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Computer Science 9210 | Paper 2 Mock 01 | Concepts and principles of computer science

Question 1 Report

The diagram shows a temporary network used by researchers at four tents on a coastal survey. Each radio unit passes messages to the next unit around the route shown in Fig. 1. A message from tent P must reach tent S.

PQRS

(a) State the name of this topology. [1]
(b) Give the route, using tent letters, that a message takes from P to S if it travels clockwise. [1]
(c) State two problems that could occur if radio unit Q fails and messages are only sent clockwise. [2]



Fig. 1 shows a client-server network in a dental clinic. Reception computers use the server to store appointment records. The server has more memory and processing power than the client computers.

ServerReception 1Reception 2Dentist PCScanner PC

(a) State the role of the server in this network. [1]
(b) Give one benefit of keeping appointment files on the server rather than separately on every client computer. [1]
(c) State two effects on staff if the server fails during the day. [2]

Answer Details

Coastal-survey network

(a) The topology is a ring topology. [1]

(b) Clockwise from P to S, the route is P → Q → R → S. [1]

(c) If Q fails and messages can travel only clockwise:

  • P cannot send a message to S;
  • messages cannot pass beyond Q, because the ring is broken in that direction.

Communication is interrupted for devices that rely on that direction. Any two [2].

Dental-clinic client-server network

(a) The server provides shared services or stores shared data for the client computers, including appointment records. [1]

(b) Files are held centrally, so staff access the same current appointment record. Easier backups are also an acceptable benefit. [1]

(c) If the server fails, staff may be unable to access appointment records and unable to save new appointments centrally. Shared network services become unavailable. Any two [2].

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