UNIT 1

PART A
1. State the major functions performed by the presentation layer of the ISO OSI
model.
Translation : Before being transmitted, information in the form of characters and numbers
should be changed to bit streams. The presentation layer is responsible for interoperability
between encoding methods as different computers use different encoding methods. It translates
data between the formats the network requires and the format the computer.
Encryption : It carries out encryption at the transmitter and decryption at the receiver.
Compression : It carries out data compression to reduce the bandwidth of the data to be
transmitted. The primary role of Data compression is to reduce the number of bits to be
0transmitted. It is important in transmitting multimedia such as audio, video, text etc.
2. What is network topology? and List the types of Network topology.
Network Topology is the schematic description of a network arrangement, connecting various
nodes(sender and receiver) through lines of connection.
Types:
1.Bus Topology
2.Ring Topology
3.Star Topology
4. Mesh Topology
5.Tree Topology
6. Hybrid Topology
3. Define the term Protocol and give its key elements. (Nov Dec 2007)
Protocol is used for communications between entities in a system and must speak the same
language. Protocol is the set of rules governing the exchange of data between 2 entities. It
defines what is communicated, how it is communicated, when it is communicated
Key elements of Protocol:
Syntax – It refers to the structure or format of data meaning the order in which they are
presented.
Semantics – It refers to the meaning of each section of bit. How to do interpretation.
Timing – When data should be sent and how fast they can be sent.
4. Compare OSI Layer Architecture With TCP/IP suite(Internet Architecture).

5. State the purpose of layering in networks?(May Jun 2007)

A layer is a collection of related functions that provides services to the layer above it and
receives services from the layer below it.The functions by each layer is independent.
6. At which level of OSI model does repeaters, bridges, routers and gateways operate?(May
Jun 2007)
Repeaters Physical

Bridges Physical, Data link

Routers Physical, Data link, Network

Gateways All 7 Layers

7. For n devices in a network, what is the number of cable links required for a
mesh, ring, bus and star topology?(Nov Dec 2008)
Cable links required to make communication between ‘n’ network devices.
Links required for mesh topology = n(n-1)/2
Links required for ring topology = n-1
Links required for star topology = n
Links required for bus topology = one backbone and n drop lines
8. What are the two types of line configuration? (Nov Dec 2010)
Point to point line configuration and multipoint line configuration.
Point to point:
 It provides a dedicated link between 2 devices.
Entire capacity of the link is reserved for transmission between 3 devices only
Eg: connection between remote control and TV’s control system
Multipoint:
Also called as multi drop connection Here the channel capacity is shared If many devices
share the link simultaneously it is called spatially shared connection.
9. What do you mean by error control? (Nov Dec 2010)
Error control refers to mechanism to detect and correct errors that occur in the
transmission of frames.
10. What is flow control? (Nov Dec 2011)
Flow control is a technique for assuring that a transmitting entity does not overwhelm a receiving
entity with data. Flow control—a feedback mechanism by which the receiver is able to throttle
the sender. Such a mechanism is used to keep the sender from overrunning the receiver, i.e.,
from transmitting more data than the receiver is able to process.
11. Define Error detection and correction. (Nov Dec 2011)
Error detection: Sender transmits every data unit twice. Receiver performs bit-by-bit comparison
between that two versions of data. Any mismatch would indicate an error, which needs error
correction.
12. List out the available detection methods.
There are 4 types of redundancy checks are used in data communication.
a) Vertical redundancy checks (VRC).
b) Longitudinal redundancy checks (LRC).
c) Cyclic redundancy checks (CRC).
d) Checksum.
13. What are the responsibilities of data link layer?
Specific responsibilities of data link layer include the following.
a) Framing
b) Physical addressing
c) Flow control
d) Error control
e) Access control
14. Mention the categories of flow control.
There are 2 methods have been developed to control flow of data across communication
links.
Stop and wait- send one from at a time.
Sliding window- send several frames at a time.
15. What is ARQ? and list the types. (Dec 10)
Automatic repeat request (ARQ). In error control mechanism when an error is detected in
an exchange, specified frames are retransmitted. This process is called ARQ.
Error control in the data link layer is based on Automatic repeat request (ARQ), which means
retransmission of data in 3 cases. a) Damaged frame
Types: a) Stop and wait ARQ b) Sliding window ARQ
Sliding window ARQ Types
1. Selective ARQ 2. Go-Back N ARQ
16. What are the functions of application layer? (May 11)
User to access information on the network through an application. This layer is the main
interface for the user to interact with the applications such as e-mail, File access, File Transfer,
etc
Functions
1. Network Virtual Terminal
2. File Transfer and Access and Management
3. Mail Services
4. Directory Services
17. Define bit stuffing. (May 11)
Bit stuffing is the process of adding one extra 0 whenever there are 5 consecutive 1’s in the data
so that the receiver doesn’t mistake the data for a flag.
Data (Without bit stuffing ) :0111111110000
Data (With bit stuffing ) :01111101110000
18. What do you mean by framing? (Dec-13)
The DLL translates the physical layers raw bit stream into discrete units called frames. Framing
in DLL separates messages from one source to a destination, or from other messages to other
destination, by adding sender and receiver address.
19. Difference between circuit switching and packet switching. (May 11)
Circuit Switching Packet Switching

Physical connection b/w sender and receiver No Physical connection b/w sender and
receiver

All packets use same path Packets use Different path

Waste of bandwidth is possible Waste of bandwidth is not possible

Congestion occurs for per minute Congestion occurs for per packet

20. What is HDLC? (May 12)

It is a bit-oriented data link protocol designed to support both half-duplex and full duplex
communication over point to point and midpoint links.
A high-level data link control (HDLC) is a protocol that is a bit-oriented synchronous data link
layer. HDLC ensures the error-free transmission of data to the proper destinations and controls
the data transmission speed.
HDLCs can provide both connection-oriented and connectionless services.
21. Mention the types of errors.
There are 2 types of errors
a) Single-bit error. b) Burst-bit error.
Single bit error: The term single bit error means that only one bit of a given data unit (such as
byte character/data unit or packet) is changed from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1.
Burst error: Two or more bits in the data unit have changed from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1
22. Group the OSI layers by function.
The seven layers of the OSI model belonging to three subgroups.
Physical, datalink and network layers are the network support layers; they deal with the
physical aspects of moving data from one device to another.
Session, presentation and application layers are the user support layers; they allow
interoperability among unrelated software systems.
The transport layer ensures end-to-end reliable data transmission.