Computer Networking – Basics MCQs

• A local area network (LAN) is defined as a computer network that connects devices within a relatively small geographic area, such as a single building or campus. The devices in a LAN are typically connected using Ethernet or Wi-Fi technologies, and the network is usually owned and managed by a single organization or individual.
• LANs are used to facilitate communication and resource sharing between devices, such as computers, printers, and servers, within the local area. LANs are typically characterized by their high data transfer rates, low latency, and high reliability, which make them ideal for applications that require fast and efficient data transfer, such as file sharing, media streaming, and online gaming.

• The largest geographic area a wide area network (WAN) can cover is the entire world, as it is a network that spans a large geographical area, such as a country, continent, or even the whole world. Unlike local area networks (LANs), which typically cover a relatively small geographic area, WANs are designed to facilitate communication and data transfer over long distances.
• WANs are often used by organizations with multiple locations, such as global corporations or government agencies, to connect their local networks together and enable communication and resource sharing between them. WANs use a variety of technologies, such as leased lines, satellite links, and packet-switched networks, to transmit data over long distances, and may be owned and managed by a single organization or by multiple organizations working together.

The TCP/IP model is based on a five-layer model for networking. From bottom (the link) to top (the user application), these are the physical, data link, network, transport, and application layers.

• A router is a networking device that operates at the Network layer (Layer 3) of the TCP/IP protocol suite. Its primary function is to forward packets between networks by examining the destination IP address of each packet and determining the best path to the destination network.
• However, a router may also be involved in the Transport layer (Layer 4) of the TCP/IP protocol suite when it performs Network Address Translation (NAT), which allows multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address when communicating with devices on the internet.
• In addition, some routers may also provide services at the Application layer (Layer 7) of the TCP/IP protocol suite, such as acting as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server or Domain Name System (DNS) server.
• So while a router's primary function is at the Network layer, it can also be involved in the Transport and Application layers depending on its configuration and capabilities.

• A link-layer switch, also known as a network switch, operates at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the TCP/IP protocol suite. Its primary function is to forward frames between network devices by examining the destination MAC address of each frame and determining the appropriate port to send it out on.
• Unlike a router, a switch is not involved in higher layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite such as the Network, Transport, or Application layers. However, switches are crucial components of local area networks (LANs) as they provide high-speed and efficient communication between devices within the same network segment.

In the TCP/IP protocol suite, there are several application layer protocols used for various purposes such as file transfer, email, web browsing, and more. Some examples of application layer protocols include:

• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) for web browsing
• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for email communication
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP) for file transfer
• Domain Name System (DNS) for domain name resolution
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for network management

Therefore, the correct answer is any of the above depending on the context of the question.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, there are two primary transport layer protocols: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
• TCP is a reliable, connection-oriented protocol that provides error detection, flow control, and congestion control. It is used for applications that require a guaranteed delivery of data, such as file transfer, email, and web browsing.
• UDP, on the other hand, is an unreliable, connectionless protocol that does not provide error detection or flow control. It is used for applications that require fast and efficient delivery of data, such as real-time audio and video streaming, online gaming, and other time-sensitive applications.
• Therefore, the correct answer is either Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP), depending on the context of the question.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, the Internet Protocol (IP) is the primary network layer (Layer 3) protocol. IP provides the addressing and routing mechanisms that enable data to be sent between devices across a network.
• IP is responsible for the fragmentation and reassembly of data into packets, the addressing of packets using IP addresses, and the routing of packets through the network based on their destination IP address.
• Other network layer protocols that are used in the TCP/IP protocol suite include Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) for error reporting and network diagnostics, and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) for multicast group management.
• Therefore, the correct answer is Internet Protocol (IP).

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, the Data Link layer (Layer 2) is responsible for moving frames from one hop (node) to the next.
• The Data Link layer provides node-to-node data transfer over a physical link between adjacent network nodes. It takes packets from the Network layer and encapsulates them into frames for transmission over the physical network. It also provides error detection and correction mechanisms to ensure reliable transmission of data.
• The Data Link layer is implemented by network devices such as network switches, bridges, and network interface cards (NICs). These devices use various protocols such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and others to transmit and receive data frames.
• Therefore, the correct answer is the Data Link layer.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, the transport-layer packet is called a segment.
• A segment is a logical unit of data that is created by the Transport layer (Layer 4) and encapsulates the data received from the Application layer (Layer 7) into a format that can be transmitted over the network.
• In TCP, the segment includes a header that contains control information such as the source and destination port numbers, sequence and acknowledgment numbers, and window size, as well as the data itself.
• In UDP, the segment also includes a header with the source and destination port numbers and length information, but does not include sequence or acknowledgment numbers or flow control mechanisms.
• Therefore, the correct term for the transport-layer packet in the TCP/IP protocol suite is a segment.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, the physical layer (Layer 1) is concerned with the movement of bits over the physical medium.
• The physical layer defines the physical and electrical characteristics of the transmission medium and the interfaces between the data terminal equipment (DTE) and data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE). It is responsible for the transmission and reception of raw bit streams over the physical medium.
• The physical layer specifies the physical medium, such as copper wires, fiber optic cables, or wireless transmission, and the characteristics of the signals that are transmitted over the medium, such as voltage levels, timing, and data rates.
• Therefore, the correct answer is bits. The physical layer is responsible for the movement of bits over the physical medium.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, a port number is the identifier at the Transport layer (Layer 4).
• A port number is a 16-bit unsigned integer that identifies a specific process or application running on a device. Port numbers are used by the Transport layer to differentiate between different applications and services that are communicating over the network.
• In TCP, the combination of a source IP address, source port number, destination IP address, and destination port number is known as a socket, which uniquely identifies a connection between two devices.
• In UDP, port numbers are used to identify the application or service to which the data is being sent.
• Therefore, the correct answer is the Transport layer.

• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, a logical address is the identifier at the Network layer (Layer 3).
• A logical address, also known as an IP address, is a unique 32-bit or 128-bit numerical address that is assigned to every device on a network. IP addresses are used by the Network layer to identify the source and destination of data packets as they are transmitted across the network.
• IP addresses are hierarchical and consist of a network portion and a host portion. The network portion identifies the network to which the device is attached, while the host portion identifies the specific device on that network. This allows devices to communicate with each other across multiple networks.
• In addition to IP addresses, other examples of logical addresses include MAC addresses, which are used by the Data Link layer to identify individual network interfaces, and URLs, which are used by applications to identify specific web pages on the internet.
• Therefore, the correct answer is the Network layer.

• The Transport layer (Layer 4) is responsible for the delivery of a message from one process to another in the TCP/IP protocol suite.
• The Transport layer provides end-to-end communication services between applications running on different devices. It takes data from the Application layer (Layer 7) and breaks it down into smaller units called segments. These segments are then encapsulated with Transport layer header information, including source and destination port numbers, and passed to the Network layer (Layer 3) for delivery across the network.
• The Transport layer also provides flow control, error recovery, and congestion control mechanisms to ensure reliable data transfer between applications. The most commonly used Transport layer protocols are TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
• Therefore, the correct answer is the Transport layer.

• The Internet Protocol (IP) is a connectionless and best-effort protocol, which means it does not provide reliability guarantees for the delivery of data packets. However, it is not entirely accurate to say that IP is an unreliable protocol.
• IP is designed to provide a best-effort delivery service, which means that it will attempt to deliver data packets to their destination, but there is no guarantee that they will be delivered successfully. This is because packets may be lost, delayed, or delivered out of order due to network congestion, errors, or other factors.
• To address the issue of reliability, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) was developed as a Transport layer protocol in the TCP/IP protocol suite. TCP provides reliable, connection-oriented communication services that ensure that data is delivered to its destination in the correct order and without errors or duplication.
• Therefore, while IP is not a reliable protocol in the strictest sense, it is an essential component of the TCP/IP protocol suite and provides a crucial role in delivering data across the Internet.

• The application layer in the TCP/IP protocol suite is usually considered to be the combination of the Application layer (Layer 7), Presentation layer (Layer 6), and Session layer (Layer 5) in the OSI model.
• The Application layer in the TCP/IP protocol suite provides interfaces for applications to access the network services. It includes a variety of protocols such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and DNS, which are used to support different types of application-level communications.
• The Presentation layer in the OSI model is responsible for data representation and code formatting. It provides a common representation of data that can be used by different applications.
• The Session layer in the OSI model is responsible for establishing, managing, and terminating sessions between applications. It enables applications to communicate and exchange data in a way that is meaningful to both parties.
• In the TCP/IP protocol suite, the functions of the Presentation and Session layers are typically included in the Application layer. Therefore, the Application layer in the TCP/IP protocol suite is often considered to be the combination of the Application, Presentation, and Session layers in the OSI model.

• A proposed standard is elevated to Draft Standard status after at least two successful tries in the Internet standards process.
• The Internet standards process is a formalized procedure used by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to develop and maintain the protocols and standards that govern the operation of the Internet. The process includes several stages, each with its own set of criteria and requirements.
• The first stage in the process is the Proposed Standard stage, in which a protocol or standard is proposed and reviewed by the IETF community. If the proposal meets the required criteria and receives sufficient support, it can be elevated to the Draft Standard stage.
• At the Draft Standard stage, the protocol or standard is subjected to further review and testing to ensure that it is stable and suitable for deployment on a larger scale. If it meets the necessary requirements, it can be elevated to the Internet Standard stage, which is the final stage in the process.
• Therefore, a proposed standard is elevated to Draft Standard status after at least two successful tries in the Internet standards process.

• An RFC (Request for Comments) is labeled a "Internet Standard" if it must be implemented by all Internet systems.
• Internet Standards are the highest level of standardization in the Internet standards process. They are protocols or standards that have been subjected to extensive review, testing, and implementation, and are considered to be stable and suitable for widespread deployment.
• Internet Standards are required to be implemented by all Internet systems, and they represent the consensus of the Internet community on the best practices and protocols for ensuring interoperability and reliable operation of the Internet.
• Internet Standards are designated by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the organization responsible for developing and maintaining the protocols and standards that govern the operation of the Internet. RFCs are the documents used by the IETF to publish proposed standards, draft standards, and Internet standards.

n the original ARPANET, computers (or hosts) were directly connected to each other.

The ARPANET was the first packet-switching network and a precursor to the modern Internet. It was developed by the United States Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The original design of the ARPANET called for a decentralized network architecture in which computers (or hosts) were directly connected to each other, forming a mesh-like network. This design allowed for robustness and fault tolerance since if one node failed, traffic could be routed through other nodes.

To facilitate communication between the hosts on the ARPANET, a protocol called the Network Control Program (NCP) was developed. NCP was the precursor to the TCP/IP protocol suite that is used by the modern Internet.

As the ARPANET grew, it became necessary to introduce network gateways, or routers, to interconnect different networks. This led to the development of the TCP/IP protocol suite and the modern Internet architecture, in which computers are typically connected to the Internet via network routers.

• The National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) was formed to connect universities with no defense ties.
• NSFNET was a program created by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the mid-1980s to provide academic researchers with access to high-speed networking capabilities. Prior to the creation of NSFNET, the ARPANET was the primary means of connecting universities and research institutions.
• One of the goals of NSFNET was to create a network infrastructure that could support a wide range of research applications, including scientific simulations, data analysis, and collaborative research projects. To achieve this goal, NSFNET was designed to be a high-speed backbone network that connected regional networks, known as NSFNET regional networks, which in turn connected individual universities and research institutions.
• Unlike the ARPANET, which was initially developed for defense purposes, NSFNET was designed to be a civilian network. This allowed universities with no defense ties to connect to the network and benefit from its high-speed capabilities.
• The development of NSFNET played a significant role in the growth of the Internet and the transition from the original ARPANET architecture to the modern Internet architecture.

• Currently, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for the management of Internet domain names and addresses.
• ICANN is a non-profit organization that was created in 1998 to take over the management of the Domain Name System (DNS) and Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation from the U.S. government. The organization is responsible for coordinating the allocation and maintenance of unique identifiers used in the operation of the Internet, including domain names, IP addresses, and protocol port and parameter numbers.
• ICANN is responsible for managing the global top-level domain (gTLD) name space, which includes well-known domains such as .com, .org, and .net, as well as country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) such as .us, .uk, and .cn.
• ICANN also manages the process of approving and delegating new gTLDs, such as .app, .shop, and .xyz, which has led to a significant expansion of the domain name space in recent years.
• Overall, ICANN plays a critical role in ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet, by managing the domain name system and ensuring that it remains a globally interoperable and reliable system.