UNIT I INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION LAYER

Data Communication - Networks – Network Types – Protocol Layering – TCP/IP Protocol

suite – OSI Model – Introduction to Sockets - Application Layer protocols: HTTP – FTP –
Email protocols (SMTP - POP3 - IMAP - MIME) – DNS – SNMP
PART-A
1. Compare LAN and WAN.
LAN WAN
Scope of Local Area Network is Scope of Wide Area Network spans over large
restricted to a small/ single building geographical area country/ Continent
LAN is owned by some organization. A part of n/w asserts are owned or not owned.
Data rate of LAN 10-.10-100mbps. Data rate of WAN is Gigabyte.
2. Define Full Duplex and simplex transmission system.
With Full duplex transmission, two stations can simultaneously send and receive data
from each other. This mode is known as two-way simultaneous. The signals are
transmitted in only one direction. One is the sender and another is the receiver.
3. Define networks.(Nov 12)
A computer network is a group of computer systems and other computing hardware
devices that are linked together through communication channels to facilitate
communication and resource-sharing among a wide range of users. Networks are
commonly categorized based on their characteristics.
4. Write the parameters used to measure network performance. (May 16)
The parameters used to measure network performance are Latency, Throughput, Delay
and Bandwidth.
5. What are the four fundamental characteristics that the data communication system
depends on?
The four fundamental characteristics are: Delivery, Accuracy, Timeliness and Jitter.
6. What are the five components of data communications system?
The five components are Message, Sender, Receiver, Transmission Medium and
Protocol.
7. Define link and state the types of connection.
A link is the communication pathway that transfers data from one device to another.
The two possible types of connections are point to point and multipoint
8. Define point to point and Multipoint.
Point to point – A point to point connection provides a dedicated link between two
devices
Multipoint – A multipoint connection is one in which more than two specific devices
share a single link.
9. What is Network topology? List its types. (Nov 21)
Network topology is the interconnected pattern of network elements. A network
topology may be physical, mapping hardware configuration, or logical, mapping the
path that the data must take in order to travel around the network. The types are Bus
topology, Star topology ,Mesh topology and Ring Topology.
10. What are the major duties of Network Layer? (May 12)
It is used to send the data from source to destination with help of logical address.
11. What is OSI?
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) is reference model for how applications can
communicate over a network. It is partitioned into seven layers. It was developed by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
12. What is a protocol? What are the key elements of a protocol? (Nov 15)
Protocol is used for communications between entities in a system and must speak the
same language. Protocol is the set of rules governing the exchange of data between two
entities. It defines what is communicated, how it is communicated, when it is
communicated. The Key elements of a Protocol are as follows,
 Syntax – It refers to the structure or format of data meaning the order in which th
are presented.
 Semantics – It refers to the meaning of each section of bit. How to do
interpretation.
 Timing – When data should be sent and how fast they can be sent.
13. What are the uses of transport layer?
 Reliable data exchange
 Independent of network being used
 Independent of application
14. What is Protocol Data Unit (PDU)?
At each layer, protocols are used to communicate and Control information is added to
user data at each layer. Transport layer may fragment user data. Each fragment has a
transport header added and header consists of destination SAP, sequence number
and
error detection code.
15. What are the uses of internet layer in TCP/IP?
 Systems may be attached to different networks
 Routing functions across multiple networks
 Implemented in end systems and routers
16. What is a layered Network Architecture?
 A layer is created when a different level of abstraction occurs at protocol. Each layer
should perform a well defined function.
 Function of each layer should be chosen using internationality standardized
protocols. Boundaries between should be chosen to minimize information flow
across the interfaces. A set of layers and protocol is called network architecture. A
list of protocols used by a system is called protocol stack.
17. Compare OSI and TCP.(Nov 21)
Open System Interconnection Transmission Control Protocol
It distinguishes between Service, Interface, It does not distinguish between
Protocol Service,Interface,Protocol
Protocols are well hidden Protocols are not just hidden
Dejure standard Fit Model Defacto standard Fit Model
In transport layer only connection oriented In Transport layer choice is for
services are available connection oriented and connectionless
Contains 7 layers Contains 5 layers
18. How do layers of the internet model correlate to the layers of the OSI model?
OSI TCP/IP
Physical Layer Physical Layer
Data Link Layer Network Access Layer
Network Layer IP Layer
Transport Layer TCP Layer
Session Layer
Presentation Layer Application Layer
Application layer
19. What is the use of data link layer in OSI? (Nov 15,20) (May 21 )
 Frame synchronization: Data is divided by data link layer as frames, a
manageable unit.
 Flow Control: Sending station does not overwhelm receiving station.
 Error Control: Any error in bits must be detected and corrected using some
mechanism.
 Addressing: Two stations in a multi-point that involved in transmission must be
specified using physical address
 Access Control: When two or more devices are connected to the same link, Access
control mechanism is needed to determine which device has control over the link
at any given time.
20. List the key ingredients of technology that determines nature of a LAN. List the
common topologies available for LAN.
Topology, Transmission medium and Medium access control technique are the
technology that determines nature of a LAN. Star Topology, Ring Topology, Bus
Topology and Tree Topology are the topologies available for LAN.
21. What are the functions of physical layer and presentation layer?
Functions of Physical Layer-
 Encoding/ decoding of signals
 Preamble generation/removal (for synchronization)
 Bit transmission/ reception
Functions of Presentation Layer-
 Translation, Encryption / Decryption, Authentication and Compression
22. What are the functions of Application Layer? (Apr 11)
It enables the user (human/software) to access the network. It provides user interfaces
and support for services such as electronic mail, remote file access and transfer, shared
database management and other types of distributed information services. Services
provided by the application layer are Network Virtual terminal, File transfer, access and
management. Mail services, Directory services.
23. Define Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the number of bits per second that a channel, a link, or even a
network can transmit.
24. What is Throughput?
It is a measure of how data can actually sent through network.
25. What is transmission media ? Give example. (Nov 19)
In data communication terminology, a transmission medium is a physical path between
the transmitter and the receiver i.e) it is the channel through which data is sent from one
place to another.
EX: Twisted pair cable, coaxial cable , infrared
26. What are the two types of line configuration? (Nov 10)
The two types of line configuration are Point to point line configuration and multipoint
line configuration.
Point to point line configuration
 It provides a dedicated link between 2 devices.
 Entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between 3 devices only
Eg: connection between remote control and TV’s control system
Multipoint line configuration
 Also called as multi drop connection
 Here the channel capacity is shared and
If many devices share the link simultaneously it is called spatially shared connection
27. List the difference between Packet Switching and Circuit Switching.(May 11,14,17,21)
(Nov 11,20)
Issue Packet switching Circuit Switching
Circuit setup Not Required Required
Transmission No Transmission path Dedicated path
path
Delay Packet transmission delay Call setup delay
Addressing Each packet contains the full Only data is sent
source and destination address
Bandwidth Dynamic Bandwidth Fixed Bandwidth
Routing Each packet is routed Entire data is sent through the same
independently path
Congestion Difficult Easy if enough buffers can be
control located in advance for each VC set
up
Complexity In the transport layer In the network layer
Suited for Connection-oriented and Connection-oriented service
connectionless service
28. Outline the need for switching. (Nov 19)
 Switching is a mechanism that allows us to interconnect links to form a larger network.
 Switching provides a practical solution to the problem of connecting multiple devices in
a network.
 It is more practical than using a bus topology; it is more efficient than using a star topology
and a central hub.
 Switches are devices capable of creating temporary connections between two or more
devices linked to the switch.
29. What are types of transmission media?
In Guided media the waves are guided along a physical path.
Ex : coaxial cable, twisted pair
Unguided media provides a mean for transmitting Electro magnetic waves but not
guide them.
30. For n devices in a network, what is the number of cable links required for a mesh,
ring, bus, and star topology?
a. Mesh: n (n – 1) / 2 b. Star: n c. Ring: n – 1 d. Bus: one backbone and n drop lines
31. What is the significance of the twisting in twisted-pair cable?
Twisting ensures that both wires are equally, but inversely, affected by external
influences such as noise.
32. How subgroups of OSI model layers segregated by their function(Nov 20) (May 21)

Application • End User Layer

• HTTP,FTP,IRC,SSH,DNS

Presentation • SSL,SSH,IMAP,FTP,MPEG,JPEG
• Syntax Layer

Session • API's ,Sockets,Winsock

• Synch & Send to port

Transport • End-to end Connections

• TCP,UDP

Network • Packets
• IP,ICMP,IPSec,IGMP

Datalink • Frames

• Ethernet,PPP,Switch,Bridge

Physical • Physical Structure

• Coax,Fibre,Wireless,Hubs,Repeaters

33. What is the role of VCI? (May 11) (Nov 21)

An Incoming virtual circuit identifier (VCI) uniquely identifies the connection at this
switch and that will be carried inside the header of the packets that belong to this
connection. It is a potentially different outgoing VCI that will be used for outgoing
packets. The combination of incoming interface and incoming VCI uniquely identifies
the virtual connection.
34. What is packet switching? (Nov 12)
In a packet-switched network, it’s not necessary to dedicate transmission capacity
along a path through the network. Rather, data are sent out in a sequence of small
chunks, called packets. Packet switching is mainly used in terminal-to-computer and
computer-to-computer communications.
PART-B
1. Explain different types of Network in detail with neat diagram
2. With protocol graph, Explain about internet architecture. (May 15,17)
3. Discuss in detail about the layers in OSI model. (Nov 10,11,12,15,19,21)(May 12)
What are the layers of the ISO/OSI protocol stack? Briefly list out their functions. (Nov
20) (May 21 )
4. Explain the various network topologies in detail.
5. Explain Transmission media and its types in detail.
6. Explain the various performance metrics in detail.
7. Explain Datagram Networks or packet switched networks in detail. (Nov 19,21)
8. Explain Circuit Switching in detail. (Nov 19)
9. Consider all links in the network use TDM with 24 slots and have a data rate of 1.536
Mbps. Assume that host A takes 500 msec to establish an end to end circuit with host
B before begin to transmit the file. If the file is 512 kilobytes, then how much time will
it
take to send the file from host A to host B?
10. Consider the network having bandwidth of 1 MBps and message of size 1000 bytes has
to be sent. Each packet contains a header of 100 bytes if packet switching technique is
used. Out of the following, in how many packets the message must be divided so that
total time taken is minimum-
 1. 1 packet
2. 5 packets
3. 10 packets
4. 20 packet
11. What is the need for another checking mechanism at the transport layer even though
the data link layer is capable of detecting the errors between the hops?
(Nov 20) (May 21)
12. i) Compare and Contrast guided and unguided media for transmission
(Nov 20)(May 21)
ii) One channel with a bit rate of 190 kbps and another with a bit rate of 180kbps are to
be multiplexed using TDM with no synchronization bits. What is the size of a frame in a
bits? What is the data rate?(Nov 20)(May 21)
13. Explain Virtual circuit switching techniques. Or In the virtual circuit service model,
before a virtual circuit is setup, the source router needs to specify a path from the source
to the destination. What additional information do we need to maintain in the routing
table to support this function? Write down the resulting routing table. (May 12)
14. Explain Packet Switching in detail.