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Unit 1 of 1 · BCA Sem 4

Unit 1: Network setup, configuration and troubleshooting

Computer Networks-I Laboratory notes · PTU syllabus (UGCC2518)

3 min read4 topics9 exam questions
On this page
  1. Unit summary
  2. Devices, media and cable preparation
  3. Building a LAN and configuring TCP/IP
  4. Resource sharing and subnet planning
  5. Troubleshooting and services
  6. Key terms
  7. Quick revision
  8. Important questions

Unit summary

This lab turns networking theory into hands-on skills: identifying devices and media, crimping cables, building a LAN, configuring TCP/IP on Windows and Linux, sharing resources, planning subnets, troubleshooting, computing Hamming distance, and setting up FTP and proxy servers and simulations.

After this unit you can

  • Identify network devices and prepare straight and crossover cables
  • Build a LAN and configure static and dynamic IP addresses
  • Share files and printers and plan class A, B and C subnets
  • Troubleshoot with ping and ipconfig, and configure FTP and proxy servers

PTU syllabus topics

  • Networking components and devices (LAN adapters, hubs, switches, routers)
  • transmission media and tools (coaxial, UTP, crimping tool, connectors)
  • straight/cross cable preparation
  • LAN topology creation
  • TCP/IP configuration in Windows and Linux
  • resource sharing (file/printer)
  • class A/B/C network design and subnet planning
  • dynamic IP configuration
  • troubleshooting with ping/ipconfig
  • Hamming distance computation
  • FTP server/client installation
  • proxy server configuration
  • network simulation tools
ProcessTroubleshooting a network connection
  1. 1Check the cable and lights
  2. 2ipconfig

    Is a valid IP address assigned?

  3. 3ping the gateway

    Can you reach the local network?

  4. 4ping an outside IP

    Is the internet reachable?

  5. 5Check DNS

    Can names be resolved?

1

Topic 1

Devices, media and cable preparation

  • Devices: NIC (LAN adapter), hub, switch, router, access point.
  • Media: coaxial cable, UTP (Cat 5e/Cat 6), fibre; tools: crimping tool, RJ-45 connectors, cable tester.
ComparisonStraight vs crossover cable
Straight-through
Crossover

Wiring

Same standard (T568B) on both ends

T568A on one end, T568B on the other

Connects

Different devices: PC to switch

Same devices: PC to PC, switch to switch

Note

Most common

Modern ports auto-detect (Auto-MDIX)

T568B colour order: white-orange, orange, white-green, blue, white-blue, green, white-brown, brown.

2

Topic 2

Building a LAN and configuring TCP/IP

ProcessConfiguring a static IP in Windows
  1. 1Open Network and Sharing Center
  2. 2Change adapter settings
  3. 3Properties of Ethernet → IPv4
  4. 4Enter IP, subnet mask, gateway, DNS

    e.g. 192.168.1.10, 255.255.255.0, 192.168.1.1

  5. 5Test with ping
  • Linux: ip addr add 192.168.1.20/24 dev eth0, or edit Netplan/NetworkManager; view with ip a.
  • Dynamic IP (DHCP): select "Obtain an IP address automatically"; renew with ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
3

Topic 3

Resource sharing and subnet planning

  • File sharing: right-click a folder → Properties → Sharing; set permissions; access via \\computername\share.
  • Printer sharing: Printer properties → Sharing → Share this printer.
  • Subnet planning: decide hosts needed per department, choose the class, borrow bits, and list each subnet's network address, host range and broadcast address.
4

Topic 4

Troubleshooting and services

CommandPurpose
pingTests reachability
ipconfig / ip aShows IP configuration
tracert / tracerouteShows the path to a host
nslookupChecks DNS resolution
netstatShows active connections and ports
arp -aShows the ARP table
  • Hamming distance: compare two codewords bit by bit and count the differences.
  • FTP server: install FileZilla Server (Windows) or vsftpd (Linux), create a user and folder, connect with an FTP client.
  • Proxy server: configure Squid or a browser proxy setting; observe filtering and caching.
  • Simulation: Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3 to build and test networks virtually.

Exam tip

If ping fails, check in order: cable/link light → IP and mask → gateway → firewall → DNS.

Key terms

Crimping tool
Fixes RJ-45 connectors to cables
Crossover cable
Connects devices of the same type
DHCP
Automatically assigns IP addresses
ping
Tests whether a host is reachable
Packet Tracer
A network simulation tool

Quick revision

  • Straight: different devices; crossover: same devices.
  • Static IP needs IP, mask, gateway and DNS.
  • ipconfig /renew gets a new DHCP address.
  • Troubleshoot from physical layer upwards.

Important exam questions

Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).

Short-answer questions

  1. Q1.Differentiate between straight-through and crossover cables.
  2. Q2.Write the T568B colour order.
  3. Q3.What does ipconfig /all show?
  4. Q4.What is the use of the tracert command?
  5. Q5.What is a proxy server?

Long-answer questions

  1. Q1.Describe the steps to prepare a straight-through cable and test it.
  2. Q2.Configure TCP/IP on Windows and Linux and test connectivity.
  3. Q3.Plan subnets for a college with three departments of 50, 30 and 20 hosts.
  4. Q4.Explain how to install and test an FTP server.

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