MODULE IIIDATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING JULY 2022

THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
MODULE III
DATA COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING
Time: 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
This paper consists of EIGHT questions.
Answer FIVE of the EIGHT questions in the spaces provided.
Candidates should answer the questions in English.

This paper consists of 6 printed pages.
Candidates should check the question paper to ensure that all the pages are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.

© 2024 The Kenya National Examinations Council

QUESTION 1

  1. Explain two factors that should be considered when selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP), other than cost. (4 marks)
    • Reliability: The ISP should have a stable connection with minimal downtime.
    • Bandwidth: The ISP should offer adequate bandwidth to meet the user’s needs.
  2. Outline four limitations of e-learning platforms. (4 marks)
    • Requires internet access, which may not be available in all areas.
    • Lack of face-to-face interaction can hinder the learning experience.
    • Potential distractions from home environments.
    • Technical issues such as software incompatibilities or platform downtimes.
  3. Paul was required to design a computer network for a client. Outline four factors he should consider to ensure the network design meets the client’s needs. (4 marks)
    • Scalability: Ensuring the network can grow with the client’s future needs.
    • Security: Implementing robust security measures to protect data.
    • Performance: Ensuring the network supports the required speed and bandwidth.
    • Cost: Balancing cost-effectiveness with the necessary features.
  4. Differentiate between 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi frequency bands. (4 marks)
    • 2.4 GHz: Offers a longer range but lower data speeds, and is more prone to interference.
    • 5.0 GHz: Provides higher data speeds with less interference but has a shorter range.
  5. Network neutralization is used in data communications. Explain. (4 marks)
    • Network neutralization refers to the principle that ISPs must treat all data on the internet equally, without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.
  6. Explain three benefits of client-server computing. (6 marks)
    • Centralized Management: Easier to manage resources and security.
    • Scalability: Can handle increased load by adding more servers.
    • Resource Sharing: Clients can share resources like files and printers efficiently.
  7. Outline three characteristics of client-server computing. (3 marks)
    • Dedicated Servers: Specific machines handle server functions.
    • Client Requests: Clients request services from servers.
    • Centralized Control: Server manages data and applications centrally.
  8. Distinguish between managed and unmanaged network switches. (4 marks)
    • Managed Switches: Offer advanced features such as VLANs, and SNMP, and allow network monitoring and configuration.
    • Unmanaged Switches: Provide basic plug-and-play functionality with no customization or management options.

QUESTION 2

  1. Outline three challenges of broadband communications. (3 marks)
    • Interference: Signal interference can disrupt communication.
    • Cost: Installation and maintenance can be expensive.
    • Bandwidth Limitation: High demand can lead to congestion and reduced speeds.
  2. Patrick was required to troubleshoot a network interface card that was not working. Outline four procedures he should follow. (4 marks)
    • Check the physical connection: Ensure the card is properly seated in the slot.
    • Update or reinstall drivers: Install the latest drivers for the network card.
    • Test with another port: Switch to a different port to rule out a port issue.
    • Use diagnostic tools: Run network diagnostics to identify issues.
  3. During the installation of a computer star topology network, several components were considered. Describe the steps considered. (4 marks)
    • Select a central hub or switch.
    • Lay out the cables from the hub to each connected device.
    • Connect the devices to the hub using the cables.
    • Configure the network settings on each device.

QUESTION 3

  1. Outline three characteristics of client-server computing. (3 marks)
    • Centralized management.
    • Scalability.
    • Resource sharing.
  2. Distinguish between a personal area network (PAN) and a wide area network (WAN). (4 marks)
    • PAN: A small network typically within a range of a few meters, used for connecting personal devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
    • WAN: A vast network that covers a broad geographical area, connecting multiple smaller networks, such as the internet.
  3. During installation, a network engineer was required to install FTP server software. Outline four considerations for securing the FTP service. (4 marks)
    • Use secure FTP (SFTP) instead of regular FTP.
    • Implement strong passwords for user accounts.
    • Restrict access to the FTP server by IP address.
    • Enable encryption for data transmission.

QUESTION 4

  1. Identify two factors that could lead to a malfunction in the ISDN in WAN communications. (4 marks)
    • Line noise or poor signal quality.
    • Incompatible or outdated equipment.
  2. Distinguish between half-duplex and full-duplex data transmission modes. (4 marks)
    • Half-Duplex: Data transmission can occur in both directions but not simultaneously.
    • Full-Duplex: Data transmission can occur in both directions simultaneously.

QUESTION 5

  1. Describe the parts labeled (i), (ii), and (iii) in the figure below. (6 marks)
    • (i) Connector: A device that links two networks or devices.
    • (ii) Cable: The medium through which data is transmitted.
    • (iii) Jacket: The protective covering of the cable.
  2. Explain the three types of multiplexing techniques that can be used in data communications. (6 marks)
    • Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM): Multiple signals are transmitted simultaneously on different frequencies.
    • Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM): Multiple signals are transmitted at different times on the same channel.
    • Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM): Multiple optical signals are transmitted simultaneously on different wavelengths.

QUESTION 6

  1. Outline three challenges of wireless communications in WAN. (3 marks)
    • Signal Interference: Interference from other wireless devices can affect communication quality.
    • Limited Range: Wireless signals have a limited effective range.
    • Security Risks: Wireless communications are more susceptible to security breaches.
  2. Differentiate between a switch and a router in data communication. (4 marks)
    • Switch: Operates at the data link layer to connect devices within a local area network (LAN).
    • Router: Operates at the network layer to route data between different networks.
  3. Explain the importance of using encryption in data communications. (4 marks)
    • Data Protection: Protects data from unauthorized access.
    • Confidentiality: Ensures that only the intended recipient can read the data.
    • Integrity: Prevents data from being altered during transmission.

QUESTION 7

  1. Outline four types of transmission media used in networking. (4 marks)
    • Twisted Pair Cable: Commonly used in telephone networks.
    • Coaxial Cable: Used for cable television systems.
    • Fiber Optic Cable: Transmits data as light pulses, providing high-speed data transfer.
    • Wireless Transmission: Uses radio waves or microwaves to transmit data.
  2. Differentiate between static IP and dynamic IP addressing. (4 marks)
    • Static IP Address: Manually assigned, does not change over time.
    • Dynamic IP Address: Automatically assigned by DHCP, can change over time.

QUESTION 8

  1. Explain three functions of the transport layer in the OSI Model. (6 marks)
    • Segmentation: Divides large messages into smaller segments for transmission.
    • Flow Control: Manages the pace of data transmission to prevent congestion.
    • Error Control: Detects and corrects errors during data transmission.
  2. Mark, a network engineer, was required to set up TCP connections for a new network. Outline three steps he should follow. (6 marks)
    • Establish a connection using the three-way handshake.
    • Data transfer: Ensure reliable delivery of packets.
    • Connection termination: Properly close the connection to free resources.

END OF QUESTIONS

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