Computer Science Department

ICT132: Networks and Digital Communications

Sample Exam Questions Marking Scheme

Question 1 - Data Communications (27 marks)

a) Explain what is meant by the synchronisation problem in digital data

communications.

Give an example of how a lack of synchronisation can lead to errors.

Describe 2 common techniques for overcoming the synchronisation problem.

(10 marks)

Answer:
Synchronisation problem: when sending and receiving computers clocks are
misaligned, errors can be induced after a long uninterrupted bitstream (2 marks)
Example (2 marks)
2 common techniques for overcoming: Manchester encoding or synchronous
communications or asynchronous communications (3 marks each for any two, 1
mark for only giving name of technique)

b) Digital data can be transmitted in either digital or analogue form. Describe two
techniques for digital transmission of digital data and two techniques for analogue
transmission of digital data.

(8 marks)

Answer:
Analogue transmission: (any two of the following) – 4 marks total
Amplitude modulation: 1 mark for naming, 1 mark for explaining
Frequency shift keying: 1 mark for naming, 1 mark for explaining
Phase shift keying: 1 mark for naming, 1 mark for explaining
Digital transmission: 4 marks total
NRZ: 1 mark for naming, 1 mark for explaining
Manchester encoding: 1 mark for naming, 1 mark for explaining
c) Explain 3 different techniques that can be used to ensure that packets arrive error-
free. For each technique, state in what situations it will not be able to detect errors in
the received packet.

(9 marks)

Answer:
Parity bits, checksum, cyclic redundancy checking
For each technique, give 2 marks for explanation, 1 mark for stating when it will not
work
Question 2 - Network Architectures (19 marks)

a) Explain the difference between connection-oriented and connectionless packet

switching.

(4 marks)

Answer:
CO:
Request connection and wait for it to be established: 1 mark
All packets go by same route: 1 mark
CL:
Each packet routed independently: 1 mark
CO has more overheads, less efficient than CL: 1 mark

b) Explain the meaning of the following ways of addressing packets:

i) Unicast addressing
ii) Multicast addressing
iii) Broadcast addressing

(1 mark each – total 3 marks)

Answer:
Unicast = send to s ingle address: 1 mark
Multicast = send to multiple addresses: 1 mark
Broadcast = send to all addresses on subnet: 1 mark

c) Explain what is meant by an access method in computer networking. Why are access
methods necessary?

(3 marks)

Answer:
Access method = set of rules for putting data onto the network (1 mark)
Regulate network traffic (1 mark)
Avoid or deal with collisions (1 mark)

d) What are the three types of access method? Describe one example of each.
(9 marks)

Answer:
3 types of access method: contention, token passing, demand priority (3 marks)
Examples: 2 marks for each
Question 3 – Communications Protocols (13 marks)

a) What is meant by the terms protocol and protocol stack?

(4 marks)

Answer:
Protocol is a language/set of rules for communication: 2 marks
Protocol stack is set of protocols working together at different logical levels: 2 marks

b) What does the term OSI stand for? What is the OSI model? Name and briefly
describe the 7 layers of the OSI model.

(9 marks)

Answer:
OSI = Open System Interconnection (1 mark)
It is an attempt to standardise the logical levels at which comms occurs (1 mark)
Layer 7 = Application (1/2 mark)
Services that support user applications (1/2 mark)
Layer 6 = Presentation (1/2 mark)
Translates between different systems (1/2 mark)
Layer 5 = Session (1/2 mark)
Responsible for establishing a session: (login, password, etc. (1/2 mark)
Layer 4 = Transport (1/2 mark)
Divides into packets, responsible for making sure packets are delivered
error-free, in sequence, without loss/duplication (1/2 mark)
Layer 3 = Network (1/2 mark)
Adds addresses, translates between s/w and h/w addresses (1/2 mark)
Layer 2 = Data-Link (1/2 mark)
Flow control (1/2 mark)
Layer 1 = Physical (1/2 mark)
Sends 1’s and 0’s onto cable (1/2 mark)
Question 4 – TCP/IP (35 marks)

a) What do the terms ARP and RAPR stand for? Describe the purpose of ARP and
RARP. Give an example of the use of ARP or RARP.

(6 marks)

Answer:
ARP = Address Resolution Protocol (1 mark)
RARP = Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (1 mark)
ARP tranlates from IP to MAC address, RARP does reverse (2 marks)
E.g. COM1 broadcasts ARP Request containing IP address required; COM2 recieves
ARP Request, and unicasts ARP Reply containing its MAC address (2 marks)

b) For each of the following IP addresses, state whether it is a valid IP address for a
computer on the Internet. If it is not valid, explain why. If it is valid, answer the
following questions about the address:
· What class of subnet is it on?
· What is the network ID?
· What is the computer ID?

i. 10.255.255.255
ii. 180.0.10.12
iii. 198.10.40.241
iv. 33.55.99.12
v. 200.124.1.0
vi. 0.0.0.0
vii. 50.50.0.0

(2 marks each – total 14 marks)

Answers:
i. Not valid – it is a class A network so this is the directed broadcast address
ii. Valid, class B network, network ID = 180.0, computer ID = 10.12
iii. Valid, class C network, network ID = 198.10.40, computer ID = 241
iv. Valid, class A network, network ID = 33, computer ID = 55.99.12
v. Not valid – it is a class C network so this is the network number
vi. Not valid – all binary 0’s refers to this computer
vii. Valid, class A network, network ID = 50, computer ID = 50.0.0

c) Explain the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing. What are the
advantages of each one? Explain how a server can use DHCP to dynamically allocate
 IP addresses to clients.

(6 marks)

Answer:
Static – allocated by net admin, do not change unless admin changes them (1 mark)
Dynamic – allocated automatically by server, leased for limited time (1 mark)
Static simpler, good for small networks (1 mark)
Dynamic simplifies network administration for large networks (1 mark)
E.g. COM1 broadcasts DHCP Discover packet; COMSERVER receives it and
broadcasts DHCP Offer packet offering IP address; COM1 receives it and unicasts
DHCP Request packet to ask for specified IP address; COMSERVER broadcasts
DHCP ACK packet to confirm allocation. (2 marks)

d) Using the classless inter-domain routing system, for each of the following networks
answer the following questions:
· What is the type of network?
· What is the total number of IP addresses in the subnet?
· What is the range of IP addresses that are included in the network?
For example, if the network number was 140.121.0.0 and the subnet mask was
255.255.0.0, the type of network would be slash 16, there would be 65,536 IP
addresses, and the range of IP addresses would be from 140.121.0.0 to
140.121.255.255.

i. Network number = 202.147.99.0

Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0

(3 marks)

Answer: (1 mark for each answer)

Slash 24 network
255 different IP addresses (253 without network number and broadcast)
Range from 202.147.99.0 to 202.147.99.255

ii. Network number = 196.112.13.128

Subnet mask = 255.255.255.192

(3 marks)

Answer: (1 mark for each answer)

Slash 26 network
64 different IP addresses (62 without network number and broadcast)
Range from 196.112.13.128 to 196.112.13.191
iii. Network number = 220.0.192.0
Subnet mask = 255.255.252.0

(3 marks)

Answer: (1 mark for each answer)

Slash 22 network
1024 different IP addresses (1022 without network number and broadcast)
Range from 220.0.192.0 to 220.0.195.255
Question 5 – Network Operating Systems (6 marks)

a) What are the two main security models that can be used in computer networks?
Briefly describe each one.

(6 marks)

Answer:
Password-protected shares: each network resource has its own password(s) –
knowing password gives certain level of access (3 marks)
Access-permissions: each user has their own password – this identifies them to the
network, permissions assigned on a user-by-user or group-by-group basis by the
network server (3 marks)

Examination prepared by: FBE Computer Science Department.