Galaxy Provider Ltd. is planning to connect its office in Texas, USA with its branch at Mumbai. The Mumbai bra

Question 40 of 50

Q. Galaxy Provider Ltd. is planning to connect its office in Texas, USA with its branch at Mumbai. The Mumbai branch has 3 Offices in three blocks located at some distance from each other for different operations - ADMIN, SALES and ACCOUNTS. As a network consultant, you have to suggest the best network related solutions for the issues/problems raised in

(a) to (d), keeping in mind the distances between various locations and other given parameters. Shortest distances between various locations: ADMIN Block to SALES Block 300 m SALES Block to ACCOUNTS Block 175 m ADMIN Block to ACCOUNTS Block 350 m MUMBAI Branch to TEXAS Head Office 14000 km Number of Computers installed at various locations are as follows: ADMIN Block 255 ACCOUNTS Block 75 SALES Block 30 TEXAS Head Office 90

(a) It is observed that there is a huge data loss during the process of data transfer from one block to another. Suggest the most appropriate networking device out of the following, which needs to be placed along the path of the wire connecting one block office with another to refresh the signal and forward it ahead.

(i) MODEM

(ii) ETHERNET CARD

(iii) REPEATER

(iv) HUB

(b) Which hardware networking device out of the following, will you suggest to connect all the computers within each block?

(i) SWITCH

(ii) MODEM

(iii) REPEATER

(iv) ROUTER

(c) Which service/protocol out of the following will be most helpful to conduct live interactions of employees from Mumbai Branch and their counterparts in Texas?

(i) FTP

(ii) PPP

(iii) SMTP

(iv) VoIP

(d) Draw the cable layout (block to block) to efficiently connect the three offices of the Mumbai branch.

Odisha ChseCBSE Class XII Board 2022Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Network Devices

Network Definition: A First Look

Think about your phone. When you call a friend, send a WhatsApp message, or watch a YouTube video, your device isn't doing all the work alone. It is connected — to a tower, to a cable, to a server somewhere — and through that connection, it talks to other devices. That web of connections is a network.

At its simplest, a network is just two or more devices linked together so they can share something. That "something" could be data (a photo), a resource (a printer), or a service (internet access). The key idea is connection and sharing.

The Precise Meaning

In formal terms, as the NCERT textbook defines it, a computer network is an interconnection of two or more computers (or devices) that enables them to exchange information and share resources.

Let's break that down:

Interconnection — The devices are physically or wirelessly linked. This could be through cables (Ethernet), radio waves (Wi-Fi), or even satellite signals.
Two or more — A single computer is not a network. The moment you connect it to another device, you have a network.
Exchange information — This is the primary purpose. You send an email, download a file, or stream a movie. All of that is information moving across a network.
Share resources — This is the practical payoff. Instead of every computer needing its own printer, scanner, or internet connection, a network lets many devices use the same resource.

Note

A network does not require the internet. Two laptops connected directly with a cable form a network, even if neither has internet access. The internet is simply the largest, most famous network — a "network of networks."

Why Does This Matter?

Without networks, every computer would be an island. You would have to carry a USB drive everywhere to move a file. You could not check your bank balance from home. A classroom of 30 students would need 30 separate printers.

Networks solve three fundamental problems:

Distance — You can access data stored on the other side of the world in seconds.
Efficiency — Resources like printers, storage space, and software licenses can be used by many people, reducing cost.
Collaboration — Multiple people can work on the same document, play the same game, or attend the same video call.

A Simple Example …

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To address data loss between blocks, a Repeater is needed; for intra-block connections, a Switch is best; for live interactions between Mumbai and Texas, VoIP is the most suitable protocol; and the most efficient cable layout for the Mumbai branch connects ADMIN and ACCOUNTS to SALES (475 m total).

Galaxy Provider Ltd. faces a common challenge in modern business: establishing robust and efficient network connectivity across geographically dispersed locations and within its local branches. As a network consultant, the goal is to leverage appropriate networking devices and protocols to ensure seamless data flow, minimize loss, and facilitate effective communication, keeping in mind the distances and specific operational needs. This is a standard CBSE Class 12 Computer Science networking case study.

(a) Addressing Data Loss Between Blocks

When data signals travel over long distances through network cables, they naturally weaken or degrade due to a phenomenon called attenuation. This signal degradation can lead to errors and significant data loss, especially over distances like 175 m, 300 m, or 350 m, which are substantial for standard Ethernet cables without intervention. To combat this, a device is needed that can receive the weakened signal, regenerate it to its original strength, and then retransmit it further along the network path.

MODEM (Modulator-Demodulator): This device converts digital signals into analog signals for transmission over analog lines (like telephone lines) and vice-versa. It is used for connecting to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or external networks, not for refreshing signals within a local network segment.
ETHERNET CARD (Network Interface Card - NIC): This is a hardware component in a computer that allows it to connect to a network. It enables communication but does not regenerate signals for extended distances.
REPEATER: A repeater operates at the physical layer of the network model. Its sole purpose is to receive a signal, amplify or regenerate it, and then retransmit it. This effectively extends the maximum length of a network segment by overcoming signal attenuation, thereby preventing data loss over longer cable runs.
HUB: A hub connects multiple network devices and broadcasts incoming data to all connected ports. While it does "repeat" the signal to all ports, it does not regenerate or clean up a degraded signal in the same way a dedicated repeater does to extend network segment length and combat attenuation-induced data loss. Its primary function is simple multi-port connectivity, not signal regeneration for distance.

Given the observation of "huge data loss during the process of data transfer from one block to another" and the need to "refresh the signal and forward it ahead," the most appropriate device is a Repeater.

Important

A Repeater is crucial for extending the physical reach of a network by regenerating attenuated signals, preventing data loss over longer cable distances.

(b) Connecting Computers Within Each Block

Within each block (ADMIN, SALES, ACCOUNTS), there are multiple computers that need to communicate with each other locally. The objective is to connect these computers efficiently, allowing them to share resources and data within their respective local area networks (LANs).

SWITCH: A switch is an intelligent networking device that operates at the data link layer. It connects multiple devices within a LAN and forwards data packets only to the specific device for which they are intended, based on their MAC addresses. This directed communication makes switches highly efficient, reducing network congestion and improving performance compared to hubs.
MODEM: As discussed, a modem is for connecting to external networks, not for connecting multiple computers within a local block.
REPEATER: A repeater extends network segment length by regenerating signals. It is not designed for connecting multiple end-user devices within a local network segment.
ROUTER: A router connects different networks (e.g., a local network to the internet, or two different LANs). While it can have multiple ports, its primary function is routing traffic between distinct networks, not efficiently connecting all computers within a single local block for internal communication.

To connect all computers within each block efficiently, a Switch is the most suitable hardware networking device.

Note

Switches provide dedicated bandwidth to each connected device, significantly improving network performance within a local area network compared to older devices like hubs.

(c) Live Interactions Between Mumbai and Texas

For employees in the Mumbai branch to conduct live interactions (such as voice calls or video conferences) with their counterparts in the Texas Head Office, a service or protocol that supports real-time, interactive communication over the internet is required.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): This protocol is used for transferring files between computers on a network. It is not designed for real-time, interactive communication.
PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol): This is a data link layer protocol used to establish a direct connection between two networking nodes. It is commonly used for dial-up internet access or broadband connections but does not inherently provide a service for live interaction itself.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): This protocol is used for sending and receiving email messages. It is an asynchronous communication method and not suitable for live interactions. …

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(a) Addressing Data Loss Between Blocks

(b) Connecting Computers Within Each Block

(c) Live Interactions Between Mumbai and Texas

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