Question

Programmer RJ tries to design a network protocol to enable a client to check whether a server is still active. He creates a protocol in this way: The client generates a random string and sends the string together with the string length to the server. If the server is still active, the server will echo the string back to the client so that the client knows that the connection is not lost. The server uses the string process function below to process the string.

a. RJ's network protocol design is effective for checking server activity.
b. RJ's network protocol design is flawed and may not accurately check server activity.
c. RJ's network protocol design is vulnerable to security breaches.
d. RJ's network protocol design is inefficient for checking server activity.

Answer 1

The network protocol created by RJ, in which a client sends a string to a server to check its activity, may be flawed in accurately checking server activity and is potentially vulnerable to security issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is inquiring about the effectiveness and security of a custom network protocol designed by Programmer RJ. This protocol involves the client sending a random string along with its length to the server, which echoes the string back to indicate that the server is active.

Option b (RJ's network protocol design is flawed and may not accurately check server activity) and c (RJ's network protocol design is vulnerable to security breaches) merit consideration. If the protocol only relies on string length and the string itself, it may fall prey to replay attacks, lack proper authentication measures, and does not account for potential manipulation of the echoed string.

Options a and d could be accurate in different contexts but lack specific information to determine the efficiency or effectiveness without knowing how the system handles error checking, timeouts, or the size of the random strings used.