MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION

1ST SEMESTER 2021/2022 ACADEMIC YEAR

DATE: DECEMBER 2021

COURSE CODE: IT301

COURSE TITLE: NETWORK ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

LECTURER NAME: DR. PROVEN-ADZRI

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

DURATION:3-HOURS

PART A

FOUR QUESTIONS ANSWER THREE

Question 1
A LAN, or local area network, is a great way to share files and devices between multiple
computers. If you have several computers in your office or home, setting up a network will
allow you to share an Internet connection, data, printers, and other devices between your
computers and organizations and individuals require an interconnection between devices.

a) Enlist at least 4 items you will need to set up a lan for your office (8 marks)

b) Describe in 8 steps how you would set up this lan for your office (16 marks)

c) How can you share a music folder with persons on the same lan (1 mark)

TOTAL[25]

1
Question 2
Standards and protocols are essential in networking and many other industries in creating and
maintaining an open and competitive market for equipment and manufactures. Standards
provide guidelines to manufacturers, vendors, government agencies and other service
providers to ensure the kind of interconnectivity necessary in today’s market place and in
international communication.
a) Describe three ways by which standards are established (6 marks)

b) Protocols are essential in data transfer. List three functions of protocols

(3 marks)

c) Enumerate 4 official standards used in networking (8 marks)

d) The TCP/IP protocol underpins the operation of the internet today. Explain 3 essential
requirements that make the TCP/IP popular (6 marks)

e) List at least 2 components of a packet (2 marks)

TOTAL[25)

Question 3
A collection of skills and experiences enable a network administrator to understand her
network and how effectively troubleshoot. For the following network challenges describe how
you can troubleshoot and solve to keep systems running.

a) about 90 % of the internet bundle on your network is being used by one user

b) duplicate IP address. When two devices attempt to share the same IP address with the
message “address already in use”

c) IP address exhaustion

d) the local network is unable to connect to the internet

e) a single computer not able to connect to the internet
f) unable to connect to a local printer share or file
g) slow internet connection

2
 TOTAL[25]

Question 4
To be a system administrator it is important to have a basic appreciation of the frailties and
procedures surrounding hardware, operating systems, file systems and the network setup of
your system.

a) in practical terms, describe how you need to handle these components of your system:
disks, memory chips, power cords, installing new hardware, inserting multi-pin connectors (10
marks)

b) another aspect of hardware is the extent to which weather and environment are important
for operation. Describe how you as a system administrator, would have to deal with the
following environmental variables: lightning, power, heat, cold, humidity (10 marks)

c) all modern computers are based on the Eckert- Mauchly- von Neumann architecture. List 5
components of the modern computer (5 marks

TOTAL[25]

PART B

TWO QUESTIONS ANSWER ALL

Question 1
A startup company hires you to setup the computing network for them. Several lan cables of
differing lengths are required to connect the devices. The company is ready to procure the
items needed to terminate your own network cables instead of going to get them off the shelf.

a) Identify the essential equipment or materials you will need (3 marks)

b) Which network cable types would you make (2 marks)

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 c) Describe how you will make a straight through cable of 12 meters. (18 marks)
d) What is the color code of a straight through cable (2 marks)

TOTAL[25]

Question 2
Analysts have differing school of thoughts about whether system administration is
management or purely just an engineering discipline.

a) Discuss your position on whether its management or engineering (7 marks)

b) As a newly employed system administrator for IBX Labs, you will need to convince
your Company’s Board on the need to invest in quality network infrastructure. Explain to the
Board the three mega principles why they should do such a network infrastructure. (8
marks)

c) System administration is not just about installing operating systems. It is about

planning and
designing an efficient community of computers so that real users will be able to get their
jobs
done. Discuss Five challenges a system administrator faces (10 marks)

TOTAL [25]