or Linear Topology:- In this topology, all devices on network are connected to a single continuous
cable called a bus. Transmission from any station travels the length of the bus in both directions and can
be received by all other stations. The destination device, on identifying the address on data packet
copies the data onto its disk. When the data packet reaches at either end the terminator on that end
absorbs the signal, removing from the bus. This topology can be used for smaller networks.

(ii)
• Star Topology:- In this topology each workstation is directly linked to a central node. Devices can be easily
plugged or unplugged to the central node, as need dictates. Any communication between the stations
must pass through the central node.
• Tree Topology:- In this topology the network is shaped as an inverted tree with the central root branching
and sub-branching to the extremities of the network. Transmission in this topology takes place in the
same way as in bus topology.

(iii)
• Bus or Linear Topology:- In this topology, all devices on network are connected to a single continuous
cable called a bus. Transmission from any station travels the length of the bus in both directions and can
be received by all other stations. The destination device, on identifying the address on data packet
copies the data onto its disk. When the data packet reaches at either end the terminator on that end
absorbs the signal, removing from the bus. This topology can be used for smaller networks.
• Ring Topology:- A LAN using the ring topology is connected in the closed loop. The data packets
transmitted, circulate along the ring. The destination station copies the packet content on recognizing its
address on the packet. After a packet travels a full circle, it is removed at the source station.

Q6. What is the role of modem in electronic communications?

Answer-
A modem is a computer peripheral that connects a workstation to other work-stations via telephone lines
and facilitates communications. It is short form for Modulation / Demodulation.
• Modem converts digital signals to A/F (Audio Frequency) tones which are in the frequency range that the
telephone lines can transmit and also it can convert transmitted tones back to digital information.

Q7. What are hubs? What are its types?

Answer-
A hub is a hardware device used to connect several computers together.
It mainly two types:-
• Active hubs.
• Passive hubs.

Q8. What is the role of a switch in a network?

Answer-
A switch is responsible for filtering i.e., transforming data in a specific way and for forwarding packets
between LAN segments.

Q9. Briefly discuss the role of following devices in the contex of networking.
(i) repeater
(ii) router
(iii) bridge
(iv) gateway.
Answer-
(i) Router: - A router works like a bridge but can handle different protocols.
(ii) Bridge: - Device that links two networks together.
(iii) Gateway: - Device that connects dissimilar network.
(iv) Repeater: - A repeater is an analog device that works with signals on the cables to which it is connected.
The weakened signal appearing on the cable is regenerated and put back on the cable by a repeater.

Q10. What is the importance of router?

Answer-
Router can work like a bridge and can also handle different protocols. A router can locate the destination
required by sending the traffic to another router, if the destination is unknown to itself.

Q11. What is gateway? What does it do?

Answer-
A Gateway is a network device that connects dissimilar networks. It establishes an intelligent connection
between a local network and external networks with completely different structures.

• In enterprises, the gateway node often acts as a proxy server (a machine that is not actually a server but
appears as a server) and a firewall (a system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a
private network). The gateway is also associated with both a router, which use headers and forwarding
tables to determine where packets are sent, and a switch, which provides the actual path for the packet
in and out of the gateway.

Q12. How is a repeater different from an amplifier?

Answer-
• Repeater takes high input power and provides low output power.
• Repeater is generally used in static (stationary) environment.
While in
• Amplifier takes low input power and provides high output power.
• Amplifier is generally used in Mobile and Remote area network.

Q13. How is a LAN different from a MAN?

Answer-
• LAN stands for Local Area Network. Whereas MAN stands for Metropolitan Area Network.
• LAN’s ownership is private. Whereas MAN’s ownership can be private or public.
• LAN have high speed while in MAN have average speed.

Q14. How is a LAN different from a PAN?

Answer-
• LAN is stand for Local Area Network while in PAN stand for Personal Area Network.
• LAN need cable like Ethernet while in PAN is Wireless like Bluetooth.
• LAN have high speed while in PAN have low speed.

Q15. How is a LAN different from a WAN?

Answer-
• LAN is spread over a small area. While WAN is spread over a very large area.
• LAN usually costs less to set it up. While WAN costs higher to set it up.
• LAN is usually a single network. While WAN is usually a network of many networks.
Q16. Can you term a PAN as a LAN? Why/Why not?
Answer-
No, Because LAN spread over a small area and a single network within the range of 100 to 1000 meter
whereas PAN is the interconnection of technology devices within the range of an individual person, within a
range of 10 to 50 meter.

Q17. Compare Mesh with Tree topology.

Answer-
• Mesh topology:- In mesh topology, each node is connected to more than one node to provide an
alternative route in the case the host is either down or too busy. It is an extension to P-P network. The
mesh topology is excellent for long distance networking because it provides extensive back-up, rerouting
and pass-through capabilities. Communication is possible between any two nodes on the network either
directly or by passing through. This function is needed in the event of a line or node failure elsewhere in
the network. The mesh topology is commonly used in large inter-networking environments with stars,
rings, and buses attached to each node. This is also ideal for distributed networks.
• Tree Topology: - In this topology the network is shaped as an inverted tree with the central root
branching and sub-branching to the extremities of the network. Transmission in this topology takes place
in the same way as in bus topology.

Q18. Compare-
(i) Star and Bus topologies
(ii) Star and Tree topologies
(iii) Bus and Ring topologies.
Answer-
(i)
• Star Topology:- In this topology each workstation is directly linked to a central node. Devices can be easily
plugged or unplugged to the central node, as need dictates. Any communication between the stations
must pass through the central node.
• Bus or Linear Topology:- In this topology, all devices on network are connected to a single continuous
cable called a bus. Transmission from any station travels the length of the bus in both directions and can
be received by all other stations. The destination device, on identifying the address on data packet
copies the data onto its disk. When the data packet reaches at either end the terminator on that end
absorbs the signal, removing from the bus. This topology can be used for smaller networks.

(ii)
• Star Topology:- In this topology each workstation is directly linked to a central node. Devices can be easily
plugged or unplugged to the central node, as need dictates. Any communication between the stations
must pass through the central node.
• Tree Topology:- In this topology the network is shaped as an inverted tree with the central root branching
and sub-branching to the extremities of the network. Transmission in this topology takes place in the
same way as in bus topology.

(iii)
• Bus or Linear Topology:- In this topology, all devices on network are connected to a single continuous
cable called a bus. Transmission from any station travels the length of the bus in both directions and can
be received by all other stations. The destination device, on identifying the address on data packet
copies the data onto its disk. When the data packet reaches at either end the terminator on that end
absorbs the signal, removing from the bus. This topology can be used for smaller networks.
• Ring Topology:- A LAN using the ring topology is connected in the closed loop. The data packets
transmitted, circulate along the ring. The destination station copies the packet content on recognizing its
address on the packet. After a packet travels a full circle, it is removed at the source station.

Q19. Write two advantages and two dis-advantages for STAR topology.
Answer-
Advantages of the Star Topology:-
• Ease of service:- The star topology has a number of concentration points (where connections are joined).
These provide easy access for service or reconfiguration of the network.
• One device per connection:- Connection points in any network are inherently prone to failure. In the star
topology, failure of a single connection typically involves disconnecting one node from an otherwise fully
functional network.
• Centralized control/problem diagnosis:- The fact that the central node is connected directly to every other
node in the network means that faults are easily detected and isolated. It is a simple matter to
disconnect failing nodes from the system.
• Simple access protocols:- Any given connection in a star network involves only the central node. In this
situation, contention for who has control of the medium for the transmission purposes is easily solved.
Thus in a star network, access protocols are very simple.

Disadvantages of the Star Topology:-

• Long cable length:- Because each node is directly connected to the center, the star topology necessitates
a large quantity of cable. Whilst the cost of cable is often small, congestion in cable ducts and
maintenance and installation problems can increase cost considerably.
• Difficult to expand:- The addition of a new node to a star network involves a connection all the way to the
central node.
• Central node dependency:- If the central node in a star network fails, the entire network is rendered
inoperable. This introduces heavy reliability and redundancy constraints on this node.

Q20. (a) Write advantages and disadvantages of bus topology.

(b) Write advantages and disadvantages of tree topology.
(c) Write advantages and disadvantages of mesh topology.
Answer-
(a) Advantages of the Bus/Linear Topology
• Short cable length and simple wiring layout:- Because there is a single common data path connecting all
nodes, the linear topology allows a very short cable length to be used. This decreases the installation
cost, and also leads to a simple, easy to maintain wiring layout.
• Resilient Architecture:- The LINEAR architecture has an inherent simplicity that makes it very reliable from
a hardware point of view. There is a single cable through which all the data propagates and to which all
nodes are connected.
• Easy to extend:- Additional nodes can be connected to an existing bus network at any point along its
length. More extensive additions can be achieved by adding extra segments connected by a type of
signal amplifier known as repeater.

Disadvantages of the Bus/Linear Topology

• Fault diagnosis is difficult:- Although simplicity of the bus topology means that there is very little to go
wrong, fault detection is not a simple matter. Control of the network is not centralized in any particular
node. This means that detection of a fault may have to be performed from many points in the network.
• Fault isolation is difficult:- In the star topology, a defective node can easily be isolated from the network
by removing its connection at the center. If a node is faulty on the bus, it must be rectified at the point
where the node is connected to the network.
• Repeater configuration:- When BUS type network has its backbone extended using repeaters,
reconfiguration may be necessary.
• Nodes must be intelligent:- Each node on the network is directly connected to the central bus. This means
that some way of deciding who can use the network at any given time must be performed in each node.

(b) Advantages of the Tree Topology

• It uses point-to-point wiring for individual segments.
• It is supported by several hardware and software venders.

Disadvantages of the Tree Topology

• Overall length of each segment is limited by the type of cabling used.
• If the backbone line breaks, the entire segment goes down.
• It is more difficult to configure and wire than other topologies.

(c) Advantages of Mesh Topology

• Each connection can carry its own data load.
• It is robust and provides security and privacy.
• In this topology, fault diagnosis is easy.

Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

• Its installation and configuration is difficult.
• Cabling cost is more for mesh topology.
• Bulk wiring is required for mesh topology.