Computer Networks: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Question 1

In the OSI model, which layer is responsible for establishing and maintaining the physical connection between two devices?

Accepted Answer

Data Link Layer

Answer

Application Layer

Answer

Transport Layer

Answer

Network Layer

Question 2

Which protocol is primarily responsible for transmitting web pages over the internet?

Accepted Answer

HTTP

Answer

TCP

Answer

UDP

Answer

FTP

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of a router in a network?

Accepted Answer

To store and forward data packets between networks

Answer

To provide direct physical connections between devices

Answer

To translate domain names to IP addresses

Answer

To protect the network from unauthorized access

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a standard network topology type?

Accepted Answer

Linear

Answer

Bus

Answer

Ring

Answer

Star

Question 5

What is the primary function of a firewall in a network?

Accepted Answer

To control and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on specific rules

Answer

To improve network performance by optimizing data flow

Answer

To detect and block malware and other malicious activity

Answer

To provide a secure connection to remote networks

Question 6

Which type of network provides wireless connectivity for devices within a limited physical area?

Accepted Answer

WLAN

Answer

LAN

Answer

WAN

Answer

MAN

Question 7

What is the primary purpose of a subnet mask within an IP network?

Accepted Answer

To determine the range of IP addresses assigned to a particular subnet

Answer

To route traffic to the correct destination network

Answer

To enhance network security by restricting unauthorized access

Answer

To improve network performance by reducing data collisions

Question 8

Which of the following is a key advantage of utilizing a distributed network architecture?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced scalability and reliability through load balancing and fault tolerance

Answer

Reduced network traffic and congestion by optimizing data flow

Answer

Increased network security by centralizing security controls

Answer

Simplified network management by reducing the number of network devices

Question 9

What is the primary purpose of a load balancer in a network?

Accepted Answer

To distribute incoming network traffic across multiple servers or network resources

Answer

To improve network security by detecting and blocking malicious traffic

Answer

To detect and recover from network failures by providing redundancy

Answer

To provide a centralized point of access to network resources

Question 10

What is the key difference between circuit switching and packet switching in computer networks?

Accepted Answer

Circuit switching uses a dedicated connection, while packet switching sends data in separate packets.

Answer

Circuit switching is always faster than packet switching.

Answer

Packet switching is more reliable than circuit switching.

Answer

Circuit switching is only for local area networks (LANs), and packet switching is only for wide area networks (WANs).

Question 11

Which network architecture is not commonly used?

Accepted Answer

Bus

Answer

Client-Server

Answer

Peer-to-Peer

Answer

Mesh

Question 12

Identify the device's primary responsibility for directing data packets between different networks.

Accepted Answer

Router

Answer

Switch

Answer

Hub

Answer

Modem

Question 13

Which network topology features a central node connected to all other nodes?

Accepted Answer

Star

Answer

Bus

Answer

Ring

Answer

Mesh

Question 14

Indicate the primary purpose of a subnet mask.

Accepted Answer

Identifying the range of valid IP addresses within a subnet

Answer

Determining the network address

Answer

Determining the broadcast address

Answer

Establishing a default gateway for the network

Question 15

Which of the listed items is not considered a layer in the OSI model?

Accepted Answer

Packet

Answer

Application

Answer

Presentation

Answer

Session

Question 16

State the primary function of the domain name system (DNS).

Accepted Answer

Translating domain names into IP addresses

Answer

Providing email services

Answer

Storing website content

Answer

Defending against cyberattacks

Question 17

As computer networks become more common, what are the ethical and social responsibilities that come with their widespread use?

Accepted Answer

Protecting data security and privacy to keep people safe from cyber threats

Accepted Answer

Making sure everyone has fair access to technology to close the digital gap

Accepted Answer

Reducing the environmental impact by using less energy and creating less electronic waste

Answer

Taking advantage of network weaknesses for personal or financial gain

Question 18

Which metric is not typically used to assess network performance?

Accepted Answer

User Satisfaction

Answer

Bandwidth

Answer

Latency

Answer

Packet Loss

Question 19

What is the primary purpose of a MAC address?

Accepted Answer

To uniquely identify a device on a network

Answer

To translate domain names into IP addresses

Answer

To provide a path for data transmission

Answer

To determine the network topology

Question 20

In which network topology are all devices connected to a central hub?

Accepted Answer

Star

Answer

Mesh

Answer

Bus

Answer

Ring

Question 21

What is the primary function of a router in a network?

Accepted Answer

To forward data packets between different networks

Answer

To store network configuration information

Answer

To provide connectivity to the Internet

Answer

To translate IP addresses to hostnames

Question 22

What is the primary purpose of a firewall?

Accepted Answer

To protect a network from unauthorized access

Answer

To improve network performance

Answer

To translate IP addresses to hostnames

Answer

To detect and block malware

Question 23

What is the key difference between a TCP connection and a UDP connection?

Accepted Answer

TCP is connection-oriented and reliable, while UDP is connectionless and unreliable

Answer

TCP is used for file transfers, while UDP is used for real-time applications

Answer

TCP uses a three-way handshake, while UDP uses a two-way handshake

Question 24

What is a primary advantage of using a network management system (NMS)?

Accepted Answer

Centralized monitoring and control of network devices

Answer

Improved network performance

Answer

Reduced network security risks

Question 25

What is the main purpose of a domain name system (DNS)?

Accepted Answer

To translate domain names into IP addresses

Answer

To store network configuration information

Answer

To provide secure communication channels

Answer

To detect and block malware

Question 26

In the TCP/IP model, which layer is responsible for routing packets and determining the best path for data transmission?

Accepted Answer

Network Layer

Answer

Data Link Layer

Answer

Transport Layer

Answer

Application Layer

Question 27

What is the primary purpose of a MAC address in a network?

Accepted Answer

To uniquely identify each device connected to the network

Answer

To provide error correction for data transmission

Answer

To assign IP addresses to devices

Answer

To establish connections between devices

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a commonly used network topology?

Accepted Answer

Radial Network

Answer

Star Network

Answer

Bus Network

Answer

Ring Network

Question 29

What is the primary function of a firewall in a computer network?

Accepted Answer

To protect the network from unauthorized access and malicious attacks

Answer

To store and manage network data

Answer

To route traffic between different networks

Answer

To encrypt data during transmission

Question 30

Identify the main difference between a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN).

Accepted Answer

LANs are typically smaller, faster, and have shorter distances between connected devices compared to WANs.

Answer

WANs are primarily used for home networks while LANs are for business networks.

Answer

LANs have lower bandwidth than WANs.

Answer

LANs use wired connections while WANs use wireless connections.

Question 31

Which networking protocol is specifically designed for transferring files over a network?

Accepted Answer

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Answer

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

Answer

DNS (Domain Name System)

Answer

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

Question 32

What is the purpose of using a subnet mask in a network?

Accepted Answer

To divide a network into smaller, manageable subnetworks, enabling more efficient network management and resource allocation.

Answer

To enhance network performance by reducing traffic congestion

Answer

To assign IP addresses to individual devices on the network

Question 33

What is the primary responsibility of a router in a network?

Accepted Answer

To forward data packets between different networks, acting as a pathway for data transmission and communication.

Answer

To assign IP addresses to devices on the network

Answer

To provide internet access to connected devices

Answer

To store and manage network data

Question 34

Which layer of the TCP/IP model is responsible for routing and addressing packets to ensure their delivery across networks?

Accepted Answer

Network Layer

Answer

Application Layer

Answer

Transport Layer

Answer

Physical Layer

Question 35

What type of network topology features devices connected in a circular path, with each device linked to two adjacent devices?

Accepted Answer

Ring Topology

Answer

Mesh Topology

Answer

Bus Topology

Answer

Star Topology

Question 36

Which protocol plays a critical role in converting domain names, such as 'www.example.com,' into the corresponding numerical IP addresses?

Accepted Answer

DNS (Domain Name System)

Answer

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Answer

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

Answer

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of a firewall within a computer network?

Accepted Answer

To monitor and control network traffic, preventing unauthorized access and malicious activity.

Answer

To allocate IP addresses and manage network configurations.

Answer

To facilitate file sharing and data transfer between devices.

Answer

To translate network protocols and ensure compatibility.

Question 38

What is the key function of a subnet mask in an IP address?

Accepted Answer

To define the network and subnet portions of the address, enabling efficient routing and network segmentation.

Answer

To assign unique identifiers to individual devices on the network.

Answer

To specify the default gateway for the network.

Answer

To provide information about the transport protocol being used.

Question 39

Which type of routing algorithm employs a table that records the distance or cost to reach various network destinations?

Accepted Answer

Distance Vector Routing

Answer

Hierarchical Routing

Answer

Policy-Based Routing

Answer

Link State Routing

Question 40

What is the primary responsibility of the Transport Layer in the TCP/IP model?

Accepted Answer

To establish and manage connections between hosts, ensuring reliable and efficient data transfer.

Answer

To provide error correction and flow control mechanisms.

Answer

To route and forward data packets through the network.

Answer

To perform encryption and decryption for secure communication.

Question 41

What is the term for a set of rules and procedures that define how devices communicate and exchange data over a network?

Accepted Answer

Protocol

Answer

Topology

Answer

Algorithm

Question 42

In the TCP/IP model, which layer is responsible for routing data packets across different networks?

Accepted Answer

Network Layer

Answer

Transport Layer

Answer

Application Layer

Answer

Physical Layer

Question 43

Which network topology involves connecting all devices directly to a central hub or switch?

Accepted Answer

Star Topology

Answer

Mesh Topology

Answer

Ring Topology

Answer

Bus Topology

Question 44

For secure web browsing, which port number is typically used?

Accepted Answer

HTTPS (443)

Answer

FTP (21)

Answer

HTTP (80)

Answer

SSH (22)

Question 45

In a network, what is the primary function of a MAC address?

Accepted Answer

Identifying a specific device on the network

Answer

Providing network security

Answer

Storing data

Answer

Routing data packets

Question 46

Which of the following is a primary responsibility of a router in a network?

Accepted Answer

Connecting different networks

Answer

Hosting websites

Answer

Storing files

Answer

Executing applications

Question 47

In a client-server architecture, what is the key distinction between a client and a server?

Accepted Answer

The client requests services, while the server provides services.

Answer

The client is always connected to a server, while a server is not.

Answer

The client has a fixed IP address, while a server has a dynamic IP address.

Question 48

In a network, what is the primary purpose of a firewall?

Accepted Answer

Filtering network traffic and blocking unauthorized access

Answer

Connecting multiple networks

Answer

Hosting websites

Answer

Executing applications

Question 49

Which type of network cable is characterized by its ability to support high data transfer rates?

Accepted Answer

Fiber Optic

Answer

Twisted Pair

Answer

Ethernet

Answer

Coaxial

Question 50

What is the essential role of a DNS server in a network?

Accepted Answer

Translating domain names into their corresponding IP addresses

Answer

Executing applications

Answer

Hosting websites

Answer

Connecting different networks