Photo AI
When connecting computers into a network, the use of appropriate protocols are important - OCR - GCSE Computer Science - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 5
When connecting computers into a network, the use of appropriate protocols are important. (a) Explain what is meant by a protocol. (b) For each of the scenarios be... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:When connecting computers into a network, the use of appropriate protocols are important - OCR - GCSE Computer Science - Question 5 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain what is meant by a protocol.
Answer
A protocol is an agreement or set of rules that defines how computers communicate with each other. It establishes standards for the transmission and exchange of data over a network. For example, a protocol may dictate the speed of communication or how to handle errors during data transmission.
Step 2
A user wants to transfer a file directly from his computer to his friend’s computer.
Answer
The most appropriate protocol for this scenario is FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FTP allows users to transfer files between computers over the internet. It operates on a client-server model where one computer (the client) sends files to another computer (the server), enabling direct communication between the users' computers.
Step 3
A customer wants to securely log into her bank’s website to check her account balance.
Answer
For this scenario, the most suitable protocol is HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). HTTPS provides a secure connection that encrypts the data between the user’s browser and the bank’s web server, protecting sensitive information such as login credentials and personal data.
Step 4
Explain the difference between how the IMAP (Internet message access protocol) and SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) protocols are used.
Answer
IMAP is used for retrieving and managing emails, allowing users to sync their emails across multiple devices and enabling actions like reading, moving, or deleting emails without downloading them to the local device. In contrast, SMTP is used for sending emails to recipients; it transmits messages from the sender’s email client to the email server and subsequently to the recipient’s server. Essentially, IMAP is about receiving and managing emails, while SMTP is solely focused on sending them.