UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2012/2013
EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1305 COMPUTER NETWORKS
DATE: AUGUST, 2013 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO Questions
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
(a) Explain the following terms of a Computer Network:
i) Data Rate.
(ii) Topology.
(iii) Protocol.
(iv) Standard. [8 marks]
(b) Discuss the need for a Computer Network. [3 marks]
(c) The KCA University has established a new campus in Nakuru town. The campus is
located in a compound with three buildings about 300m apart in which three
departments – Administration, IT studies with a Library, and CPA studies are
situated. The University desires to install a computer network in the campus to cater
for IT needs of these departments with 10, 45 and 30 users respectively. Internet
services in the Campus shall be provided through a leased line connection to the main
Campus in Nairobi. Required:
i) State and justify the type of a network would you configure in each
Department. [4 marks]
(ii) Draw a possible Network Topology. [4 marks]
(iii) State the device on which the leased line connection to the Nairobi Office
will be terminated? [1 mark]
(d) State the functions of the following devices:
i) Modem.
(ii) Multiplexer.
(iii) Gateway. [6 marks]
(e) State the name given to:
i) Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit.
(ii) Network Layer Protocol Data Unit.
(iii) Application Layer Protocol data Unit.
(iv) Transport Layer Protocol Data Unit. [4 marks]
QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
(a) Define the term Attenuation. [2 marks]
(b) With the aid of a labeled diagram, describe the differences in construction between a
shielded and an unshielded twisted pair cables. [6 marks]
(c) State the functions of the following layers of OSI reference model:
i) Physical layer
ii) Network layer
iii) Transport layer. [6 marks]
(d) Sate the differences between IP and MAC addresses. [6 marks]
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
(a) Distinguish between:
i) Encapsulation and Decapsulation.
ii) Connection Oriented and Connectionless Oriented transport.
iii) Real information path and Virtual information path.
iv) Cross cable and Straight cable. [8 marks]
(b) Using a labeled diagram, describe the structure of an Ethernet Frame. [6 marks]
(c) Briefly, describe the classifications of IP addresses. [6 marks]
QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
(a) Explain the difference between error control and flow control. [4 marks]
(b) List two protocols used in the following layers of OSI reference model:
i) Data link layer.
ii) Transport layer.
iii) Application layer. [6 marks]
(c) Differentiate between a Subnet and a Supernet. [4 marks]
(d) Compare and contrast between Wired and Wireless communication Channels.
[6 marks]
QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
(a) State the functions of the following standard bodies:
i) International Standards Organization.
ii) Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
iii) Internet Engineering Task Force. [6 marks]
(b) In reference to multimedia,
i) Explain the term medium. [2 marks]
ii) State the main criteria used in the classification of the medium. [6 marks]
(c) Outline the major areas of multimedia applications. [6 marks]
