Introduction To Data Communications Flashcards

1
Q

Q: What are the five components of data communication?

A

A:

Message: The information to be communicated (text, numbers, images, audio, video).
Sender: The device that sends the message (e.g., computer, phone).
Receiver: The device that receives the message (e.g., computer, TV).
Transmission Medium: The physical path for data transmission (e.g., cables, radio waves).
Protocol: Rules that govern data exchange (e.g., HTTP, TCP/IP).
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2
Q

Q: What are the four characteristics of an effective data communication system?

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A:

Delivery: Data must reach the intended recipient only.
Accuracy: Data must arrive without alteration.
Timeliness: Data must be delivered on time (real-time for audio/video).
Jitter: Minimal variation in packet arrival time.
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3
Q

Q: What are the modes of data flow in communication systems?

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Simplex: One-way communication (e.g., keyboard to monitor).
Half-Duplex: Two-way communication, but only one direction at a time (e.g., walkie-talkies).
Full-Duplex: Two-way simultaneous communication (e.g., phone calls).
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4
Q

Q: What are the key criteria for a network?

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A:

Performance: Measured by throughput and delay.
Reliability: Frequency of failures and recovery time.
Security: Protection from unauthorized access and data loss.
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5
Q

Q: Describe the main network topologies.

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Mesh: Every device is connected to every other device.
    Advantages: High robustness and privacy.
    Disadvantages: High cost and cabling complexity.
Star: Devices connect to a central hub.
    Advantages: Easy to install and robust.
    Disadvantage: Hub failure affects the entire network.
Bus: All devices share a single backbone.
    Advantages: Simple and cost-effective.
    Disadvantages: Faults in the bus affect the entire network.
Ring: Devices form a closed loop, passing data in one direction.
    Advantages: Easy to install and reconfigure.
    Disadvantage: Single point of failure.
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6
Q

Q: What are the categories of networks and their key features?

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LAN (Local Area Network): Small area, high speed (e.g., office networks).
WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers large distances using technologies like packet switching.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): Connects LANs within a city using high-speed backbones.
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7
Q

Q: What are examples of commonly used Internet protocols?

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A:

HTTP: For web data transfer.
TCP/IP: For reliable communication between devices.
SMTP: For email exchange.
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8
Q

Q: What are the two types of standards in networking?

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A:

De Facto: Widely used but not officially approved (e.g., TCP/IP).
De Jure: Approved by a recognized body (e.g., IEEE standards).
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9
Q

Q: What are examples of transmission mediums in data communication?

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A:

Twisted-pair wire
Coaxial cable
Fiber-optic cable
Radio waves
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10
Q

Q: How is data represented in communication systems?

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A:

Text: ASCII or Unicode encoding.
Numbers: Binary representation.
Images: Matrix of pixels.
Audio: Waveform recordings.
Video: Sequence of images (frames) in motion.
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11
Q

Q: What is jitter, and why is it significant in data communication?

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A:

Definition: Variation in packet arrival time.
Impact: Affects real-time applications like video streaming and VoIP.
Examples:
    If the 2nd packet arrives 10ms earlier than expected: Clumping.
    If it arrives 10ms late: Dispersion.
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12
Q

Q: What factors influence network performance?

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A:

Transit Time: Time for data to travel from sender to receiver.
Response Time: Time between a request and its response.
Throughput: Amount of data transmitted per unit time.
Delay: Time lag caused by congestion or hardware inefficiencies.
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13
Q

Q: What are key measures of network reliability?

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A:

Frequency of failures.
Recovery time after failures.
Robustness during disasters
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14
Q

Q: Differentiate between point-to-point and multipoint connections.

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Point-to-Point: Dedicated link between two devices (e.g., phone line).
Multipoint: A single link shared by multiple devices, either spatially or temporally.
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15
Q

Q: What are the pros and cons of mesh, star, bus, and ring topologies?

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A:

Mesh:
    Pros: High robustness, fast communication.
    Cons: Expensive, complex cabling.
Star:
    Pros: Easy to install, robust.
    Cons: Hub failure disrupts the network.
Bus:
    Pros: Cost-effective, simple.
    Cons: Cable failure stops all transmissions.
Ring:
    Pros: Easy reconfiguration.
    Cons: A single break affects the network unless bypass mechanisms exist.
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16
Q

Q: How are networks categorized based on size and scope?

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A:

LAN (Local Area Network): Small-scale, private.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): City-wide network.
WAN (Wide Area Network): Large-scale, spans countries or continents.
17
Q

Q: How is the Internet organized hierarchically?

A

A:

ISP Tiers:
    Tier 1: Backbone providers (global reach).
    Tier 2: Regional providers.
    Tier 3: Local providers.
Interconnection: LANs, MANs, and WANs are linked using TCP/IP.
18
Q

Q: What are the main layers of the Internet Protocol Stack?

A

A:

Application Layer
Transport Layer
Network Layer
Data Link Layer
Physical Layer
19
Q

Q: What organizations define networking standards?

A

A:

ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
ITU (International Telecommunication Union)
20
Q

Q: What are the key elements of a protocol?

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A:

Syntax: Data format and structure.
Semantics: Meaning of data fields.
Timing: Synchronization and speed of communication.
21
Q

Q: What are the different types of network connections?

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A:

Switched Networks: Use intermediary nodes for data transfer.
Point-to-Point: Directly connects two devices.
Wireless Networks: Uses radio waves or infrared signals.
22
Q

Q: Why is packet switching preferred over circuit switching?

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A:

Efficient use of bandwidth.
Can handle multiple connections simultaneously.
More robust to individual link failures.
23
Q

Q: What are the main components of the Internet?

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A:

Routers: Direct traffic between networks.
ISPs: Provide Internet access to users.
End Devices: User devices like PCs, phones.
Backbone Networks: High-speed links connecting major ISPs.
24
Q

Q: How do LAN, WAN, MAN, and SAN differ?

A

A:

LAN (Local Area Network): Small-scale; used in offices or campuses.
WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers vast areas; interconnects LANs.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): City-level coverage; connects multiple LANs.
SAN (Storage Area Network): High-speed network for storage devices.
25
Q

Q: What is virtualization in networking?

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A: It involves creating virtual versions of network components (e.g., virtual machines, virtual switches) to enhance flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency in modern infrastructures like cloud environments.

26
Q

Q: Why is bandwidth critical in modern networking?

A

A: Bandwidth determines data transfer capacity. Higher bandwidth ensures smooth video streaming, fast downloads, and better cloud application performance.

27
Q

Q: Match protocols to their functions:

A

A:

HTTP/HTTPS: Web browsing and secure data exchange.
FTP: File transfers.
DNS: Resolves domain names to IP addresses.
SMTP: Sends emails.
SSL/TLS: Encrypts data for secure transmission.
28
Q

Q: Where are different topologies used?

A

A:

Mesh: Data centers needing reliability.
Star: Corporate networks with a central hub.
Ring: Legacy systems, some metropolitan networks.
Bus: Rare today, found in simple LANs.
Hybrid: Combines topologies for custom solutions.
29
Q

Q: What are common network problems and solutions?

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A:

Connectivity Loss: Check cables, ports, or wireless settings.
Slow Performance: Monitor bandwidth usage and optimize routing.
Security Breaches: Update firewalls and scan for malware.
30
Q

Q: How have networking technologies evolved?

A

A: From ARPANET to modern TCP/IP-based networks, advancements include faster data rates, increased reliability, and secure communications.

31
Q

Q: What are the OSI model layers and their purposes?

A

A:

Physical: Hardware connections.
Data Link: Frames and error correction.
Network: Routing and addressing.
Transport: Ensures data reliability.
Session: Manages communication sessions.
Presentation: Data formatting.
Application: Interfaces for network services.
32
Q

Q: What are the types of cloud networks?

A

A:

Public Cloud: Services for multiple users, e.g., AWS.
Private Cloud: Dedicated resources for a single organization.
Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private.
Community Cloud: Shared infrastructure for specific groups.
33
Q

Q: What are the key characteristics of effective data communication?

A

A: Delivery, accuracy, timeliness, and minimal jitter.

34
Q

How does congestion impact delay?

A

Increases delay by queuing data packets at network nodes.