
Chapter # 1
1. Why are protocols needed?
2. Why are standards needed?
3. Assume six devices are arranged in a mesh topology. How many cables are needed?
How many ports are needed for each device?
4. For each of the following four networks, calculate the number of cables and discuss the
consequences if a connection fails.
a. Five devices arranged in a mesh topology
b. Five devices arranged in a star topology (not counting the hub)
c. Five devices arranged in a bus topology
d. Five devices arranged in a ring topology
5. You have two computers connected by an Ethernet hub at home. Is this a LAN, a MAN, or
a WAN? Explain your reason.
6. Draw a hybrid topology with a star backbone and three ring networks.
7. Draw a hybrid topology with a ring backbone and two bus networks.
8. Performance is inversely related to delay. When you use the Internet, which of the
following applications are more sensitive to delay?
a. Sending an e-mail
b. Copying a file
c. Surfing the Internet
9. When a party makes a local telephone call to another party, is this a point-to-point or
multipoint connection? Explain your answer.
10. Compare the telephone network and the Internet. What are the similarities? What are
the differences?