IGNOU BCA BCS 41 Fundamentals of Computer Networks Solved Assignment ENGLISH

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BCS 041 (July 2026 - January 2027) - ENGLISH

Course Code : BCS-041
Course Title : Fundamentals of Computer Networks
Assignment Number : BCA (IV)/041/Assignment/2026-27
Maximum Marks : 100
Weightage : 25%
Last Date of Submission : 31st October, 2026 (for July 2026 Session)
: 30th April, 2027 (for January 2027 Session)
Note: This assignment consists of eight questions carrying 10 marks each (80 marks). The
remaining 20 marks are allotted for Viva-Voce. Illustrate your answers with suitable
diagrams wherever necessary.
Q1: 
A university campus has recently upgraded its network infrastructure by replacing copper cables with
optical fiber.
(a) Explain the working principle of optical fiber communication. Compare Step-Index Single Mode,
Step-Index Multimode, and Graded-Index Multimode optical fibers with respect to structure,
transmission characteristics, bandwidth, and applications. 
(b) Describe the TCP/IP reference model. Explain the responsibilities of each layer and identify two
protocols commonly associated with every layer. Also explain how encapsulation takes place while
sending data from an application to the physical network. 
Q2: 
(a) A company operates offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru using dynamic routing. Due to an
incorrect routing update, several routers continue forwarding packets along an invalid route. Explain
how such routing loops occur in Distance Vector Routing. Discuss the Count-to-Infinity problem
and explain any two techniques used to overcome it. 
(b) Explain the concept of Angle Modulation. Differentiate between Frequency Modulation (FM) and
Phase Modulation (PM). Discuss two practical applications and two limitations of angle
modulation techniques. 
Q3:
(a) A sender wants to transmit the binary data 
1101101010
using the generator polynomial
G(x) = x⁴ + x + 1
Calculate the CRC bits and determine the transmitted codeword. Show all intermediate binary
division steps.

BCS 041 (January 2026 - July 2026) - ENGLISH

Course Code

BCS-041

Course Title

Fundamentals of Computer Networks

Assignment Number

BCA_NEW(IV)/041/Assignment/2026

Maximum Marks

100

Weightage

25%

Last Date of Submission :

30th April, 2026 (for January Session) 31st October, 2026 (for July Session)

This assignment has eight questions for a total of 80 marks. Answer all the questions. Each question carries 10 marks. Rest 20 marks are for viva voce. You may use illustrations and diagrams to enhance explanations.

Question 1:

a) Explain the basic working principle of optical fiber communication. How does light propagation differ in various types of optical fibers?

b) Describe the TCP/IP reference model. Explain the responsibilities of each layer and mention at least two commonly used protocols associated with every layer.

Question 2:

a) What is meant by routing instability in computer networks? Explain how incorrect routing information can spread among routers with the help of an example.

b) Define modulation in data communication. Explain angle-based modulation techniques and discuss any two challenges associated with their use.

Question 3:

a) A data stream 10101101 is to be transmitted using CRC. The generator polynomial is x³ + x + 1. Calculate the CRC bits and write the final transmitted frame. Show all intermediate steps.

b) Explain the concept of a self-organizing wireless network. Why are such networks useful in situations where fixed infrastructure is unavailable?

Question 4:

a) What role does ICMP play in IP-based networks? Classify ICMP messages and explain their importance with suitable examples.

b) Define a Network Interface Card (NIC). Explain how modern NICs handle data transmission efficiently between memory and the network medium.

Question 5:

a) Explain the purpose of cryptographic hash functions. Describe the main stages involved in generating a message digest using a standard hashing algorithm.

 

BCS 41 2025 2026 - English

Course Code : BCS-041

Course Title : Fundamentals of Computer Networks

Assignment Number : BCA (IV)/041/Assignment/2025-26

Maximum Marks : 100

Weightage : 25%

Last Date of Submission : 31st October, 2025 (For July Session) 30th April, 2026 (For January Session)

Note: This assignment has eight questions for a total of 80 marks. Answer all the questions. Each question carries 10 marks. The rest 20 marks are for viva voce. You may use illustrations and diagrams to enhance explanations.

Q1. An organization is assigned a network block of 202.41.80.0/26. The administrator needs to further divide this block into smaller subnets.

(a) How many subnets can be created from this block if each new subnet requires at least 25 hosts?

(b) What will be the new subnet mask for these smaller subnets?

(c) For the first two of these new subnets, provide the:

(i) Subnet Address

(ii) Range of Usable Host IP Addresses

(iii) Broadcast Address

Q2. Imagine you open a web browser and type https://www.ignou.ac.in and press Enter. Trace the journey of this request from your computer to the IGNOU server. Explain the role of at least four different protocols (e.g., DNS, HTTP, TCP, IP) and how the TCP/IP layers on your machine (Application, Transport, Network, Data Link) encapsulate the data to make this happen.

Q3.a) A sender needs to transmit the data frame 10111001. The generator polynomial to be used for CRC is P(x) = x² + 1. Calculate the CRC checksum and determine the final codeword that will be transmitted. Show all steps of the binary division.

b) Why is CRC considered a more robust error detection mechanism compared to a two-dimensional parity check?

Q4. Differentiate between CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA based on the following criteria:

(a) Full Form and Primary Goal (Detecting vs. Avoiding Collisions).

(b) Typical Network Environment (Wired Ethernet vs. Wireless LAN).

(c) Mechanism (How it handles channel access and collisions).

(d) Acknowledgment (Whether acknowledgments are typically used).

Q5. Compare and contrast Distance-Vector and Link-State routing algorithms. Your answer should cover:

a) The information shared between routers (Routing table vs. Topology map).

b) The frequency and scope of updates.

c) Susceptibility to common problems like the "Count-to-Infinity" problem and slow convergence.

d) Provide one example protocol for each algorithm (e.g., RIP, OSPF).

Q6. a) Compare TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) based on their reliability, connection management, and flow control mechanisms.

b) For each of the following applications, choose whether TCP or UDP would be more appropriate and justify your choice in one sentence:

(i) Live video streaming

(ii) A large file download

(ii) A DNS query

(iv) Online banking transaction

Q7. Write short notes on the primary function and working mechanism of the following application layer protocols:

a) DNS (Domain Name System): Explain how it resolves a domain name into an IP address.

b) FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Explain the purpose of its two connections (control and data).

c) SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Describe its role in sending an email from a client to a server.

Q8.a) Explain the fundamental difference between Symmetric Key Cryptography and Asymmetric Key Cryptography in terms of the keys used for encryption and decryption.

b) In an RSA cryptosystem, the prime numbers chosen are p = 5 and q = 11, and the public exponent is e = 7.

(i) Calculate the value of n and φ (n).

(ii) Determine the private key d.

(iii) Encrypt the message M = 8.

 

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