Nova Southeastern University
College of Engineering and Computing
Winter 2025 – Master Level Course
Term Code: 202530 – CRN: 30675 Sec: L01 Cr: 3.0
Dates: 8 weeks: 01/06/2025 – 03/02/2025
MSIT 650 Platform and Network Tech (3 Credits)
Final Exam
Final is due at the end of the course, submitted to Canvas under Final
Make sure you provide enough detail to your answer to show you understand the
question, simple answers (no detail) or 1 or 2 sentences as answers will be worth very
little. Most answers are about ½ page each at a minimum
1) We all have heard of “cloud computing”, What is the difference between cloud
computing and client/server computing. What types of resources are used on
each, what kind of applications, and what type of security is supported by each?
2) Linux has many file systems, one is called a Journaling file system, what are the
advantages and disadvantages of this file system, how large can it be, what is the
impact on the operating system as far as “housekeeping” and are there any
security features. Explain when one would use this file system as a choice over
any other offered on a standard Linux distribution.
3) Explain the differences between a Master boot record (MBR), Master File Table
(MFT) and Basic Input/output System (BIOS) and a Hardware abstraction layer
(HAL). Are there any similarities or overlapping responsibilities?
4) What are the differences between a virtual desktop, virtual machine and virtual
server? In what conditions would you use one of the other? Which has the
largest domain (Pervasiveness) and why?
5) Of the types of Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), which is the most common?
which is the fastest? which has the longest distance? How do the speeds of DSL
compare to a T1 line?
6) RPC, remote procedure calls, enable service and software on one computer to use
services and software on a different computer. The group responsible of
architecture structure in these cases is the Object Management Group (OMG)
formed in 1989; the intent was to encourage the adoptions of distributed object
systems in order to gain the benefits of object-oriented programming for software
development. One of their systems that advocated the use of open systems was
the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) What are the main
components of CORBA’s language independent RMI framework?
7) Web Services is a major component of cloud computing, A web-service is a self-
describing, self-contained software module available via a network, such as the
internet. We have all heard of web-based applications and use them every day in
accessing the internet. What are the differences between web services and web
applications?
8) Explain what Pervasive computing mean? Give an example of how it is used and
what environment is its domain.
9) Explain the differences between a page file and a swap file. Give an example of
both, how they are used and what are the conditions in which they are used.
What is the relationship between a swap file, a page file and virtual memory?
10) Of the major operating systems today and after taking this course, Between
Microsoft, Apple and Linux, which do you like best and why?
11) Explain the Disadvantages of Cloud Based computing in comparison to
Server Hardware enclosed in a company’s Intranet.
12) Describe an example where a router would be required over a switch,
explain why?
13) Is the OSI model currently in use today in networking architecture, if you
believe yes, then explain the architecture in which it is deployed, if the answer is
No, explain why this is so.
14) Does IPv6 require IPv4? Explain why or why not.
15) What is the fastest wireless standard today, (in Bits per second)
16) Are we going to run out of MAC addresses, explain why or why not?
17) What do you have to do to create your own domain name on the internet?
18) Explain the difference between HTTP, HTTPS, and HTML.
19) Is the Physical layer of the OSI model and the Access Layer of the TCP/IP
model the same, explain why or why not, are the layers Hardware or software?
