Networking Interview Questions and Answers: A Comprehensive Guide
Networking Interview Questions And Answers Set – 2
Client-Server Architecture
What is meant by 3-Tier architecture?
In 3-tier Client/Server systems, the application logic (or process) resides in the middle tier, separate from the data and the user interface. This separation enhances scalability, robustness, and flexibility.
Example: TP monitor, Web.
What is meant by 2-Tier architecture?
In 2-tier Client/Server systems, the application logic is either embedded within the user interface on the client or within the database on the server.
Example: File servers and Database servers with stored procedures.
What is Load balancing?
Load balancing is a technique used in TP Monitors. If the number of incoming client requests exceeds the number of processes in a server class, the TP Monitor can dynamically start new ones to distribute the load and prevent overload.
What are called Fat clients and Fat servers?
Fat Clients: If the bulk of the application logic runs on the client-side, it is called a Fat client. This approach is often used for decision support and personal software.
Fat Servers: If the bulk of the application logic runs on the server-side, it is called a Fat server. This approach aims to minimize network traffic by creating more abstract levels of services.
What is meant by Horizontal scaling and Vertical scaling?
Horizontal Scaling: Adding or removing client workstations with minimal impact on performance.
Vertical Scaling: Migrating to a larger, faster server machine or implementing a multi-server setup.
What is a Groupware server?
Groupware servers facilitate the management of semi-structured information, such as text, images, email, and bulletin boards, and streamline workflow. These Client/Server systems enable direct communication and collaboration among users.
What are the two broad classes of middleware?
- General middleware
- Service-specific middleware
What are the types of Servers?
- File servers
- Database servers
- Transaction servers
- Groupware servers
- Object servers
- Web servers
What is a File server?
File servers enable file sharing across a network. Clients send requests for file records over the network to the file server, which then processes these requests.
What are the five major technologies used to create Client/Server applications?
- Database Servers
- TP Monitors
- Groupware
- Distributed Objects
- Intranets
What is Client/Server?
Client/Server refers to a model where clients and servers are distinct logical entities that interact over a network to perform tasks. Systems with diverse architectures that are interconnected can also be classified as Client/Server.
List out the benefits obtained by using the Client/Server oriented TP Monitors?
- Client/Server application development framework
- Enhanced security through firewalls
- High availability
- Load balancing
- MOM (Message Oriented Middleware) integration
- Scalability of functions
- Reduced system cost
Operating Systems and Databases
What are the services provided by the Operating System?
Extended services: Add-on, modular software components layered on top of base services.
What is the ACID property?
ACID, coined by Andrew Reuter in 1983, stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. It defines the properties of database transactions to ensure data integrity.
What are Stored procedures?
A stored procedure is a pre-compiled collection of SQL statements and procedural logic stored in a server database. It accepts input parameters, enabling multiple clients to use it with different data. This reduces network traffic and improves performance.
Network Security
What is the wide-mouth frog protocol?
The wide-mouth frog protocol is a simple key distribution center (KDC) authentication protocol.
Network Topology
What is passive topology?
In a passive topology, computers on the network only listen and receive signals without amplifying them. An example is a linear bus topology.
What is a region in hierarchical routing?
In hierarchical routing, routers are grouped into regions. Each router possesses detailed routing information for destinations within its region but limited knowledge about other regions.
What is a virtual channel?
A virtual channel, also known as a virtual circuit, typically represents a connection between a source and a destination. Multicast connections are also possible.
Network Communication
Difference between communication and transmission?
Transmission: The physical movement of information, dealing with aspects like bit polarity, synchronization, and clock signals.
Communication: The meaningful exchange of information between two communication entities.
What is the difference between TFTP and FTP application layer protocols?
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol): A simple protocol for transferring files between a local and a remote host. It uses UDP and lacks reliability and security features.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A standard TCP/IP protocol for secure and reliable file transfer between hosts. It uses two connections: one for data and another for control information.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the three types of routing tables?
The three types are fixed, dynamic, and fixed central.
Fixed: Requires manual updates for any changes, making it laborious.
Dynamic: Adapts based on network traffic, reducing manual maintenance but with less control over changes.
Fixed Central: A central table is maintained and read by other devices, simplifying updates but introducing a single point of failure.
What is Beaconing?
Beaconing is a self-repair mechanism used in Token Ring and FDDI networks. Stations notify others if they stop receiving transmissions, helping to isolate and potentially resolve network issues.
Network Protocols
What does the Mount protocol do?
The Mount protocol, upon a client’s request, provides the client with a file handle and the file system location of the requested file.
What are Digrams and Trigrams?
Digrams: The most frequent two-letter combinations in a language (e.g.,”th””i”).
Trigrams: The most frequent three-letter combinations (e.g.,”the””in”).
What is the HELLO protocol used for?
The HELLO protocol determines optimal routing based on time instead of distance. It serves as an alternative to the Routing Information Protocol (RIP).
What is the minimum and maximum length of the header in the TCP segment and IP datagram?
The header length in a TCP segment and IP datagram ranges from 20 to 60 bytes.
What do you mean by”triple ” in Networks?
What is attenuation?
Attenuation is the weakening of a signal as it travels over a network cable.
What is a Protocol Data Unit (PDU)?
A PDU is the data unit at the LLC (Logical Link Control) layer. It consists of fields like DSAP (Destination Service Access Point), SSAP (Source Service Access Point), control information, and data.
What are the data units at different layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite?
- Application Layer: Message
- Transport Layer: Segment or User Datagram
- Network Layer: Datagram
- Data Link Layer: Frame
- Physical Layer: Signals
What is the difference between ARP and RARP?
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol): Resolves an IP address (32-bit) to a physical address (48-bit).
RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol): Allows a host to determine its IP address when it knows only its physical address.
What is a MAC address?
A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface card (NIC). It operates at the Data Link Layer.
What is terminal emulation, and in which layer does it reside?
Terminal emulation, often using Telnet, allows a user to access and interact with a remote computer as if directly connected. It belongs to the Application Layer.
Transmission Media
What are the types of Transmission media?
Signals are usually transmitted over some transmission media that are broadly classified in to two categories:-
Guided Media:
These are those that provide a conduit from one device to another that include twisted-pair, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable. A signal traveling along any of these media is directed and is contained by the physical limits of the medium. Twisted-pair and coaxial cable use metallic that accept and transport signals in the form of electrical current. Optical fiber is a glass or plastic cable that accepts and transports signals in the form of light.
Unguided Media:
This is the wireless media that transport electromagnetic waves without using a physical conductor. Signals are broadcast either through air. This is done through radio communication, satellite communication and cellular telephony.
What are major types of networks and explain?
Server-based network.
Peer-to-peer network.
Peer-to-peer network, computers can act as both servers sharing resources and as clients using the resources.
Server-based networks provide centralized control of network resources and rely on server computers to provide security and network administration.