UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1305 BBIT 103 COMPUTER NETWORKS AND
MANAGEMENT
DATE: APRIL, 2014 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
(a) Discuss the following motivations for computer networks:
i. High Reliability [2 Marks]
ii. Mix and Match [2 Marks]
(b) Define the following terminologies as used in computer networks:
i. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) [1 Mark]
ii. Virtual Private Network (VPN) [1 Mark]
iii. Throughput [1 Mark]
iv. Packet [1 Mark]
(c) Briefly discuss the three (3) fundamental characteristics of a data communication
system. [6 Marks]
(d) Outline the five (5) components of a data communication system. [5 Marks]
(e) Explain any six different ways in which computer networks differ from each
other. [6 Marks]
(f) Discuss briefly five factors that must be taken into account when deciding what
type of Network Operating System to install on a network. [5 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
(a) Explain any six benefits of the OSI Model [6 Marks]
(b) Describe the half-duplex (CSMA/CD) access method. [4 Marks]
(c) State four means that wireless networks use to carry signals from one computer to
another without permanent cable connection [4 Marks]
(d) Describe the steps a client goes through to get an IP address from a DHCP server.
[6 Marks]
QUESTION THREE
(a) Explain briefly what WANs are designed to do [4 Marks]
(b) Define the following terms as used in Computer networks:
i. Attenuation [1 Mark]
ii. Noise [1 Mark]
iii. Distortion [1 Mark]
iv. Topology [1 Mark]
(c) State any two (2) uses for a “straight-through” cable. [2 Marks]
(d) Explain briefly the concept of intranets and extranets [4 Marks]
(e) Differentiate between
i. Logical and Physical network topologies [2 Marks]
ii. Cut-through switching and store-and-forward switching [2 Marks]
iii. Broadband and Baseband signaling [2 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
(a) State any six rules that should be followed in order to avoid injury when working
with fiber-optics. [6 Marks]
(b) List any four of the considerations a network administrator needs to take into
account when deciding on what type of WAN connection to use in the network
design. [4 Marks]
(c) Describe four guidelines for creating effective network documentation [4 Marks]
(d) Explain briefly the concept of Storage Area Networks (SANs). [2 Marks]
(e) Discuss the following concepts as used in computer networks:
i. Fault Tolerance [2 Marks]
ii. Scalability [2 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Courses delivered using network or Internet resources are often called online
learning experiences, or e-learning. The availability of e-learning courseware has
multiplied the resources available to students many times over. Discuss the
benefits of the e-learning courseware. [6 Marks]
(b) What are unicast, broadcast and multicast transmissions? [3 Marks]
(c) i. How does the NIC of a receiving PC use the destination MAC address?
[3 Marks]
ii. How long is a MAC address and how is it written? [2 Marks]
(d) Describe briefly the following forms of communication:
i. Instant Messaging [2 Marks]
ii. Weblogs (blogs) [2 Marks]
iii. Wikis [2 Marks]
