Quickdev, an IT based firm, located in Delhi is planning to set up a network for its four branches within a ci

Question 42 of 50

Q. Quickdev, an IT based firm, located in Delhi is planning to set up a network for its four branches within a city with its Marketing department in Kanpur. As a network professional, give solutions to the questions

(i) to (v), after going through the branches locations and other details which are given below: DELHI BRANCH: Branch A, Branch B, Branch C, Branch D KANPUR BRANCH: Marketing Dep. Distance between various branches is as follows: Branch A to Branch B 40 m Branch A to Branch C 80 m Branch A to Branch D 65 m Branch B to Branch C 30 m Branch B to Branch D 35 m Branch C to Branch D 15 m Delhi Branch to Kanpur 300 km Number of computers in each of the branches: Branch A 15 Branch B 25 Branch C 40 Branch D 115

(i) Suggest the most suitable place to install the server for the Delhi branch with a suitable reason.

(ii) Suggest an ideal layout for connecting all these branches within Delhi.

(iii) Which devices will you suggest, that should be placed in each of these branches to efficiently connect all the computers within these branches?

(iv) Delhi firm is planning to connect to its Marketing department in Kanpur which is approximately 300 km away. Which type of network out of LAN, WAN or MAN will be formed? Justify your answer.

(v) Suggest a protocol that shall be needed to provide help for transferring of files between Delhi and Kanpur branch.

Puducherry TnboardCBSE Class XII Board 2023Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Network Configuration

Network Definition: A First Look

Think about the last time you called a friend, sent a WhatsApp message, or even just walked into a crowded room. In each case, you were part of a network — a structure of connections. The phone call connects two people; the WhatsApp group connects many; the room connects everyone in it through sight and sound. A network is simply any collection of nodes (the things being connected) and the links (the connections between them).

In everyday life, you already know dozens of networks. Your family is a network of people connected by blood or marriage. Your school is a network of students, teachers, and staff connected by classes and activities. The roads you travel form a network of intersections and highways. Even your own body has a network of blood vessels and nerves. The idea is so natural that you have been using it your whole life without giving it a name.

The Precise Meaning

Formally, a network is defined by two things:

Nodes (also called vertices): the individual units or points in the system. In a friendship network, each person is a node. In a transport network, each city or bus stop is a node.
Links (also called edges or connections): the relationships or pathways that join nodes together. A link exists between two nodes if they are directly connected — two friends who know each other, two cities with a direct flight, two computers that can exchange data.

The key insight is that a network is not just a random collection of connections. It has a structure — a pattern of who is connected to whom — and that structure determines how the network behaves. A tightly-knit group of friends behaves differently from a loose chain of acquaintances, even if both have the same number of people.

Note

In some subjects, you will hear the word graph used instead of network. They mean the same thing: nodes and links. "Graph theory" is the mathematical study of networks, but in a prose subject like commerce or humanities, we stick with the term network.

Why It Matters

Networks are everywhere, and understanding them changes how you see the world. Consider a few examples:

Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) are built on the idea that people are nodes and "friendship" or "follow" is a link. The structure of these networks determines how information spreads, how trends go viral, and how influence works.
Supply chains are networks of companies, factories, warehouses, and stores connected by the flow of goods. A disruption at one node — a factory fire, a port strike — can ripple through the entire network.
Communication networks (the internet, telephone systems) are networks of devices and transmission lines. The design of these networks determines whether your call drops or your video streams smoothly. …

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The server for the Delhi branch should be placed at Branch D because it has the highest number of computers (115) and is centrally located with the shortest average distance to other branches. The ideal layout is a star topology with Branch D as the hub. Each branch needs a switch to connect its computers internally. The network between Delhi and Kanpur is a WAN (Wide Area Network) because the distance is 300 km. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the suitable protocol for file transfers between the two cities.

Let’s walk through this network design problem step by step, keeping in mind the practical constraints of an IT firm setting up a multi-branch network.

Setting the scene – Quickdev has four branches in Delhi (A, B, C, D) and a separate Marketing department in Kanpur, 300 km away. The goal is to connect all computers efficiently, both within Delhi and across cities. The distances between Delhi branches are small (15 m to 80 m), while the Kanpur link is a long-haul connection. The number of computers varies significantly: Branch D has 115 computers, which is nearly as many as the other three branches combined (15+25+40 = 80). This imbalance is a key factor in server placement.

(i) Where should the server be installed in Delhi?

The server is the heart of the network – it stores data, runs applications, and manages user requests. Placing it optimally reduces cable costs, improves response times, and simplifies maintenance.

Branch D is the best choice. Here’s why:

Highest number of computers (115): The server should be close to the largest concentration of users to minimise network traffic and latency. If the server were at Branch A (15 computers), every request from Branch D’s 115 computers would have to travel across the network, creating congestion. Placing it at Branch D means the majority of users get near-instant access.
Central location: Look at the distances: Branch D is 15 m from Branch C, 35 m from Branch B, and 65 m from Branch A. The average distance from D to other branches is (15+35+65)/3 ≈ 38.3 m. Compare this to Branch A, whose average distance to others is (40+80+65)/3 ≈ 61.7 m. Branch D is more centrally located, reducing cable lengths and signal degradation.
Scalability: With 115 computers, Branch D likely has the physical space and power infrastructure to host a server room. Adding more computers in the future would be easier if the server is already there.

Note

In a real-world scenario, you might also consider redundancy (e.g., a backup server at another branch), but the question asks for the most suitable single location. Branch D is the clear winner.

(ii) Ideal layout for connecting Delhi branches

The distances between branches are all under 100 m, which means we can use twisted pair Ethernet cables (Cat 5e or Cat 6) – these work reliably up to 100 m. The best topology for this setup is a star topology with Branch D as the central hub.

Why star topology?

Fault isolation: If a cable between Branch D and Branch A breaks, only Branch A is affected. The other branches continue working. In a bus or ring topology, a single break could bring down the entire network.
Easy troubleshooting: The central switch at Branch D can monitor traffic and pinpoint problems quickly.
Scalability: Adding a new branch is simple – just run a cable from the new branch to the central switch at D.
Cost-effective: Since all distances are short, the cable cost is low, and the central switch at D can handle all traffic.

Layout details:

Place a main switch at Branch D.
Run direct Ethernet cables from Branch D to each of the other branches (A, B, C). The longest cable is 65 m (to A), well within the 100 m limit.
Each branch will have its own local switch (see part iii) to connect its internal computers.

Important

The star topology is the most reliable and manageable for a small campus network like this. Avoid daisy-chaining branches (e.g., A→B→C→D) because a failure at B would cut off A and C.

(iii) Devices needed in each branch

To connect all computers within a branch, you need a switch (or a hub, but switches are far superior). A switch is a networking device that forwards data only to the specific computer it is intended for, unlike a hub which broadcasts to all ports. This reduces unnecessary traffic and improves speed.

For each branch:

Branch A (15 computers): A 16-port or 24-port switch (to allow for future expansion).
Branch B (25 computers): A 24-port or 48-port switch.
Branch C (40 computers): A 48-port switch.
Branch D (115 computers): A 48-port switch plus additional switches (e.g., two 48-port switches stacked or a modular switch). Since 115 computers exceed the ports on a single typical switch, you’ll need multiple switches interconnected.

Additional device: At Branch D, you’ll also need a router to connect the Delhi network to the Kanpur branch (see part iv). The router will handle traffic between the two cities.

Note

A switch works at Layer 2 (Data Link layer) of the OSI model. For a small branch, an unmanaged switch is sufficient; for Branch D, a managed switch gives better control over traffic.

(iv) Type of network between Delhi and Kanpur …

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Q.Quickdev, an IT based firm, located in Delhi is planning to set up a network for its four branches within a city with its Marketing department in Kanpur. As a network professional, give solutions to the questions

(i) Where should the server be installed in Delhi?

(ii) Ideal layout for connecting Delhi branches

(iii) Devices needed in each branch

(iv) Type of network between Delhi and Kanpur …

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