CS3591 Computer Networks Previous Year Question Papers - Anna University

UNIT I: Introduction and Application Layer

Part A (2 Marks)

• Define a Computer Network and its components.
• What are the seven layers of the OSI model?.
• Differentiate between IMAP and POP protocols.
• Why is HTTP considered a stateless protocol?.

Part B (13/16 Marks)

• OSI Reference Model: Detailed explanation of all seven layers and their functions.
• TCP/IP Protocol Suite: Architecture and comparison with the OSI model.
• HTTP Protocol: Working mechanism, request/response messages, and persistent connections.
• Domain Name System (DNS): Hierarchy, name resolution process, and record types.
• Email Protocols: Detailed study of SMTP, POP3, and IMAP architecture.

UNIT II: Transport Layer

Part A (2 Marks)

• Difference between TCP and UDP.
• Define Congestion Control and Quality of Service (QoS).
• What is a socket address?.

Part B (13/16 Marks)

• TCP Connection Management: Three-way handshake for establishment and four-way for termination.
• TCP Congestion Control: Explanation of Slow Start, Congestion Avoidance, Fast Retransmit, and Fast Recovery.
• Congestion Avoidance Algorithms: Mechanisms like DECbit and Random Early Detection (RED).
• Reliable Data Transfer: Comparison of Go-Back-N and Selective Repeat ARQ protocols.

UNIT III: Network Layer

Part A (2 Marks)

• What is a subnetwork mask?.
• Define the purpose of ICMP and ARP protocols.
• What is tunneling in networking?.

Part B (13/16 Marks)

• IP Addressing: Detailed explanation of IPv4 addressing, subnetting, and supernetting.
• IPv6: Header format and transition mechanisms from IPv4 to IPv6.
• DHCP: The working process of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
• Packet Switching: Concepts and differences between datagram and virtual circuit switching.

UNIT IV: Routing

Part A (2 Marks)

• Define unicast and multicast routing.
• What is the count-to-infinity problem?

Part B (13/16 Marks)

• Distance Vector Routing (DVR): Working of the RIP protocol and the Bellman-Ford algorithm.
• Link State Routing: OSPF protocol and Dijkstra's algorithm for path selection.
• Inter-domain Routing: Detailed explanation of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).
• Multicast Routing: Concepts of DVMRP and PIM protocols.

UNIT V: Data Link and Physical Layers

Part A (2 Marks)

• Define Propagation Delay and Transmission Delay.
• What is Framing and what are its methods?.
• Difference between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA.

Part B (13/16 Marks)

• Error Control: Techniques for error detection and correction (CRC, Hamming Code, Parity).
• Ethernet Standards: Detailed look at IEEE 802.3 (Wired) and 802.11 (WLAN/Wi-Fi).
• Media Access Control: PPP and CSMA protocols.
• Transmission Media: Advantages and disadvantages of guided and unguided media.

Most Repeated / High-Weight Questions

OSI model layers and functions, TCP/IP architecture, routing algorithms (RIP, OSPF, BGP), congestion control mechanisms, error detection and correction techniques, IPv4/IPv6 addressing and subnetting.