Computer Networking Interview

Basic Networking Interview Questions with Answer

This tutorial provides basic networking interview questions with answers from following categories; basic networking, networking topology and networking media.

What is the computer network?

A computer network is basically a group of computers which are connected together to share information and save physical resources.

What is a host in computer network?

Any device which is connected to a computer network is considered as a host or a node. It can be a computer or a device with its own network card such as printer or router.

Which computers are known as client computer in network?

The computers which are used to access the resources from network are known as client computers. Client computers usually run desktop version of operating system.

What is the other name of client computers?

The client computers are also known as workstation.

Which computers are known as server computer in network?

The computers which provide shared resources to the network are known as server computers. Server computers usually run server version of operating system.

What is the NIC?

NIC stands for Network Interface Card. NIC is the device which connects computer with network.

Can a computer connect with network without NIC?

No, a computer cannot connect with network without NIC card.

What is the most basic use of Switch in computer network?

A Switch is used to connect the multiple computers together for example an 8 ports switch can connect 8 computers in a single network.

What term does Microsoft use for peer to peer network?

Before Windows 7, it was Workgroup. Form Windows 7 it is replaced with Homegroup.

How much computers we can add in a workgroup?

Theoretically we can add as much computers as we want in workgroup. But practically we should never add more than ten computers in a workgroup network.

What does the term driver refer in computer networking?

The driver is the software program which is written specifically for a particular hardware device such as NIC card, Audio card, Video card etc. This software allows that particular device to work with other parts of computer. Without appropriate driver a device will not work as expected.

What are the basic differences between Internet, Intranet and Extranet?

The terms Internet, Intranet and Extranet are used to describe how a network application should be accessed. In Internet anyone can access the application from anywhere in world. In Intranet only the authorized users from the company for which the application was built can access the application. In Extranet selected external users are allowed to access the application which was built for Internet.

What does the term topology defines in computer network?

A topology is the physical layout which defines how computers are connected with each other’s in a computer network.

Which topology uses a centralized device for connectivity?

Star topology uses a centralized device (HUB or Switch) for connectivity.

Which topology uses coaxial cable and terminators?

Bus topology uses coaxial cable and terminators.

A company has offices in Jaipur and Delhi. What type of computer network it will use to connect these offices?

WAN (Wide Area Network) network is used to connect the networks which are spread over the different geographical location.

Based on physical location what are the two most common network types?

LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the two most common network types.

Does number of computers matter in LAN and WAN?

No, number of computers does not matter in LAN and WAN. This categorization is purely based on geographical location of network. For example we may have 1000 computers connected together in a network. If this network is located in a building or a campus, it will be considered as a LAN network. Just like this, we may have a network of only two computers. If one computer is located in one city and other computer is located in another city then this network will be considered as a WAN network.

What is the difference between physical topology and logical topology?

A physical topology describes how computers are connected with each other’s physically. While a logical topology describes how data is being transmitted over the physical topology.

How will you consider a topology which uses HUB as a centralized device to connect all computers?

Physically it is a star topology but logically it is a bus topology. Since this topology satisfies the primary requirement of star topology, physically it can be considered as a star topology. But Hub cannot filter the data traffic, so all computers will receive data packets from all computers just like the bus topology. So physically it’s a star topology but logically it’s a bus topology.

What is the backbone network?

The network which connects two or more networks together is considered as a backbone network. Usually backbone network contains high speed data transferring devices such as routers and switches. Backbone network should never be used for end user connectivity. The network which provides end user connectivity should be connected through the backbone network.

What is daisy chaining technique and which topology uses this technique?

Star topology uses daisy chaining technique to extend the network. In this technique a hub or switch connects with another hub or switch just like a node of existing topology. Then this hub or switch can be used to connect the more devices in network.

How ring topology works?

In ring topology all computers connect in a circle. When a computer has some data for another computer, it puts that data packet in circle. Each computer looks at each packet to figure out whether the packet is intended for it or not. If packet is intended for it, it will pick up the packet from ring otherwise passes it to the next computer in the ring.

Is ring topology is still used in LAN network?

No, the ring topology is no more used in LAN network.

Which topology is used in modern LAN Network?

Star topology

What is the mesh topology and where it is used?

In mesh topology all devices are connect with all devices. For example to connect four computers in mesh topology we need 4 x 4 = 16 connections. Mesh topology is used in WAN network to build the alternative paths between networks.

What is the signal bouncing issue and how it can be solved?

Signal bouncing issue occurs in bus topology. Bus topology uses a coaxial cable to connect the computers. In this topology when computer sends signal, the signal travels in both directions from sending computer. When this signal reaches at the end of the cable, it bounces back and returns in the original direction. This is known as signal bouncing issue. To solve this issue we should use the terminator. Terminator absorbs the signals when they reach to it. This will prevent the signal bouncing issue.

What is main advantage of Bus topology?

Main advantage of Bus topology is the cost. This topology uses the lowest resources among the other available topologies. A coaxial cable, some connectors and terminators are only we need to build this topology.

What are the main disadvantages of Bus topology?

Main disadvantage of Bus topology are scalability, troubleshooting and length. A single break in main cable is enough to bring the entire network down. To add worse any loose terminator will also do the same job. Finding a loose terminator or break in the cable is the toughest task.