THE EAST AFRICAN UNIVERSITY (TEAU)

SCHOOL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND IT

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
JAN – APRIL 2019, MAIN EXAMINATION

COURSE : DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING

CODE : CIT 2103
TIME : 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS
1. The Paper is made up of FIVE (5) Questions, question ONE is compulsory plus any other
TWO questions.
2. Credit is given for legibility, clarity of expressions and use of relevant illustrations.
3. Clearly write your registration number on each answer sheet used.

DO NOT WRITE ANYWHERE ON THIS QUESTION PAPER

QUESTION 1
a) The East African University requires a Network that will cater for their administrative and student’s
needs. The users range from lecturers, administrative assistants and students. All types of users need
to access the internet through the network. The university management also requires the network to
support WIFI access. The university members of staff need to access the university management
information system, which should not be accessed by the students. The total number of expected
users is 500 at any given time.
i) Name the most appropriate network topology for this network. Give the reasons for your
answer (2 marks)
ii) List the network devices will be used while designing the network? Briefly explain their use
(8 Marks)
iii) Discuss the transmission impairments is the network likely to experience? (8 marks)

iv) Name the transmission medium will be used to connect the network? Give reasons for your
answer (2 marks)

v) Briefly explain how the user computers will be configured to access the network
(4 marks)
vi) Explain how will this network be secured from intruders and students who might attempt to
access confidential information such as examinations? (4 marks)

vii) State the switching technique that might be appropriate for the network. Give a reason for
your answer (2 marks)
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QUESTION 2

a) Differentiate the following transmission media (2 mark @)

i) UTP -
ii) coaxial cables
iii) fiber optics cables
iv) microwave transmission

b) Explain the role of each layer in the OSI reference model in descending order. (12 marks)

QUESTION 3

a) You have the task of designing a network for a medium-sized company. Explain the ways in which
the following factors might influence the design decisions you make:
i) The geographical area to be covered by the network.
ii) The number of users.
iii) The types of application used within the company.
iv) The type of business of the company.
v) The extent to which E-Commerce is used between the company and its (external) trading
partners.
vi) The size of the budget available.
vii) The expected growth rate of the company. (14 marks)

b) Explain how you can use the following to provide security to a network (3 marks @)
 User name and passwords–
 Biometrics -

QUESTION 4

a) Discuss any THREE ways of how data can be transmitted ` (6marks)

b) Differentiate between a cross over cable and straight through cable (4 marks)
c) You have the task of designing a network for a medium-sized company. Explain the ways in which
the following factors might influence the design decisions you make: (10 marks)
b)
i) The geographical area to be covered by the network. –
ii) The number of users. –
iii) The types of application used within the company. -
iv) The type of business of the company.
v) The extent to which E-Commerce is used between the company and its (external) trading
partners.
vi) The size of the budget available.
vii) The expected growth rate of the company.

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QUESTION 5

a) Describe two (2) guided and two (2) wireless Transmission Media technologies (8 Marks)

b) With illustrations explain the following network topologies giving the advantages of each.
(12 Marks)
i. Bus topology
ii. Ring topology
iii. Mesh topology
iv. Hybrid topology

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