Mount Kenya ~.

, University
~
llNTT COD[: BIT 3204 UNIT TITLE: NETWORK MANAGEMENT
CAT 1 FEBRUARY 4th , 2019 TIME: 1 HOUR

~STRUCTIONS : ..\l"\1'VER ALL QUESTIONS

Section A

a) Using a simple diagram, explain what is a computer network (3 marks)

b) Outline three advantages of using a computer network in an organization (3 marks)
c) GiYe two examples of a WAN configuration. (3 marks)
d) List three factors that can influence the choice of whether to implement a peer-to-peer or server-based
network configuration. (3 marks)
e) Describe two advantages of a peer-to-peer network and server-based network. (4 marks)
f) Describe the difference between a LAN and a WAN. (4marks)

Section B
a) A local primary school has ten class rooms which they use for learning purposes. Each room will
have one computer. The management was proposing a fully meshed topology for this school. You
have been consulted as a consultant to advise them on the best to implement the network.
b) Advice why it may not be ideal to have a meshed topology for the school (3 Marks)
1. Outline three benefits tbe school would realize from the use of a computer network.(3 Marks)
11. Assuming there will be a computer in each class and a fully meshed topolo'gy will be used,
calculate the number of links that may be needed (3 Marks)
c) Describe any two internelworking /networking devices (4 Marks)
 1909S~lC-

lVIount Kenya •' ,.: :~-f 1University

·~\t~ 1

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION 2018/2019

SCHOOL COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/BACHELOR OF

SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
REGULAR

UNIT CODE: BIT3204 UNIT TITLE: NETWORK MANAGEMENT

DATE: APRIL, 2019 MAIN EXAM TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS
Answer question ONE and any other TWO questions

QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS) COMPULSORY

a) A network administrator is connecting hosts A and B directly through their
Ethernet interfaces, as shmvn in the illustration, Ping attempts between the
hosts are unsuccessful. Explain what can ht? done to provide connectivity
between the hosts. (4 Marks)

IP Address : 192.168.1.20 IP Address : 192.168.1.201

Mask : 255 .255 .255 .240 Mask : 25 5.255 .255.240

)') Explain any two network management protocols is available (2 Marks)

.e, Explain the following terms (4 Marks)
i. Network design
ii. Internetwork
~ Explain the term router and state its function on a network (4 Marks)

Paper One Page 1

 e) E.,pl.:1111 difference between (4 Marks)
r. Domain and a Workgroup.
H. Internet, Intranet, and Extranet?
D Network m,magement cau be grouped broadly as comprised of network
provisioning, network opcrations ,md network maintenance. Describe briefly
what is uwolved in each of the components (6 Marks)
g:J Elaborate the different ways through which computer networks are
classified today
tf Marks)
hl Discuss the term network development life cycle and state the phases
(4 Marks)
QUESTION nvo [20 MARKS]
a) Read the narrative below and explain the meaning of every word in bold
(4 Marks)
"Company ABC was outsourced to undertake network design by MK.U.
They started by drafting a document that they intended to use for
benchmarking with company XYZ. While undertaking capacity-planning,
they realized that bandwidth had been misrepresented and throughput
was above 75%"
b) Discus the statement that "the choice of appropriate LAN technology is very
critical and its subsequent impact on network operations is very significant"
(4 Marks)

c) Explain how the bottom-up method of n·oubleshooting network problems is

implemented and identify specific issues that are addressed. (4 Marks)
d) h'Plain the OSI models and for each layer state its function (8 Marks)

QUESTION THREE [20 MARKS]

a, Distinguish between the follovving network S\\~.tching tr:chniques:- (4 Marks)
i. Circuit switching cl e~ 11 1"d ct- ~ ,.,;
I

ii. Packet switching ,,r- ~

11) Suppose that you are a network manager for T1n.1 ,, rs i·: . 'l'V lth a student
population of over 25,000 students. The universit)· b,Js HJ separate colleges
located within the main campus and away from the main campus, and each
college is specialized, with its own faculty staff and srndents. The colleges
have halls of residence for some of the students. The university intends to
provide internet access to the students everywhere in the university and
even in the halls of residence. You have been requested by the management
to do a study of the situation and provide a comprehensive report in form of

Paper One Page 2

 a network design docwnent that will guide them in tWs project. Outline the
main Contents of this Network Design Document. (4 Marks)
;n Discuss the main elements required in the implementation of LAN.
(4 Marks)
~ t\..'Plain in details the two main purposes of a proxy server (2 Marks)
~ Elaborate the challenges faced by network adnlinistrators when managing
organizational networks and possible mechanism to handle the problems
(6 Marks)
QUESTION FOlffi. [20 :MARKS)
,-a, You have been employed as a network administrator in Blest Bakeries. You
have identified the company does not have proper ways of managing the
network. You need to develop a proper network Management. The
management has requested you to develop your own job description as a
network administrator. Oearly outline the contents you will give the
management. (5 Marks)
.b')" E'\.'l)lain how the following security mechanisms and Resources can be used
to prevent security breaches in a network (6 Marks)
i) Firewalls
ii) Back ups
iii) Authorization and authentication
c) Discuss network performance and outline varjous performance statistics
that need to be assessed (4 Marks)
-81 Discuss network troubleshooting and state the main problems associated
with the computer networks:- (5 Marks)

QUESTION FIVE [20 MARKS)

a) Discuss the term network configuration man.age rrh .m '.! <1 ,} stJ. te its main
1

contents
Configuration Management (CM) (6 Marks) ,,
b) Discuss the term network development life cycle and state the phases.
(4 l\1Iarks)
c) Discuss the use of the following network software utilities and vvrite the
appropriate syntax of each (4 Marks)
i. Ping
ii. Tracert
d) Giving valid examples of an IP addresses and for each identify:- (6 Marks)
i) IP address classes
ii) Subnet mask
iii) Maximrun number of hosts in such a network

Paper One
Page 3