$1\mathrm{.}8$ PRACTICE SET

Review Questions

Identify the five components of a data communications system.

What are the advantages of distributed processing?

What are the three criteria necessary for an effective and efficient network?

What are the advantages of a multipoint contection over a point$-$to$-$point

connection?

What are the two types of line configuration?

Categorize the four basic topologies in terms of line configuration.

What is the difference between half$-$duplex and full$-$duplex transmission modes?

$8.$ Name the four basic network topologies, and cite an advantage of each type.

For $n$ devices in a network, what is the number of cable links required for a mesh,

ring, bsis, and star topology?

What are some of the factors that determine whether a communication system is a

LAN or WAN?

What is in internet? What is the Internet?

Why are protocols needed?

Why are standards needed?

Exercises

What is the maximum number of characters or symbols that can be represented by

Unicode?

A color image uses $16$ bits to represent a pixel. What is the maximum number of

different colors that can be represented?

Assume six devices are arranged in a mesh topology. How many cables are needed?

How many ports are needed for each device?

For each of the following four networks, discuss the consequences if a connection fails.

a$.$ Five devices arranged in a mesh topology

b$.$ Five devices arranged in a star topology $($not counting the hub$)$

c$.$ Five devices arranged in a bus topology

d$.$ Five devices arranged in a ring topology

SECTION $1\mathrm{.}8$ PRACTICESET $25$

You have two computers connected by an Ethernet hub at home. Is this a LAN, a

MAN, of a WAN? Explain your reason.

In the ring topology in Figure $1\mathrm{.}8,$ what happens if one of the stations is unplugged?

In the bus topology in Figure $1\mathrm{.}7,$ what happens if one ofthe stations is unplugged?

Draw a hybrid topology with a sar backbone and three ring networks.

Draw a hybrid topology with a ring backbone and two bus networks.

Performance is inversely related to delay. When you use the Internet, which of the

following applicaticons are more sensitive to delay?

a$.$ Sending an e$-$mail

b$.$ Copying a file

c$.$ Surfint the Internet

When a party makes a local telephone call to another party, is this a point$-$to$-$point

or multipoint connection? Explain your answer.

Compare the telephone network and the Intemet. What are the similarities? What

are the differences?

Research Activities

Using the site $($Viww$.$cne$\_$gmu.edu$/$modules$/$network$/$osi$.$html$,$ discuss the OSI model.

Using the site www$.$ansi,org, diseuss ANSI's activities.

Using the site www$,$

iee.org, discuss IEEE's activities.

Using the site www$,$ietforg$/,$ discuss the different types of RFCs$.$