UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2011/2012
SECOND YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 2205 NETWORK SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION
DATE: AUGUST, 2012 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) There are many factors that must be considered when selecting a switch. Explain
briefly how the following factors help in selecting a switch:
i. Cost (3 Marks)
ii. Speed and types of ports/interfaces (3 Marks)
b) Explain why it is necessary to divide a network into subnets. (6 Marks)
c) i. Define the term convergence as used in Computer networks (1 Mark)
ii. Converged networks have existed for a while now, but were only feasible
in large enterprise organizations. Why? (4 Marks)
iii. Why is it difficult for some organizations to make a decision to move
towards converged networks? (2 Marks)
d) One of the best ways to understand how to build a network is to understand the
method in which traffic is passed across the network.
i. Explain briefly three functions of routers (3 Marks)
ii. Given windows network OS and UNIX/LINUX,which one is more secure?
Explain. (2 Marks)
e) Troubleshooting is a process that allows a user to find problems on a network.
Explain briefly the steps to follow in a structured approach to troubleshooting a
network. (6 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Discuss briefly any three criteria by which a computer network is evaluated.
(3 Marks)
b) Discuss in detail the three steps followed in establishing a network baseline.
(6 Marks)
c) i. The KCAU corporate LAN consists of one large flat network. You decide
to segment this LAN into two separate networks with a router. What will
be the effect of this change? (2 Marks)
ii. How many subnetworks and hosts are available per subnet if you apply a
/28 mask to the 210.10.2.0 class C network? (2 Marks)
iii. What is the IP address range for the first octet in a class B address, in
binary form? (2 Marks)
d) State any three motivations for using VLANs. (3 Marks)
e) Justify which type of cable should be used to make a connection between the
Fa0/0 port on a router and the Fa0/0 port switch. (2 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a) Why are collaboration tools considered important communication tools in a
modern organization?. (4 Marks)
b) In what ways can network managers enhance availability and reliability of
their networks? (6 Marks)
c) In almost all organizations, Ethernet is the LAN technology of choice. What has
caused organizations to consistently adopt this technology? (4 Marks)
d) Explain the procedure for testing cable already installed. (6 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) Describe the half-duplex (CSMA/CD) access method. (6 Marks)
b) Intermediary devices use the destination host address, in conjunction with
information about the network interconnections, to determine the path that
messages should take through the network. State five functions performed by the
processes running on the intermediary network devices. (5 Marks)
c) You are a systems administrator and you are about to assign static IP addresses to
various servers on your network. For the network 192.168.20.24/29 the router is
assigned to the first usable host address, while the last usable host address goes to
your Sales server. Which address would you use for the router, the Sales server
and the subnet broadcast? (6 Marks)
d) While troubleshooting a connectivity problem on the network, you issue the ping
command from your PC command prompt, but the output shows “request times
out.” Explain why this problem has to be associated with the OSI network layer.
(3 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) State four major differences between WLANs and wired Ethernet. (4 Marks)
b) WANs use numerous types of devices that are specific to WAN environments.
Describe any five of these devices. (5 Marks)
c) There are three key factors that influence network uptime/availability. State these
three factors and illustrate how they affect availability. (5 Marks)
d) Describe the steps you would follow when designing or modifying the KCAU
WAN. (6 Marks)
