Lesson 2: Defining Networks with the OSI Model

Multiple Choice

1. What model is used to describe how data communication occurs between hosts?
a) server-centric model
b) workgroup model
c) peer-to-peer model
d) OSI reference model

Answer: d
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Understanding OSI Basics
Explanation: The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model is used to define how
data communication occurs on computer networks. This model is divided into layers, each of
which provides services to the layers above and below. These layers are associated with
protocols and devices.

2. Which layer in the OSI model do MAC addresses and switches use?
a) Physical
b) Data Link
c) Network
d) Transport

Answer: b
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Data Link layer establishes, maintains, and decides how transfer is
accomplished over the Physical layer. Devices that exist on the Data Link layer are network
interface cards and bridges. This layer also ensures error-free transmission over the Physical
layer under LAN transmissions.

3. Which layer in the OSI model covers routing between networks?

a) Physical
b) Data Link
c) Network
d) Transport

Answer: c
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Network layer is dedicated to routing and switching information to different
networks, LANs, or internetworks.

4. Which layer in the OSI model is used to verify that data was delivered without error?
a) Physical
b) Data Link
c) Network
d) Transport

Answer: c
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Network layer ensures error-free transmission between hosts through logical
addressing. Therefore, it manages the transmission of messages through layers 1 through 3.

5. Which layer in the OSI model covers HTTP, FTP, and RDC?
a) Physical
b) Session
c) Application
d) Presentation

Answer: c
Difficulty: Hard
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Application layer is where message creation—and, therefore, packet creation—
begins. Database access is on this level. End-user protocols such as FTP, SMTP, TELNET, and
RAS work at this layer.

6. Which layer of the OSI model is used to create a connection so that a host can transfer files?
a) Physical
b) Session
c) Application
d) Presentation

Answer: b
Difficulty: Hard
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Session layer governs the establishment, termination, and synchronization of
sessions within the OS over the network and between hosts.

7. Which layer of the OSI model includes VLANs?

a) Physical
b) Data Link
c) Network
d) Transport

Answer: b
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Understanding Layer 2 Switching
Explanation: Layer 2 switching can also allow for a virtual LAN (VLAN) to be implemented. A
VLAN is implemented to segment the network, reduce collisions, organize the network, boost
performance, and—hopefully—increase security.

8. Which protocol do you use as the transport protocol for a video application?
a) TCP
b) UDP
c) FTP
d) RDC

Answer: b
Difficulty: Hard
Section Reference: Defining the Upper OSI Layers
Explanation: User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a connectionless protocol with little overhead
and increased performance over TCP. Streaming media enables us to watch or listen in real time.
So, if a packet is lost, we don’t really care, because that time frame of the video or music has
already passed. Of course, if the packet loss becomes too severe, the streaming media becomes
incomprehensible.

9. Which port categories include inbound ports of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and DNS?
a) well-known ports
b) registered ports
c) dynamic ports
d) private ports

Answer: a
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Defining the Upper OSI Layers
Explanation: Well-known ports are used when another computer wants to connect to a service or
application running on your computer. These ports range from 0 to 1023 and define commonly
used protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and DNS.

10. What layer in the OSI model is responsible for logging on and off?
a) Physical
b) Session
c) Application
d) Presentation

Answer: b
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: The Session layer governs the establishment, termination, and synchronization of
sessions within the OS over the network and between hosts. When you log on, you are creating a
session while on the network.

11. What layer in the OSI model is used to encrypt data?

a) Physical
b) Session
c) Application
d) Presentation

Answer: d
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Reviewing the OSI Layers
Explanation: The Presentation layer covers both compression and encryption.

12. Which layer in the OSI model includes the cable and network adapters?
a) Physical
b) Session
c) Application
d) Presentation

Answer: a
Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference: Reviewing the OSI Layers
Explanation: Layer 1 covers cables, adapters, hubs, and patch-down panels.

13. How many layers does the TCP/IP model have?

a) 3
b) 4
c) 6
d) 7

Answer: b
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Defining the TCP/IP Model
Explanation: The TCP/IP (or TCP) model is similar to the OSI model. It is often used by
software manufacturers who are not as concerned with how information is sent over physical
media, or how the data link is actually made. This model is composed of only four layers.

14. Which layer in the OSI model is included in the TCP/IP model?
a) Physical
b) Data Link
c) Transport
d) Application

Answer: c
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Defining the TPC/IP Model
Explanation: In the TCP/IP model, the OSI Physical layer is skipped altogether, and the
Application layer comprises the OSI application, presentation, and session layers. The Transport
layer is the only one from the OSI model that also appears in the TCP/IP model.
15. Which protocol is used to translate IP addresses to MAC addresses?
a) RARP
b) ARP
c) DNS
d) WINS

Answer: b
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Understanding Layer 2 Switching
Explanation: The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used to convert IP addresses to MAC
addresses, which are the physical addresses found on a network card.

16. What ports are defined above 49,152?

a) well-known ports
b) registered ports
c) dynamic ports
d) sliding ports

Answer: c
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Defining the Upper OSI Layers
Explanation: Dynamic ports, also known as private ports, can be used by applications, but they
cannot be registered by vendors. Dynamic ports are from port 49152 to 65535.

Fill in the Blank

17. A layer 3 switch is similar to a __________.

Answer: router
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Understanding Layer 3 Switching
Explanation: Switches reside on the network layer. A layer 3 switch varies from a layer 2 switch
in that it determines paths for data using logical addressing (IP addresses) instead of physical
addressing (MAC addresses). Layer 3 switches are similar to routers.

18. TCP/IP and IPX/SPX are known as _________ stacks.

Answer: protocol
Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: Sometimes a protocol suite such as TCP/IP is referred to as a protocol stack.

Short Answer

19. What is the advantage of UDP over TCP?

Answer: UDP has less overhead, which allows for faster performance.
Difficulty: Hard
Section Reference: The Upper OSI Layers
Explanation: Two common TCP/IP protocols used on the Transport layer include the
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which is a connection-oriented protocol, and the User
Datagram Protocol (UDP), which is connectionless.

20. What are the seven layers found in the OSI model, in order?

Answer: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference: Defining the Layers in the OSI Model
Explanation: Defining how the computers are connected together, as well as how they actually
transmit data, is important. The OSI model layers provide that definition.