Computer Networking, Multimedia Basics

 

Theoretical Questions

Question 1

What do you understand by communication ?

Answer

Communication is the transfer of information from one person or device to another.

Question 2

What is networking ?

Answer

Networking is the process of joining computers together to form a network.

Question 3

What is a communication channel ?

Answer

A communication channel refers to a physical or virtual pathway that allows data and information to be transmitted between sender and receiver, facilitating communication in various forms.

Question 4

Name the different types of computer networks.

Answer

The different types of computer networks are:

1. Local Area Networks (LANs)
2. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)
3. Wide Area Networks (WANs)

Question 5

What is Internet ? What are its uses ?

Answer

Internet is a computer-based world wide information network. It is composed of a large number of smaller interconnected networks.

Some of the uses of Internet are:

1. Businesses use the Internet to provide access to complex databases, such as financial databases.
2. Companies carry out electronic commerce (commerce on internet) including advertising, selling, buying, distributing products, and providing after sales services.
3. Businesses and institutions use the Internet for voice and video conferencing and other forms of communication that enable people to telecommute, or work from a distance.
4. The use of electronic mail (e-mail) over the Internet has greatly speeded communication between companies among coworkers, and between other individuals.
5. Individuals use the Internet for communication, entertainment, finding information and to buy and sell goods and services.

Question 6

A communication network which is used by large organisations over regional, national or global area is called

1. LAN
2. WAN
3. MAN
4. VAN

Answer

WAN

Reason — WAN (Wide Area Network) spans a larger geographical area and connects multiple LANs or other networks together. It can cover regional, national, or even global distances.

Question 7

Discuss the following types of networks in brief :

(i) LAN

(ii) MAN

(iii) WAN

Answer

(i) LAN — LANs (Local Area Network) are small computer networks confined to a localised area like an office, a building or a factory. They facilitate resource sharing among users, including data, programs, printers, hard-disks, modems etc.

(ii) MAN — MANs (Metropolitan Area Network) are the networks spread over a city. For example, cable TV networks that are spread over a city. The purpose of a MAN is also the sharing of hardware and software resources among its users.

(iii) WAN — WANs (Wide Area Network) connect computers across countries, spanning large distances. They can link LANs from different locations, acting as a unified network for efficient, cost-effective and high speed information exchange.

Question 8

How is LAN different from WAN ?

Answer

Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN stands for Local Area Network.

LAN is spread over a small area of upto 1 km.

LAN usually costs less to set up.

LAN is usually a single network.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

WAN stands for Wide Area Network

WAN is spread over a very large area.

WAN costs higher to setup.

WAN is usually a network of many networks.

Question 9

Differentiate : Data, Information & Multimedia

Answer

Data — Data is raw, unprocessed facts and figures. For example, consider the digits — 4, 8, 12. These are data.

Information — Information refers to processed data which is conveying some meaning as per context. For example, 4 + 8 = 12 is information as it conveys a clear meaning.

Multimedia — Multimedia refers to usage of many types of media like text, photographs, graphics, video and audio at the same time.

Question 10

What do you understand by the terms WiFi and Bluetooth ?

Answer

WIFI — Wi-Fi refers to Wireless Fidelity, which lets us connect to the Internet without a direct line from our PC to the ISP.

Bluetooth — Bluetooth is a telecommunications industry specification that describes how mobile phones, computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be easily interconnected using a short-range wireless connection.

Question 11

What are guided and unguided media ?

Answer

Guided media — The communication media used for wired connection are called guided media. For example, twisted pair cables, coaxial cables etc.

Unguided media — The communication media used for wireless connection are called unguided media. For example, radio waves, microwaves, satellites etc.

Question 12

What is cloud computing ?

Answer

Cloud computing refers to storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of the computer's hard drive.

Question 13

How are private clouds different from public clouds ?

Answer

Private clouds

A private cloud consists of computing resources used and exclusively owned by one business or organization.

Private cloud resides on company's intranet or hosted data center where all the data is protected behind a firewall.

Private clouds are often used by government agencies, financial institutions, any other mid to large-size organizations with business-critical operations seeking enhanced control over their environment.

Public clouds

Public cloud refers to a common cloud service made available to multiple subscribers.

In public cloud, the same hardware, storage, and network devices are shared among the cloud tenants.

Public cloud deployments are frequently used to provide web-based email, online office applications, storage, and testing and development environments.