Computer Networks (AD-602) - Important Questions

Compare and contrast the OSI and TCP/IP reference models in detail. Which model is more relevant in today's networking environment and why?

Classify computer networks based on size, topology and transmission technology. Discuss the significance of service primitives in connection-oriented and connectionless services.

A company is designing a network using different topologies. The network consists of 20 nodes, and the cost of establishing a link between two nodes is $100 per connection. Calculate the total number of links and the total cost for Bus, Ring, Star and Mesh topologies and analyze cost-effectiveness and redundancy.

Describe and compare Go-Back-N and Selective Repeat Sliding Window protocols with respect to working, efficiency and performance.

What do you mean by Distributed Random Access Scheme? Compare and analyze the working principle of Pure and Slotted ALOHA protocols.

Explain the basic operation of Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) contention protocol and explain how collisions are detected and managed.

Explain the concept of hierarchical routing. What are its benefits and limitations compared to flat routing?

A network consists of 6 nodes (A, B, C, D, E, F) with given link costs. Using Dijkstra's algorithm, determine the shortest path from node A to all other nodes. Show all steps.

Describe the process of packet fragmentation and reassembly in IPv4. Why and when does fragmentation occur? Discuss its handling and impact on network performance. How does IPv6 handle fragmentation differently?

Explain the process of TCP connection establishment and termination using the three-way handshake and four-way handshake mechanisms. What is the purpose of each step and why is graceful termination necessary?

Explain the UDP header format with neat diagram. What are its main fields and discuss the purpose of each field?

Discuss the impact of TCP congestion control mechanisms such as Slow Start, Congestion Avoidance, and Fast Retransmit on network performance.

Explain the following application layer protocols with their working: (i) WWW and HTTP (ii) Email - SMTP, MIME and IMAP.

Explain the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques. How do modern ciphers improve network security compared to traditional ciphers?

Write short notes on any two of the following: (a) Domain Name System (DNS) (b) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) (c) TCP versus UDP (d) Sliding Window Protocols.