Computer Communication & Networks – CLO 1
NAME : Muhammad Reyan Khan
Enroll : 01-135222-062
Assignment # 1:
Chapter – 1 Exercise
Objective:
This assignment aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of Chapter 1. In this assignment,
students will apply the learned knowledge and solve the Chapter – 1 exercise.
Submission Guidelines:
• You must submit your assignment in a well-organized format (e.g., Word or PDF).
• Include a cover page with your name, student ID, and the course title.
• Ensure that your explanations are concise and straightforward.
• Your solved examples should be neat and easy to follow.
• Exercise of: Data Communications and Networking By Behrouz A. Forouzan (4th edition)
• Exercise Questions: 1 – 13, 16 – 25.
• This assignment would be part of Mid Term Exam.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Q1. Identify the five components of a data communications system.
• Message
• Sender
• Receiver
• Transmission Medium
• Protocol
Q2. What are the advantages of distributed processing?
• Resource sharing
• Reliability
• Faster problem-solving
• Security through redundancy
• Better performance
Q3. What are the three criteria necessary for an effective and efficient network?
• Performance (measured by throughput and delay)
• Reliability (measured by frequency of failure and recovery time)
• Security (protection of data)
Q4. What are the advantages of a multipoint connection over a point-to-point connection?
• Less cabling required
• Easier to expand
• More cost-effective
Q5. What are the two types of line configuration?
• Point-to-Point
• Multipoint
Q6. Categorize the four basic topologies in terms of line configuration.
• Mesh: Point-to-Point
• Star: Point-to-Point (between device and hub)
• Bus: Multipoint
• Ring: Point-to-Point (with neighbors)
Q7. What is the difference between half-duplex and full-duplex transmission modes?
• Half-duplex: Devices can send and receive but not at the same time.
• Full-duplex: Devices can send and receive simultaneously.
Q8. Name the four basic network topologies, and cite an advantage of each type.
• Mesh: High reliability (each device connected to every other)
• Star: Easy fault detection
• Bus: Cost-effective for small networks
• Ring: Predictable performance with token-passing
Q9. For n devices in a network, what is the number of cable links required for a mesh, ring, bus,
and star topology?
• Mesh: n(n - 1)/2
• Ring: n
• Bus: One backbone + drop lines
• Star: n (each device connected to central hub)
Q10. What are some of the factors that determine whether a communication system is a LAN or
WAN?
• Geographical area covered
• Ownership
• Data rate
• Transmission medium
Q11. What is an internet? What is the Internet?
• internet (small i): Interconnected set of networks using TCP/IP
• Internet (capital I): The global network of networks
Q12. Why are protocols needed?
• To ensure successful and standardized communication between devices
Q13. Why are standards needed?
• To ensure compatibility and interoperability among devices and technologies
EXERCISE QUESTIONS
Q16. Assume six devices are arranged in a mesh topology. How many cables are needed? How
many ports are needed for each device?
• Cables = n(n - 1)/2 = 6(6 - 1)/2 = 15 cables
• Ports per device = n - 1 = 5 ports
Q17. For each of the following four networks, discuss the consequences if a connection fails:
a. Mesh: No effect, alternate paths exist
b. Star: One device loses connection; others are unaffected (unless hub fails)
c. Bus: Entire network can be disrupted
d. Ring: The whole network is affected (if unidirectional)
Q18. You have two computers connected by an Ethernet hub at home. Is this a LAN, a MAN, or a
WAN?
• LAN because it covers a small area (home) and connects local devices
Q19. In the ring topology in Figure 1.8, what happens if one of the stations is unplugged?
• The entire network may fail (if unidirectional ring)
Q20. In the bus topology in Figure 1.7, what happens if one of the stations is unplugged?
• Only that station is affected. But if the backbone cable breaks, the whole network fails.
Q21. Draw a hybrid topology with a star backbone and three ring networks.
• A central star connects three separate ring networks as its nodes.
Q22. Draw a hybrid topology with a ring backbone and two bus networks.
• A ring interconnects two bus networks, each bus connected as a node on the ring.
Q23. Performance is inversely related to delay. When you use the Internet, which of the following
applications are more sensitive to delay?
• Surfing the Internet is most sensitive
• Copying a file is least sensitive
• Sending an e-mail is moderately sensitive
Q24. When a party makes a local telephone call to another party, is this a point-to-point or
multipoint connection? Explain your answer.
• Point-to-Point because communication is between two devices directly
Q25. Compare the telephone network and the Internet. What are the similarities? What are the
differences?
Similarities:
• Both provide communication between users
• Both use switches and routers
Differences:
• Telephone: circuit-switched, analog/digital
• Internet: packet-switched, digital only
• Telephone is real-time; Internet can be delayed
