UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

October/November 2020

ICT1532
Network Technical Skills

100 Marks
Duration 4 Hours

EXAMINERS:
FIRST: Mr. EO Ochola
SECOND: Dr. CJ van Staden

This paper consists of 8 pages.

Instructions:

1 This exam paper consists of six sections (Sections A to F); you must answer all questions
in all sections.
2 Ensure that you provide VERY DETAILED (portfolio approach) answers for each question,
to be able to earn full marks per question. Pay attention to mark allocation per question.
3 Be reminded of the Honesty Declaration.
4 Do NOT password-protect your answers PDF file, since password-protected file cannot be
marked.
5 Virus infected file will not be marked, as it won't open for marking.
6 Upload the answers to the questions as one pdf file, before the end of the exam time.

GOOD LUCK!!

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ICT1532
October/November 2020

SECTION A COMMAND-LINE UTILITIES [10]

1. Complete Table 1 (Command-line utility column), in your answers sheet: (10)

Table 1: Command-line Utilities

No. Command-line utility function Command-line utility

e.g., A command-line utility used for checking the ping

reachability of a remote network host is called:

a. A network command-line utility in MS Windows that

tracks and displays the route taken by IPv4 packets on
their way to another host is known as: ________________________

b. A Linux command-line utility for displaying intermediary

points (routers) the IPv4 packet is passed through on its
way to another network node is called: ________________________

c. Which is the network administration command-line

utility that can be used for DNS queries?
________________________

d. What is the name of a Windows command-line utility

that can be used to display TCP/IP configuration
settings? ________________________

e. Which ipconfig parameter allows to view the physical

address of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
________________________

f. A command-line utility in MS Windows used for

displaying protocol statistics and current TCP/IP
network connections is known as: ________________________

g. Which of the netstat utility parameters allows to display

the contents of an IP routing table?
________________________

h. Which network command-line utility in MS Windows

combines the features of ping and tracert?
________________________

i. Which command-line command in MS Windows is used

to display the contents of a routing table?
________________________

j. Which command in MS Windows displays a table

consisting of IP addresses and their resolved physical
addresses? ________________________

Note: You can simply have the question number and the answer next to it, e.g., Q1.a – ping.

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ICT1532
October/November 2020
SECTION B: TROUBLESHOOTING - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES [20]
1. A network administrator is troubleshooting an issue with unstable wireless connections in a
residence hall. Users on the first and second floors report that the hall’s SSID is not visible in the
evenings. The network administrator has verified that the wireless system is operating normally.
What is the cause of the issue being reported by the users? (2)

2. A network technician has been tasked with connecting three 802.11a clients to an 802.11g
access point that is configured for WEP and is within a (9m) line of sight from the client. The
clients are unable to associate with the access point. What is MOST likely cause of this issue? (2)

3. A network technician has been dispatched to investigate sporadic network outages. After looking
at the event logs for the network equipment, the network technician finds that the network
equipment has been restarting at the same time every day. What should the technician deploy to
correct this issue? (2)

4. A client reports that half of the office is unable to access a shared printer on the network. What
should the network technician use to troubleshoot the issue? (2)

5. A facility would like to verify each individual's identity prior to allowing access to its server room
and datacenter. Additionally, the building should ensure that users do not tailgate behind other
users. What solution would BEST meet these requirements? (2)

6. A technician is called to investigate a connectivity issue to a remote office that is connected by

fiber optic cable. Using a light meter, it is determined that the Db loss is excessive. The
installation has been working for several years. The switch was recently moved to the other side
of the room and a new patch cable installed. What is most likely the reason for this problem? (2)

7. Two office buildings are connected via copper network cabling buried in the ground. During local
construction, the second building suffers a permanent network outage. What is the MOST likely
cause of the outage? (2)

8. A user reports slow computer performance. A technician troubleshooting the issue uses a
performance monitoring tool and receives the following results:

Avg % Processor Time =10%

Avg Pages/Second = 0

Avg Disk Queue Length = 3

Based on the results, what might be causing a bottleneck in performance? (2)

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9. A network administrator is following the best practices to implement firewalls, patch management,
and policies on his network. What should be performed to verify that the security controls are in
place? (2)

10. A network administrator is comparing several different wireless technologies. To calculate the
effective maximum file transfer rate instead of the theoretical, what should be measured? (2)

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October/November 2020
SECTION C: DATA COMMUNICATION [10]

1. Discuss the following common terms (terminologies) associated with data communication, in
networking: [10]
(a) Channel (2)
(Hint: Definition, description, examples)

(b) Data Transfer Rate (2)

(Hint: Definition, some commonly used data transfer rates)

(c) Bandwidth (2)

(Hint: Definition, units, factors affecting network’s bandwidth)

(d) Throughput (2)

(Hint: Definition, description)

(e) Protocol (2)

(Hint: Definition, some common protocols used over the Internet)

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October/November 2020
SECTION D: NETWORK DEVICES [24]
1. Hardware devices that are used to connect computers, printers, fax machines and other
electronic devices to a network are called network devices. These devices transfer data in a fast,
secure and correct way over same or different networks. Network devices may be inter-network or
intra-network. Some devices are installed on the device, like NIC card or RJ45 connector,
whereas some are part of the network, like router, switch, etc.
Discuss the following network devices: [24]
(a) Modem. (Hint: definition of modem, types of modem, use diagrams where possible).
(3)

(b) RJ45 Connector. (Hint: definition of RJ45, description including the cable used for Ethernet
LANs (3)

(c) Ethernet Card. (Hint: definition, description, diagram) (3)

(d) Router. (Hint: definition, description, diagram) (3)

(e) Routing Table. (Hint: definition/description of routing table, types of routing table) (3)

(f) Switch. (Hint: definition, description, diagram) (3)

(g) Gateway. (Hint: definition, description, diagram, difference from router) (3)

(h) Wi-Fi Card. (Hint: definition, description, uses, diagram) (3)

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SECTION E: TRANSMISSION MEDIA [24]
1. For any networking to be effective, raw stream of data is to be transported from one device to
other over some medium. Various transmission media can be used for transfer of data. These
transmission media may be of two types –
 Guided − In guided media, transmitted data travels through cabling system that has a
fixed path. For example, copper wires, fibre optic wires, etc.
 Unguided − In unguided media, transmitted data travels through free space in form of
electromagnetic signal. For example, radio waves, lasers, etc.
Each transmission media has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of bandwidth,
speed, delay, cost per bit, ease of installation and maintenance, etc.

Discuss the following most commonly used media in detail: [24]

(a) Twisted Pair Cable. (Hint: definition, description, diagrammatic illustration, advantages,
disadvantages) (4)

(b) Shielding twisted pair cable. (Hint: description) (4)

(c) Coaxial Cable. (Hint: definition, description, diagrammatic illustration, advantages,

disadvantages) (4)

(d) Optical Fibre. (description, diagram, advantages, disadvantages) (4)

(e) Infrared. (Hint: applications, description, Electromagnetic Spectrum diagram) (4)

(f) Radio Wave. (Hint: definition, description, advantages, disadvantages) (4)

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SECTION F: TYPES OF COMPUTER NETWORKS [12]

1 Infotech Pty company intends to setup its network in all their offices. The company’s ICT
department’s Infrastructure committee is divided as to whether they should install a Local Area
Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN) or both LAN and WAN. You have been approached
by the company as an ICT expert to give expertise advice on the way forward. In your contract
with the company, you are required to discuss in details, giving characteristics, advantages,
disadvantages, examples and differences of the following two types of computer networks. [12]
(a) Local Area Network (LAN) (6)
(b) Wide Area Network (WAN) (6)

Note: In your answers to this question, ensure that each section (1(a) & 1(b)) has the following:

- Introduction:- introduce computer networks

- Body:- discuss in details, giving characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, examples
and differences of the following two types of computer networks.
- Conclusion:- provide a concluding remark on area where the network under discussion
can be applied.

©
UNISA 2020

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