ASIGNMENT 1.

1.Advanteges of packed switching compared to circuit switching

 Efficiency
Packet switching is more efficient than circuit switching because it doesn't require reserving
circuits constantly. This means that network bandwidth isn't wasted.
 Reliability
Packet switching is better at handling network errors than circuit switching. Packet switching can
reroute data around damaged or congested nodes, so data isn't lost if one path fails.
 Cost
Packet switching is more cost-effective than circuit switching because it doesn't require a
dedicated channel for data or voice traffic.
 Speed
Packet switching generally offers minimal latency and optimal transmission speed compared to
circuit switching.
 Fault tolerance
Packet switching allows for the rerouting of packets if there are network issues or partial
outages.
 Billing
Packet switching often bills only on the duration of connectivity, while circuit switching bills on
the duration of the connection and distance.
 Access
Packet switching allows information to be accessed on multiple computers, while circuit
switching can only share data between two computers.
2.What are some of the factors that determine weather a communication system is a LAN or WAN ?
 Distance: LAN devices are close together, while WAN devices can be spread out over a larger area.

 Number of users: LANs support fewer users than WANs, which can lead to less congestion.

 Propagation delay: The time it takes for a signal to travel between devices in a network. LANs have a lower
propagation delay than WANs.

 Data transfer rate: LANs have a higher data transfer rate than WANs.

 Connection type: WAN connections often use public internet infrastructure, which can lead to congestion, errors,
and delays. Private leased lines can be faster, but they are more expensive to install.
3.Outline the distinctions between LAN and WAN
 Cost: LANs are typically less expensive to set up and maintain than WANs.
 Speed: WANs are usually slower than LANs, with a typical speed of 150 Mbp/s. Some
WANs can reach 1 Gigabit speeds, but this is not the norm.
 Transmission medium: LANs use coaxial or UTP cable, while WANs use PSTN or satellite
link.
 Devices: LANs use Layer 1 and Layer 2 devices, while WANs use Layer 3 devices such as
multi-layer switches and routers

4.Discuss circuit switching network

A circuit-switched network is a telecommunications network that establishes a dedicated
connection between two nodes before they can communicate. The connection, or "circuit", is
dedicated to the two nodes for the duration of their communication.
Here are some characteristics of circuit-switched networks:
 How it works
A circuit is established between the two nodes using intermediate switching centers. The sender
and receiver can transmit signals across the circuit to request and receive communication.
 When it's used
Circuit-switched networks were originally designed for voice transfer, such as in analog
telephone networks.
 How it compares to other networks
Circuit-switched networks contrast with packet-switched networks, which break communication
into packets and send them independently through the network.
 Advantages
Circuit-switched networks are very reliable.
 Disadvantages
Circuit-switched networks have some disadvantages, including:
 Limited use: They can only be used for voice communication.
 Inefficient: Bandwidth is wasted when a circuit is reserved even when it's not in
use.
  Inflexible: A dedicated channel can only be used for circuit-switched network
traffic.
 Higher cost: It costs more per use to dedicate a channel.
 Latency: There's extra time required to establish a connection before data is
5.Discuss the differences between wired and wireless networks in terms of speed ,reliability
and security.
 Speed
Wired networks are faster because they have a limited number of users and are less susceptible
to interference. Wired networks are often used for high-performance tasks like online gaming,
video streaming, and large file transfers.
 Reliability
Wired networks are more reliable because they use physical connections, which are less likely to
experience signal loss or interference.
 Security
Wired networks are more secure because they are harder to intercept than wireless
networks. Unauthorized users can't connect to a wired network unless they use an Ethernet
cable.

ASSIGNMENT 2
1. Explain the differences between unicast, multicast, and broadcast communication in
networks. Provide an example use case for each.

Unicast
A one-to-one communication method that sends data from a single source to a
single recipient. For example, sending a text message to a friend is a unicast
communication.
2. Multicast
A one-to-many communication method that sends data from a single source to
a specific group of recipients. For example, sending data to a group of online
gamers is a multicast communication.
3. Broadcast
 A one-to-all communication method that sends data from a single source to all
devices on a network. For example, a television network broadcasting live
content is a broadcast communication.

2.What is Quality of Service (QoS) in networking? Why is it important for real-time applications like
VoIP and video conferencing?

Quality of Service (QoS) is a network technology that prioritizes applications and

controls traffic to ensure performance. It's important for real-time applications like video
conferencing and VoIP because it reduces latency, jitter, and packet loss, which can
improve the performance of these applications.
3.Describe the three-way handshake process used in establishing a TCP connection. What
are the roles of each step?
The three-way handshake is a process that uses three messages to establish a Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP) connection between two computers:
1. 1. SYN
The client sends a SYN (synchronize) packet to the server to request a connection. The
packet includes an initial sequence number (ISN).
2. 2. SYN-ACK
The server responds with a SYN-ACK (synchronize-acknowledge) packet if it has open ports
available. The packet includes the server's SYN and the ACK number, which is the client's ISN
plus one.
3. 3. ACK
The client sends an ACK (acknowledge) packet to the server to confirm receipt of the SYN-
ACK packet. The packet value is the server's SYN plus one.
4. Explain the concept of Network Address Translation (NAT) and its role in network
security. How does NAT help with IPv4 address exhaustion?
Network Address Translation (NAT) is a technique that allows multiple devices on a
private network to share a single public IP address. This helps conserve the limited
number of IPv4 addresses and provides a layer of security for private networks.
Here's how NAT works:
 Translation: Before packets are forwarded between networks, NAT translates private IP
addresses into public IP addresses.
 Security: NAT hides the actual IP addresses of devices behind a single public IP address.
 Scalability: NAT has increased the scalability of the IPv4 addressing scheme.
NAT is often implemented at the WAN edge router to enable internet access for an entire
group of devices. The most common form of NAT is Port Address Translation (PAT),
 which allows multiple devices to share a single public IP address by assigning unique
port numbers to each session.
While NAT offers some hiding benefits, it's not a tool to secure your network. Firewalls
are crucial for real security.
5.Explain how CSMA/CD works in Ethernet networks

Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) is a network protocol that
regulates communication in Ethernet networks by preventing multiple devices from sending
data at the same time. CSMA/CD works by:
1. Carrier sense: A device listens to the network medium to see if it's idle.
2. Transmission: If the medium is idle, the device transmits data.
3. Collision detection: If another device starts transmitting at the same time, a collision
occurs.
4. Collision resolution: All devices stop transmitting, wait a random amount of time, and
then try to retransmit.