1. What is Routing, Explain Shortest Path Routing algorithm with example?

2. Explain ISO – OSI , seven layer network architecture giving the functions of each
layer.
3. Answer the following:
a ) Explain Ethernet MAC sub layer protocol with frame formats and also analyze its
performance.
b) Given an IP address 192.168.0.5: 
i)  What is the binary equivalent of second octet?
ii)  What is the class of this address?
iii) What is the network address of the given IP address?
4. Explain the various classifications of Computer Networks based on size, topology etc.
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages in each classification.
5. What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous transmission?

Answer 4:
A network topology is the basic design of a computer network. It is very much like a map
of a road. It details how key network components such as nodes and links are
interconnected. A network's topology is comparable to the blueprints of a new home in
which components such as the electrical system, heating and air conditioning system
and plumbing are integrated into the overall design.
A network topology comprises of all sorts of physical, logical or virtual components put
together in order to implement LAN. There are fundamentally three topologies, which are
given below. All the others are combinations of these three fundamental topologies.

1. Bus Topology
2. Ring Topology
3. Star Topology

1) Bus Topology: The simplest and one of the most common of all topologies, Bus
consists of a single cable, called a Backbone that connects all workstations on the
network using a single line. All devices on the network are attached to a single cable in a
bus topology LAN. This provides only half-duplex operations between a station and
a bus. The frame, which is transmitted from one node to another, contains only the
address of the intended destination. If it gets lost, it cannot be retrieved. Moreover,
bus topology provides broadcast kind of frames, which every node is capable of
seeing. Therefore it lacks security.
Example: Almost every current wireless network can be viewed as examples of passive
bus networks, with radio propagation assisting as the shared passive medium.
Advantages

1. Broadcasting and multicasting is much simpler

2. Network is redundant in the sense that the failure of one node doesn't affect the
network. The other part may still function properly
 3. Least expensive since less amount of cabling is required and no network
switches are required
4. Good for smaller networks not requiring higher speeds.

Disadvantages

1.  Troubleshooting and error detection becomes a problem because, logically, all

nodes are equal.
2. Less secure because sniffing is easier
3. Limited in size and speed.

2) Ring Topology: Like bus topology, all the nodes or devices in the network are
attached to the network on the same cable but in a circular fashion where the first nodes
attach to the last node in the cyclic mode in a ring topology LAN. It can use a single ring
for half-duplex operations or dual-ring architecture for full-duplex operations. All the
nodes in a Ring Network are connected in a closed circle of cable. Messages that are
transmitted travel around the ring until they reach the computer that they are addressed
to, the signal being refreshed by each node. In a ring topology, the network signal is
passed through each network card of each device and passed on to the next device.
Advantages

1. Broadcasting and multicasting are simple since you just need to send out one
message.
2.  Less expensive since less cable footage is required.
3.  It is guaranteed that each host will be able to transmit within a finite time interval.
4. A very orderly network where every device has access to the token and the
opportunity to transmit.
5.  Performs better than a star network under heavy network load.

Disadvantages

1. Failure of one node brings the whole network down

2. Error detection and network administration becomes difficult
3. Moves, adds and changes of devices can affect the network
4. It is slower than star topology under normal load.

3) Star Topology: Widely popular and most common is the star topology, which includes
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet. Each node in a star topology connects to a
dedicated link where the other end connects to a switch or hub. The distinguishing feature of
star topology is that all nodes are joined at a single point. This single point is called a central
node, hub, or switch, to which all other devices are attached directly, generally via UTP or
STP. This topology is frequently used for networks in which control of the network is located
in the central node.
Advantages

1. Network administration and error detection is easier because the problem is  isolated
to the central node
2. Networks runs even if one host fails
3. Expansion becomes easier and scalability of the network increases
4. More suited for larger networks.
Disadvantages

1. Broadcasting and multicasting is not easy because some extra functionality needs to
be provided to the central hub.
2. If the central node fails, the whole network goes down; thus making the switch some
kind of a bottleneck.
3. Installation costs are high because each node needs to be connected to the central
switch.

Answer 5:
In Synchronous Transmission, data is sent in the form of blocks or frames. This
transmission is the full-duplex type. Between sender and receiver the synchronization is
compulsory. In Synchronous transmission, There is no gap present between data. It is
more efficient and more reliable than asynchronous transmission to transfer a large
amount of data.
   

In Asynchronous Transmission, data is sent in the form of byte or character. This

transmission is the half-duplex type transmission. In this transmission start bits and stop
bits are added with data. It does not require synchronization.

        
Synchronous and Asynchronous transmission are the two types of serial data
transmission technique. But the crucial difference between synchronous and
asynchronous transmission is that in synchronous transmission a common clock pulse is
shared between transmitter and receiver in order to permit synchronized communication.
As against in asynchronous transmission, the sender and receiver have their own
internal clocks thus do not need an external common clock pulse. Synchronous
transmission permits a continuous flow of data between sender and receiver. However,
an asynchronous transmission technique does not allow continuous data flow.

Answer 1:
Routing is a major component of the network layer and is concerned with the problem of
determining feasible paths (or routes) for packets to follow from each source to each
destination. The best path is the one that gives minimum end-to-end delay and with the
greatest available bandwidth.
Shortest path routing refers to the process of finding paths through a network that have a
minimum of distance. Routing of data packets on the Internet is an example involving
millions of routers in a complex, worldwide, multilevel network. Optimum routing on the
Internet has a major impact on performance and cost.