Networking Protocols and Functions Quiz

Data Representation

• User-defined data types are categorized as composite and non-composite
• Composite types include record data types, set data types, and classes
• Record data types consist of different data types and are used when multiple values need to be stored in a variable
• Set data types allow programs to create sets and apply mathematical operations. All elements in a set are unique
• Classes are used in object-oriented programming and include variables and functions

Non-Composite Data Types

• Enumerate data types define a list of possible values and allow comparisons between countable values
• Pointer data types relate to the type of variables using the syntax TYPE = ^<TYPE> and represent a pointer

File Organisation

• Serial files store data in a defined order, with new data added to the end, which may require going through every record
• Serial files are good for temporary storage and straightforward tasks
• Serial files are cost-effective but are difficult to access quickly
• Sequential files provide data integrity and less redundancy. New records are placed in the correct order, with key fields already ordered. Accessing the record is easier with binary search
• Sequential files are easier to access but still need to traverse every record
• Direct access files have an index of a key field to speed up access
• Binary files can be stored using hashing algorithms on a key field

File Types

• Text files, binary files, random files, and direct access files are examples of file types
• Random files store records randomly yet are accessed directly, using hashing algorithms on key fields

Floating Point

• Floating-point representation uses mantissa and exponent
• The leftmost bit in a mantissa represents negative or positive value
• The left side of the decimal represents the exponent which is either negative or positive
• The normalization involves shifting the decimal to the right or left to obtain 1.xxxxx form. Positive fractions start with .1 and negative with 1.0

Turning Fractions into Binary

• Fractions are converted to binary representation by multiplying the fraction by 2 repeatedly, taking the integer and the fractional part
• The integer part is the bit for the binary value.
• The fractional part is used in the next iteration

Why Data Stores in Normalized form?

• To store maximum range of numbers in minimum bits

Properties of Binary Representation

• Binary representation is an approximation to real numbers
• It is a fixed length representation, hence it cannot store very large numbers
• Binary representation can't exactly represent numbers like 0.2 or 0.4 due to bits being lost during rounding error if there is not enough bits

Overflow and Underflow

• Overflow occurs if the result is too large to be represented with the available bits
• Underflow occurs if the result is too small to represent with the available bits

OUTPUT

• Output values are represented by greater values, increasing the difference between the output result and the actual result
• The output amount is significant enough to be represented in binary

TCP/IP Protocols

• TCP/IP has four layers (Application, Transport, Internet, and Link) to transfer data between computers
• Application layer uses protocols like SMTP, POP3, IMAP, HTTP for tasks like email, web browsing, etc
• Transport layer protocols like TCP or UDP ensure reliable data transfer and control flow
• Internet layer protocols like IP provide logical addressing and routing
• Link layer manages the physical connection and transmission between devices on the network

Link Layer - Collision

• CSMA/CA and CSMA/CD are used to prevent data collisions when multiple devices transmit data on a network simultaneously
• CSMA/CA: Devices on a wireless network listen to the network before transmitting to prevent collisions by waiting a random amount of time before transmitting again.
• CSMA/CD: Devices on a wired network listen to the network during transmission. If a collision is detected, both devices stop transmitting and wait a random amount of time before resuming

HTTP, SMTP, POP3, IMAP, DNS, FTP, RIP, SNMP

• Protocols for transmitting data in network communications

Hardware Types

• CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) has a large number of complex instructions. Complex and lengthy instructions are used and execution takes longer compared to RISC processors
• RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) has a small number of simple instructions. Simple and short instructions are used, but the execution is faster compared to CISC processors

Pipelining

• By breaking down instructions into smaller steps and executing them concurrently through different stages of the pipeline, pipelining improves processing speed in RISC processors
• Difficulties arise when different instructions need different numbers of clock cycles in each step of the pipeline because some clock cycles may be idle between instruction processes
• Interrupt handling in a pipelined processor may affect the pipeline flushing.

Parallel Processing

• Parallel processing allows multiple calculations to occur simultaneously across processors (Single Instruction - Single Data (SISD), Single Instruction - Multiple Data (SIMD), Multiple Instruction - Single Data (MISD), Multiple Instruction - Multiple Data (MIMD))
• Methods of divide and conquer, assign work, and facilitate parallel processing are needed to efficiently handle massive calculations. Parallel processing is used for speed and scaling demands

Massively Parallel Computers

• Made up of many processors working together in a network structure
• Scalability allows for continuous expansion of processors
• Distributed memory provides efficient data sharing
• Suitable for complex calculations.

Virtual Machine

• Virtual machines are software emulations enabling multiple operating systems to run on a single computer.
• Provides flexibility in creating virtual servers and scaling infrastructure
• Allows multiple operating systems to run on one machine without impacting physical hardware
• Cons: Performance may be impacted due to extra software layers involved
• Sharing CPU, memory, or storage can cause performance issues

Differences Between RISC and CISC Processors

• RISC processors have fixed-length instructions and fewer instructions, use general registers, and have a simpler circuit and fewer addressing modes
• CISC processors have variable-length instructions and more instructions, use fewer general registers, and have a more complex circuit and more addressing modes

Pipelining in RISC Processors

• Instructions are divided into subtasks (IF, ID, OF, IE, WB)
• Each subtask is completed during a clock cycle
• Multiple instructions can execute concurrently by processing each instruction's subtasks during different clock cycles
• Differences in the number of clock cycles for each instruction step may cause idle periods

Massively Parallel Computing

• Large numbers of processors work together
• Communication between processors requires addressing
• Suitable algorithms for parallel processing are needed

Guest OS vs Host OS

• Guest OS run within a VM created and managed by the underlying host OS
• Host OS controls the physical hardware and manages resources for both itself and the guest OS
• Guest OS translates requests from applications into instructions to the host OS, utilizing the VM to facilitate the translations.

VM Roles

• VM creates and manages a virtual machine
• It facilitates the translation between instructions from a guest OS and the corresponding host OS instructions
• Provides a hardware emulation environment

Test your knowledge on various networking protocols and their functions with this quiz. From email sending protocols to the role of the Link Layer in communication, this quiz covers essential concepts in computer networking. Challenge yourself and see how well you understand the foundational elements of network communication.