Management Notes

Reference Notes for Management

Which scenario describes a function provided by the transport layer?

Which scenario describes a function provided by the transport layer?

Options:

A) A student is using a classroom VoIP phone to call home. The unique identifier burned into the phone is a transport layer address used to contact another network device on the same network.
B) A student is playing a short web-based movie with sound. The movie and sound are encoded within the transport layer header.
C) A student has two web browser windows open in order to access two web sites. The transport layer ensures the correct web page is delivered to the correct browser window.
D) A corporate worker is accessing a web server located on a corporate network. The transport layer formats the screen so the web page appears properly no matter what device is being used to view the web site.

The Correct Answer Is: C) A student has two web browser windows open in order to access two web sites. The transport layer ensures the correct web page is delivered to the correct browser window.

Sure, let’s break down each option in detail to explain why the correct answer is C) and why the other options are not correct:

Option A) A student is using a classroom VoIP phone to call home. The unique identifier burned into the phone is a transport layer address used to contact another network device on the same network.

This option is not correct because it confuses the concepts of the transport layer with lower network layers. The transport layer primarily deals with end-to-end communication and data segmentation/reassembly, rather than hardware identifiers.

The unique identifier mentioned here is more likely to be a MAC (Media Access Control) address, which is associated with the data link layer. The transport layer’s main function is to ensure data is delivered reliably and in the correct order between two endpoints, such as the student’s VoIP phone and the home device. It doesn’t manage hardware addresses.

Option B) A student is playing a short web-based movie with sound. The movie and sound are encoded within the transport layer header.

This option is not correct because it misrepresents the responsibilities of the transport layer. The transport layer is not responsible for encoding or encapsulating multimedia content within its headers. Instead, it focuses on tasks such as segmenting data into smaller packets, adding sequencing information, error detection, and flow control.

Multimedia encoding and encapsulation are typically handled at higher layers, such as the presentation layer (for encoding) and the application layer (for encapsulation within protocols like HTTP or RTP).

Option D) A corporate worker is accessing a web server located on a corporate network. The transport layer formats the screen so the web page appears properly no matter what device is being used to view the web site.

This option is not correct because it confuses the responsibilities of the transport layer with the presentation and application layers. The transport layer is not responsible for formatting the screen or ensuring web pages appear correctly on different devices.

These tasks fall under the purview of the presentation and application layers. The transport layer’s role is to provide end-to-end data transfer services, ensuring that data sent from the corporate worker’s device to the web server is reliably delivered, and any lost or out-of-order packets are corrected.

Now, let’s explain in detail why Option C) is correct:

Option C) A student has two web browser windows open in order to access two web sites. The transport layer ensures the correct web page is delivered to the correct browser window.

Option C is correct because it accurately describes a function provided by the transport layer. The transport layer is responsible for managing end-to-end communication between two devices over a network. In the context of a student accessing two different web pages using two browser windows, the transport layer ensures that data packets from each web server are delivered to the correct browser window on the student’s device.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of why Option C is accurate:

Multiple Browser Windows: When a student opens two web browser windows to access two different websites, each window establishes a separate communication session with its respective web server. These sessions are differentiated by port numbers on the student’s device.

End-to-End Communication: The transport layer is responsible for establishing, maintaining, and terminating these separate communication sessions. It uses port numbers to distinguish between the two browser windows and ensures that data from one web server is delivered to the correct browser window and not mixed up with data from the other server.

Reliability: The transport layer also ensures the reliable delivery of data packets between the browser windows and the web servers. It performs error detection and correction, as well as flow control to prevent congestion and ensure smooth data transfer.

Correct Order: In cases where data packets arrive out of order due to differences in network routing, the transport layer reorders them before delivering them to the respective browser windows. This ensures that the web pages are displayed correctly and that the content appears as intended by the web servers.

In summary, Option C correctly identifies the role of the transport layer in managing multiple communication sessions and ensuring that data is delivered accurately and reliably to the appropriate browser window. It demonstrates a clear understanding of the transport layer’s responsibilities in end-to-end communication.

To conclude, while Option C accurately describes the function provided by the transport layer, the other options either misrepresent the responsibilities of the transport layer or confuse it with functions performed by other network layers.

It’s essential to have a clear understanding of each layer’s role in the OSI model to correctly identify their functions and responsibilities in network communication.

Smirti

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