Solution: Distributed configuration has many systems connected, and messages, programs, etc are transmitted between cooperating computer systems.

Solution: The statement is true. Partial mesh is a highly flexible topology that can take a variety of very different configurations. The routers are tightly coupled than the basic topologies. But they are not fully interconnected, as would be the case in a fully meshed network.

Solution: Gateways are used for this purpose. Gateways interconnect dissimilar networks, protocol conversion is performed by them.

Solution: A two-tiered topology is a modified version of the basic star topology. Rather than single concentrator routers, two or more routers are used.

Solution: Wide Area Networks that need to interconnect a very large number of sites, or are built using smaller routers that can support only a few serial connections, may find the two-tiered architecture insufficiently scalable.

Solution: They are referred to as the routers. They are used for interconnecting those networks that use the same high-level protocols above network layer.

Solution: Ring topology involves sending and receiving of data with the help of tokens. Ring started out as a simple peer-to-peer LAN topology.

Solution: Bridges operate at the bottom two layers of the OSI model. It connects networks that use the same communication protocols above data-link layer.

Solution: Connecting two or more networks to form a single network is called internetworking and the resultant network is called internetwork.

Solution: OSI is open system interconnection. It is a framework for defining standards for linking heterogeneous computers in a packet switched network.