CompE 560: Spring 2009 : Exam 1

Maximum Points: 40

1) Calculate the latency (from first bit sent to last bit received) for the following: [5+5=10]
a) A 10-Mbps(Mega bits per second) Ethernet with a single store-and-forward switch in the
path, and a packet size of 5000 bits. Each link introduces a propagation delay of 10µs and
the switch begins retransmitting immediately after it has finished receiving the packet.
b) Same as (a) but assume the switch implements “cut-through” switching: it is able to begin
re-transmitting the packet after the first 200 bits have been received.
2) You measured “throughput” in your OPNET 1 assignment. How would you define throughput?
Was your throughput more, less or equal to the bandwidth of the channel? [2+2=4]
3) What is the difference between a packet switched and a circuit switched network? [2]
4) A client server communication is taking place over a trans-atlantic cable ‘y’ kms long. Given that
the network functions perfectly and the speed of propagation of electric signals through the
cable is ‘b’kms/sec, what is the earliest time in which a response could be received from the
server to a request put forth by the client? [4]
5) For a 7 layer network protocol stack with each layer generating a ‘h’ byte header and the
application layer generating a ‘M’ byte message – what is the total number of bytes that leave
the bottom-most layer? What fraction of that message comprises of overheads? [5]
6) What is the main purpose of using a layered architecture for our network protocol? [2]
7) How much time does it take to transmit each bit on a 10-Mbps network? [3]
8) Which of the layers handle the following tasks: [3]
(a) Routing - Network
(b) Reliable end-to-end data delivery - Transport
(c) Physical transmission of raw bits - Physical
9) DNS uses UDP instead of TCP – how is a lost packet issue resolved in this case? [2]
10) What is the main difference between SMTP and POP3? [2]
11) Can a computer have two DNS names that fall in different top-level domains? If yes, give an
example. [2]
12) What are cookies in the context of computer networks? [1]