• What is an IP address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical label that is assigned to devices

participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication
between its nodes.
• What is a subnet mask?
SUBNETwork mask) The technique used by the IP protocol to create a
subnet address. The subnet mask is a binary pattern that is stored in the client machine,
server or router. It is matched with the IP address of a packet to determine which
network segment the packet is destined for. See subnet.
EXAMPLE : 255.255.255.224 11111111.11111111.11111111.11100000

• What is ARP?
Address Resolution Protocol, a network layer protocol used to convert an IP address
into a physical address
What is an IP Class ?

An IP Class is a range of IP addresses. They have been designed to

provide an address sheme which accomodates small and large networks.

There are 5 Classes from A to E defined as follows:

Class A - first byte is 1 to 126 decimal (0xxxxxxx in binary)
Class B - first byte is 128 to 191 decimal (10xxxxxx in binary)
Class C - first byte is 192 to 223 decimal (110xxxxx in binary)
Class D - first byte is 224 to 239 decimal (1110xxxx in binary)
Class E - first byte is 240 to 254 decimal (1111xxxx in binary)

IANA allocates only Class A to Class C addresses. Class D is reserved for

multicast and Class E for future use.
Adresses begining by 127 (01111111) are reserved for loopback or local
testing. The IP 127.0.0.1 is usually implemented as local host loopback IP.

For each IP Class we also define a Network Mask as follows:

Class A - 255.0.0.0 (11111111.00000000.00000000.00000000 in binary)
Class B - 255.255.0.0 (11111111.11111111.00000000.00000000 in binary)
Class C - 255.255.255.0 (11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000 in binary)
• Here is a summary of number of networks and number of hosts per Class:
Class A - 2^7-2 = 126 networks - 2^24-2 = 16777214 hosts
Class B - 2^14-2 = 16382 networks - 2^16-2 = 65534 hosts
Class C - 2^21-2 = 2097150 networks - 2^8-2 = 254 hosts

What is a default gateway?

Answer: In computer networking, a default gateway is the device that passes traffic
from the local subnet to devices on other subnets. The default gateway often connects a
local network to the Internet, although internal gateways for local networks also exist.

• What is a subnet?
A subnet is a range of IP addresses.
• What is APIPA?
Automatic Private IP Addressing, is a feature used in Windows
 operating systems. It comes into action only when DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol) servers are available. When the DHCP client first comes on, it will try to
establish a connection with the DHCP server in order to get an IP address. It is when
this server is (or at a later point becomes) unavailable, that APIPA will kick in.
What is an RFC?
An RFC is a Request For Comment, for the discussion and development
of new protocols and techniques for use on the Internet. It is run by the IETF. I have
included a link to learn more about RFC in related links.
• What is the BOOTP protocol used for, where might you find it in Windows network
infrastructure?

SUMMARY
Protocol :Bootstrap Protocol
Protocol suite :TCP/IP
Layer :Application Layer
Type :Application layer configuration protocol.
Ports :67 (UDP) server
68 (UDP) host
Related protocols : DHCP,IP,
IPv6,
TCP,
UDP,
RARP
Working groups : DHCP, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
The Bootstrap Protocol allows a host to configure itself dynamically at boot time.
This protocol provides 3 services:
• IP address assignment.
• Detection of the IP address for a serving machine.
• The name of a file to be loaded and executed by the client machine.

• What is NAT?
Definition: NAT allows an Internet Protocol (IP) network to maintain public IP
addresses separately from private IP addresses. NAT is a popular technology for
Internet connection sharing. It is also sometimes used in server load balancing
applications on corporate networks.
What is the real difference between NAT and PAT?
NAT is Network address Translation ( ip address translate
from local ip to global ip and vice versa)

PAT is Port address translation ( port are translate from

local to global ip's ) like on port 8080 web service port
80 will work on PAT . it more over NAT only.

WHAT IS VLAN?

VLAN is a virtual LAN. In technical terms, a VLAN is a broadcast domain created by switches.
Normally, it is a router creating that broadcast domain. With VLAN’s, a switch can create the
broadcast domain.

WHAT IS BROADCASTDOMAIN
Broadcast on a network means one node transmits packets to all other nodes in the same domain
simultaneously. Multicast is a special form of broadcast, in which a
selected group of users, who requested to listen to thebroadcast, will receive the broadcasts.
Broadcast transmission is supported on most LANs (e.g. Ethernet).
Broadcast can also happen in a virtual LAN (VLAN). IPv6 has unicast, multicast and anycast.
Broadcast has disappearedas a term, but is considered one form of multicast.
 Network programming interview questions

Question 1: How does the race condition occur?

It occurs when two or more processes are reading or writing some shared data and the final
result depends on who runs precisely when.

Question 2: What is multiprogramming?

Multiprogramming is a rapid switching of the CPU back and forth between processes.

Question 3: Name the seven layers of the OSI Model and describe them briefly.
Physical Layer - covers the physical interface between devices and the rules by which bits are
passed from one to another.
Data Link Layer - attempts o make the physical link reliable and provides the means to activate,
maintain, and deactivate the link.
Network Layer - provides for the transfer of information between end systems across
some sort communications network.
Transport Layer - provides a mechanism for the exchange of data between end system.
Session Layer - provides the mechanism for controlling the dialogue between applications
in end systems.
Presentation Layer - defines the format of the data to be exchanged between applications
and offers application programs a set of data transformation services.
Application Layer - provides a means for application programs to access the OSI environment.

Question 4: What is the difference between TCP and UDP?

TCP and UDP are both transport-level protocols. TCP is designed to provide reliable
communication across a variety of reliable and unreliable networks and internets.
UDP provides a connectionless service for application-level procedures. Thus, UDP is basically
an unreliable service; delivery and duplicate protection are not guareented.

Question 5: What does a socket consists of?

The combination of an IP address and a port number is called a socket.

what is mean switch?

A network switch is a small hardware device that joins multiple
computers together within one local area network (LAN). Technically, network switches
operate at layer two (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model.