FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE

SPRING SESSION EXAMINATION 2003

ITC242 INTRODUCTION TO DATA COMMUNICATIONS
DAY & DATE: TIME:
WRITING TIME: Three (3) Hours READING TIME: Ten minutes
MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY UNIVERSITY: 1 x 24pp Answer Booklet
MATERIALS PERMITTED IN EXAMINATION: Pens and Pencils, alculator
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: Par A: !ort" (4#) multiple
choice $uestions
Par B: Ten (1#) True%!alse
$uestions
Par C: Twent" (2#) &ill in the
spaces $uestions
Par D: !i'e (() short answer
$uestions
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1) *rite "our answers to the written $uestions in the +ooklet pro'ided)
2) ,ark "our answers to the multiple choice $uestions on the exam paper)
3) ,ark "our answers to the true%&alse $uestions on the exam paper)
4) !ill in "our answers to the -&ill in the spaces. $uestions on the exam paper)
() ,ultiple choice $uestions are worth one mark each) (Total o& 4# marks)
/) True%!alse $uestions are worth one mark each) (Total o& 1# marks)
0) !ill in the spaces $uestions are worth one mark each) (Total o& 2# marks)
1) *ritten $uestions are worth / marks each) hoose an" ( $uestions out o& 1)(Total o&
3# marks)
2) A total mark possi+le is 1##)
INSTRUCTIONS TO INVIGILATORS:
1) 3456T789 PAP5: ,46T B5 8;;5T5<
STUDENT NAME:
STUDENT NO:
STUDENT SIGNATURE:
PART A: M!"#$"% C&'#(% Q!%)#'*)
1) 7n the 867 model, the ==================== la"er is concerned with &indin> the +est
path &or the data &rom one point to the next within the network)
a) <ata ;ink
+, N%-'r.
c) Ph"sical
d) Application
2) The ==================== la"er can per&orm A677 to non?A677 character
con'ersions)
a) Transport
+) <ata ;ink
(, Pr%)%*a#'*
d) Application
3) ;ar>e networks that encompass parts o& states, multiple states, countries and the world are
called@
a) ,A9s
+) ;A9s
c) PA9s
/, WAN)
4) *hat is the +aud rate o& a di>ital si>nal that emplo"s <i&&erential ,anchester
encodin> and has a data rate o& 1###+psA
a) (## +aud
+) 1### +aud
(, 2000 +a!/
d) 4### +aud
() *hich cate>or" o& 4TP ca+le is the most current and commonl" implementedA
a) ate>or" 4
+) ate>or" (
(, Ca%0'r1 2%
d) ate>or" /
/) The ==================== o& a si>nal is the num+er o& times a si>nal makes a complete
c"cle within a >i'en time &rame)
a) Bandwidth
+, Fr%3!%*(1
c) Amplitute
d) 6pectrum
0) 7n the 867 model, which la"er per&orms encr"ption or data compressionA
a) Application
+) 9etwork
c) <ata ;ink
/, Pr%)%*a#'*
1) 7n a slidin> window Bo?Back?9 A:3 s"stem, A sends packets #,1,2,3,4,( and /)
Packet 3 arri'es at B corrupted) *hat do A and B send to each other nextA
a, B )%*/) RE453 6 A &%* )%*/) $a(.%) 36462676860 a*/ 9
+) B sends :5C?2, A then sends packets 3,4,(,/,0,# and 1
c) B sends :5C?3, A then sends Dust packet 3
d) B sends :5C?2, A then sends Dust packet 3
2) The loss o& si>nal stren>th is called@
a, A%*!a#'*
+) Amplitute
c) 9oise
d) rosstalk
1#) The ==================== class o& di>ital encodin> schemes sol'es the
s"nchroniEation pro+lem +" ensurin> that each +it has some t"pe o& si>nal chan>e)
a, Ma*(&%)%r
+) 9:F
c) 4B%(B
d) Both a and +)
11) 5thernet is said to +e non?deterministic +ecause o& which o& the &ollowin>A
a) 7t is not possi+le to determine how lon> it will take to >et a &rame &rom one
de'ice to another)
+) 7t is not possi+le to determine whether an error has occurred durin> the
transmission o& a &rame)
c) 7t is not possi+le to determine i& another de'ice wishes to transmit)
/, I #) *' $'))#+"% ' /%%r:#*% &% :a;#:!: #:% a /%<#(% -#"" &a<% '
-a# ' ra*):#,
12) =================== technolo>" can +e applied to wireless communications, makin>
them 'irtuall" imper'ious to interception)
a) Pulse code modulation
+) !re$uenc" modulation
(, S$r%a/ S$%(r!:
d) 9one o& the a+o'e
13) 5lectroma>netic inter&erence is o&ten >enerated +"@
a) ,otors
+) !luorescent li>hts
c) Power lines
/, A"" '= &% a+'<%
14) The ==================== component o& the inter&ace standard descri+es the &unction
o& each pin or circuit that is used in a particular inter&ace)
a) 5lectrical
+) ,echanical
(, F!*(#'*a"
d) Procedural
1() ==================== identi&ies terminatin> de'ices such as terminals and computers)
a, DTE
+) <5
c) 64
d) <64
1/) The multiplexer creates a &rame that contains data onl" &rom those input sources that ha'e
somethin> to send in ==================== multiplexin>)
a) !re$uenc" <i'ision
+, Sa#)#(a" T#:% D#<#)#'*
c) 6"nchronous Time <i'ision
d) <ense *a'elen>th
10) 7n &re$uenc" di'ision multiplexin>, the medium must +e capa+le o& carr"in> a ran>e o&
&re$uencies that can support the ==================== o& all the indi'idual &re$uenc"
ran>es
a) <i&&erence
+, S!:
c) Product
d) 9one o& the a+o'e
11) 76<9 +asic rate inter&ace (B:7) multiplexes onl" ==================== separate
channels)
a) 8ne
+) Two
(, T&r%%
d) !our
12) 5rror detection is per&ormed at the ==================== la"er o& the 867 modelA
a) <ata ;ink
+) Transport
c) 9etwork
/, B'& a a*/ +
2#) ==================== is a 'er" power&ul error detection techni$ue and should +e
considered &or all data transmission s"stemsA
a) Gertical redundanc" check
+, C1("#( r%/!*/a*(1 (&%(.)!:
c) 6imple parit"
d) HoriEontal parit"
21) 7n a ==================== topolo>" the workstations are connected +" a linear coaxial
ca+le)
a, B!)
+) 6tar?wired +us
c) 6tar?wired rin>
d) :in>
22) *hich protocol re$uires that a host cease to transmit &or a random inter'al once a
collision is detected on the wireA
a, CSMA>CD
+) :ound ro+in
c) :eser'ation
d) All o& the a+o'e
23) *hich la"er addresses do routers use to determine a packetHs pathA
a) <ata ;ink
+, N%-'r.
c) Ph"sical
d) Application
24) *hich t"pe o& +rid>e o+ser'es network tra&&ic &low and uses this in&ormation to make
&uture decisions re>ardin> &rame &orwardin>A
a) :emote
+) 6ource routin>
(, Tra*)$ar%*
d) 6pannin> tree
2() ;earnin> network addresses and con'ertin> &rame &ormats are the &unction o& which
de'iceA
a) 6witch
+) Hu+
c) ,A4
/, Br#/0%
2/) The de'ice that can operate in place o& a hu+ is a@
a, S-#(&
+) Brid>e
c) :outer
d) Batewa"
20) The 6,A%< network is descri+ed +" which &rame speci&icationA
a) 7555 1#2)2
+, IEEE ?02,3
c) 7555 1#2)4
d) 7555 1#2)(
21) 7n a ==================== su+net, no uni$ue dedicated ph"sical path is esta+lished to
transmit the data packets across the su+netA
a) ircuit?switched
+, Pa(.%5)-#(&%/
c) ;ar>e
d) Hea'il" loaded
22) A dial?up telephone s"stem uses which t"pe o& su+netA
a, C#r(!#5)-#(&%/
+) Packet?switched
c) Broadcast
d) ;o>icall" switched
3#) The postal s"stem is a >ood example o& which t"pe o& communicationA
a) Broadcast
+) onnection oriented
(, C'**%(#'*"%))
d) Both a and c
31) *hich t"pe o& routin> allows each node to maintain its own routin> ta+leA
a, D#)r#+!#<%
+) Adapti'e
c) entralised
d) 6tatic
32) The len>th o& an 7P address is@
a) 1 +its
+) 1/ +its
(, 32 +#)
d) 41 +its
33) ==================== is a set o& codes inserted into a document intended &or displa"
on a we+ +rowser
a, @TML
+) HTTP
c) !TP
d) Telnet
34) The protocol that allows d"namic assi>nment o& 7P Addresses to workstations is known
as@
a) 7,P
+, D@CP
c) 6,TP
d) 69,P
3() ==================== is a packet?switched network desi>ned &or transmittin> data
o'er &ixed lines)
a) AT,
+) A<6;
c) 6895T
/, Fra:% R%"a1
3/) An 76<9 B:7 consists o& ==================== channels)
a) Two B
+, T-' B a*/ '*% D
c) Two <
d) Two < and one H
30) *hich t"pe o& 'irus mutates with e'er" in&ection, thus makin> it di&&icult to locateA
a) ,acro
+) TroDan horse
(, P'"1:'r$&#(
d) *orm
31) A commonl" emplo"ed encr"ption method used +" +usinesses to send and recei'e secure
transactions is@
a) ,anchester encodin>
+, Daa E*(r1$#'* Sa*/ar/ ADESB
c) Pulse ode ,odulation
d) Ier+eros
32) The e$uation to calculate a'aila+ilit" isA
a) (Total Time A'aila+le J <owntime) K Total Time A'aila+le
+) (Total Time A'aila+le ? <owntime)
c) (Total Time A'aila+le J <owntime)
/, AT'a" T#:% A<a#"a+"% 5 D'-*#:%B > T'a" T#:% A<a#"a+"%
4#) The a'era>e time a de'ice or s"stem will operate +e&ore it will &ail is called the@
a, MTBF
+) ,TT:
c) :elia+ilit"
d) 9one o& the a+o'e
PART B: Tr!%>Fa")% Q!%)#'*)
AC#r("% &% ('rr%( a*)-%r, Ea(& 3!%)#'* #) -'r& 9 :ar.B
1) The main di&&erence +etween in&rared and Bluetooth transmission is that Bluetooth
needs line o& site whilst in&rared does not)
a) true
+, =a")%
2) 4B%(B encodin> is more e&&icient than ,anchester encodin>)
a, r!%
+) &alse
3) 6"nchronous Time <i'ision multiplexin> will not allocate a time slot to a source
that is idle)
a) true
+, =a")%
4) <um+ terminals are used &or simple data entr" and data retrie'al operations)
a, r!%
+) &alse
() The +ottom la"er in the 867 model, the data link la"er, handles the transmission o& +its
o'er a communications channel)
a) true
+, =a")%
/) The ph"sical or>aniEation o& a star?wired rin> is actuall" not circular)
a, r!%
+) &alse
0) A source routin> +rid>e keeps an internal ta+le)
a) true
+, =a")%
1) 7n a 'irtual circuit packet?switched su+net, all packets that +elon> to a lo>ical connection
can &ollow the same path throu>h the network)
a, r!%
+) &alse
2) 5'er" o+Dect on the 7nternet has a uni$ue 4:;)
a, r!%
+) &alse
1#) iphertext is data +e&ore an" encr"ption has +een per&ormed)
a) true
+, =a")%
PART C: F#"" #* &% )$a(%)
AEa(& 3!%)#'* #) -'r& '*% :ar.B
1) ,ultiplexin> occurs at the ======ph"sical=========== la"er o& the 867 re&erence
model)
2) The three +asic components o& all si>nals are =========amplitude============ ,
=======&re$uenc"============== and =========phase============ )
3) ========7mpulse========= noise is a non?constant noise that is one o& the most
di&&icult errors to detect +ecause it can occur randoml")
4) Transmittin> multiple si>nals on one medium is called
=========multiplexin>===========)
() ========Analo>ue============ data and si>nals are represented as continuous
wa'e&orms that can +e at an in&inite num+er o& points +etween some >i'en minimum and
maximum)
/) The =======7nternet or TP%7P ===== ,odel is a communications architectural
model that incorporates TP%7P and has 4 la"ers)
0) =======Base+and============= coaxial technolo>" uses di>ital si>nalin> in which the
ca+le carries onl" one channel o& di>ital data
1) =======Terrestrial============= microwa'e transmission s"stems transmit ti>htl"
&ocused +eams o& radio si>nals &rom one >round?+ased microwa'e transmission antenna to
another)
2) 7n an =======as"nchronous============= connection, a sin>le character, or +"te o& data,
is the unit o& trans&er +etween sender and recei'er)
1#) The =====local loop =============== is the stretch o& telephone wire that runs +etween
a house and the telephone compan"Hs exchan>e)
11) ========ode <i'ision ,ultiplexin> (<,) ============ multiplexin> allows
multiple users to share a common set o& &re$uencies +" assi>nin> uni$ue di>ital codes to each
user)
12) A =======collision============= results when two or more workstations listen to the
medium at the same moment, hear nothin>, and then transmit their data at the same moment)
13) ,odern star?wired +us topolo>" lo>icall" acts as a +us, +ut
===========ph"sicall"========= looks like a star)
14) A =========hu+=========== is a de'ice that interconnects two or more workstations in
a star?wired +us local area network and +roadcasts incomin> data onto all out>oin>
connections)
1() The process o& addin> transport header in&ormation on the &ront o& the data packet is
called ========encapsulation=============)
1/) A ========connection oriented============ network application pro'ides some
>uarantee that in&ormation tra'elin> throu>h the network will not +e lost and the in&ormation
packets will +e deli'ered to the intended recei'er)
10) The ========7nternet============ is a massi'e collection o& networks, routers, and
communications lines)
11) The =========Address :esolution Protocol (A:P) =========== protocol takes an 7P
address in an 7P data>ram and translates it into the appropriate 6,A%< address &or
deli'er" on a local area network)
12) A =======<enial o& ser'ice (<86) ============= attack is one where a computer site is
+om+arded with so man" messa>es that the site cannot per&orm its normal duties)
2#) ========Benchmarkin>=========== in'ol'es >eneratin> s"stem statistics in a controlled
en'ironment and then comparin> those statistics a>ainst known measurements)
PART D: S&'r A*)-%r Q!%)#'*)
AEa(& 3!%)#'* #) -'r& 7 :ar.) %a(&, A*)-%r &% 3!%)#'*) #* &% A*)-%r
+''."% $r'<#/%/B,
C&'')% ONLY 2 Q!%)#'*) ' a*)-%r
1) 9ame and +rie&l" de&ine the se'en la"ers o& the 867 model)
Answer
7. Application Layer is where applications using
network services reside. Example applications include
HTTP !TP Telnet.
". Presentation Layer presentation encryption and
compression o# data $etween sender and receiver.
%. &ession Layer responsi$le #or esta$lishing
maintaining and terminating sessions $etween endpoints.
'. Transport Layer relia$le end to end transport.
(ontains end to end error control and #low control.
). *etwork Layer Path determination routing the
sending o# packets through a network. +P addressing.
,. -ata Link Layer responsi$le #or accessing the
medium.
.. Physical Layer transmission o# $its over a
communications channel.
Marking Guide
-educt . mark #or each layer not la$eled correctly.
-educt . mark #or each layer not de#ined correctly.
2) 7s stop?and?wait A:3 a hal& duplex protocol or a &ull duplex protocolA 5xplain
"our response)
Answer
&top/and/wait A01 is a hal# duplex protocol. That is
$ecause at any point in time only one endpoint may
transmit to another. Endpoint A transmits one packet o#
data to endpoint 2 then stops and waits #or a reply #rom
2. +# the packet arrives without error 2 responds with a
positive acknowledgement. +# the data arrives with
errors 2 will respond with a negative acknowledgement.
Marking Guide
-educt ) marks #or not stating that stop/and/wait A01 is
a hal# duplex protocol.
-educt $etween . and ) marks #or not explaining why.
3) <escri+e the &unction o& a switch) At what la"er o& the 867 model does it operateA
Answer
A switch is a com$ination o# a hu$ and a $ridge. +t
connects multiple workstations like a hu$. +t also
#ilters #rames like a $ridge. !iltering occurs $ased on
the layer , 3A( Address within each #rame. +t per#orms
#iltering $ased on the 3A( addresses o# #rames as they
are transmitted through the switch. There are a num$er o#
di##erent ways that a switch may per#orm this #iltering.
The #irst is transparent $ridging where the switch will
o$serve network tra##ic and make #uture decisions on
#rame #orwarding $ased on learning out which switch port
each 3A( address resides. &ource route $ridging relies on
in#ormation contained within each #rame to make the
#iltering decision.
A switch operates at Layer , the -ata Link Layer o# the
4&+ model.
Marking Guide
-educt $etween . to ' marks #or not correctly descri$ing
the #unction o# a switch.
-educt , marks #or not identi#ying the correct layer.
4) *hat are the ad'anta>es and disad'anta>es o& &i+re optic ca+leA
Answer
Advantages5
*ot a##ected $y electromagnetic inter#erence
Low noise and error rates
High speed transmission
-i##icult to wiretap
(an $e used over long distances
-isadvantages5
(an send signals in one direction only their#ore a
pair o# #i$re is re6uired $etween devices.
0elatively higher cost o# #i$re.
3ore expensive and di##icult to install and
terminate within a $uilding.
Marking Guide
Allocate . mark #or each correct advantage and
disadvantage provided.
() *hat is the di&&erence +etween a deterministic and non?deterministic protocolA
Answer
+n a deterministic protocol you can determine when a
workstation will $e allowed to transmit. The order o#
transmission $y each workstation is known. Token 0ing is
an example o# a deterministic protocol.
+n a non/deterministic protocol you cannot calculate or
determine the time at which a workstation will transmit.
(&3A7(- is an example o# a non/deterministic protocol
with Ethernet $eing an implementation.
Marking Guide
-educt $etween , to " marks #or not providing a correct
di##erence.
Allocate . mark each #or providing examples o# each type
o# protocol.
/) *hat is the data trans&er rate in +ps o& a si>nal that is encoded usin> phase
modulation with ei>ht di&&erent phase an>les and a +aud rate o& 3###A
Answer
Eight di##erent phase angles mean that at any point in
time the signal may represent one o# 8 states or )
$inary num$ers. 9,:) ; 8<
Thus data trans#er rate ; ) x )===
; >=== $ps.
Marking Guide
!ull marks #or o$taining the correct answer with working.
% marks #or o$taining the correct answer with no
working.
) marks #or showing that 8 phase angles allows #or the
transmission o# ) $its at a time.
0) 9ame &our (4) t"pes o& multiplexin> >i'in> a +rie& explanation o& each)
Answer
.. !re6uency -ivision 3ultiplexing 9!-3<5 the
assignment o# non overlapping #re6uency ranges to
each user o# a medium. The oldest and one o# the
simplest #orms o# multiplexing. An example is the
transmission o# di##erent television stations using
di##erent #re6uencies.
,. Time -ivision 3ultiplexing 9T-3<5 the division o#
availa$le transmission time up into portions to $e
shared amongst each user. -i##erent types o# T-3 are
synchronous T-3 and statistical T-3. +&-* is an
example o# T-3.
). -ense ?avelength -ivision 3ultiplexing 9-?-3<5 uses
di##erent wavelength or colored light to transmit
multiple signals down a #i$re optic ca$le.
'. (ode -ivision 3ultiplexing 9(-3<5 assigns uni6ue
codes to each user to allow them to share a common
set o# #re6uencies. (-3A is an example o# (-3.
Marking Guide
-educt , marks #or each type o# multiplexing not
identi#ied.
-educt . mark #or each occurrence o# not providing an
accurate $rie# explanation.
1) <e&ine the main di&&erences +etween the TP and 4<P protocols)
Answer
0elia$ility5 T(P is a relia$le protocol @-P is an
unrelia$le protocol 9$est e##ort<.
(onnection5 T(P is a connection oriented protocol @-P
is a connectionless protocol.
E##iciency5 T(P has more overhead and is less e##icient
than @-P.
!low control5 T(P provides #low control with windowing
@-P does not.
Marking Guide
Allocate , marks #or each correct di##erence identi#ied.
C'*(#)% A*)-%r)
S%(#'* A
1 L + 11 L d 21 L a 31 L a
2 L c 12 L c 22 L a 32 L c
3 L d 13 L d 23 L + 33 L a
4 L c 14 L c 24 L c 34 L +
( L c 1( L a 2( L d 3( L d
/ L + 1/ L + 2/ L a 3/ L +
0 L d 10 L + 20 L + 30 L c
1 L a 11 L c 21 L + 31 L +
2 L a 12 L d 22 L a 32 L d
1# L a 2# L + 3# L c 4# L a
S%(#'* B
1) &alse
2) true
3) &alse
4) true
() &alse
/) true
0) &alse
1) true
2) true
1#) &alse
S%(#'* C
1) ph"sical
2) amplitude, &re$uenc", phase
3) impulse
4) multiplexin>
() analo>ue
/) 7nternet or TP%7P
0) +ase+and
1) terrestrial
2) as"nchronous
1#) local loop
11) code di'ision multiplexin> (<,)
12) collision
13) ph"sicall"
14) hu+
1() encapsulation
1/) connection oriented
10) internet
11) address resolution protocol (A:P)
12) denial o& ser'ice (<86)
2#) +enchmarkin>