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Subnetting is a fundamental concept in networking that involves dividing an IP network into sub-networks or subnets. This process allows for efficient utilization of IP addresses and better network management. In this guide, we’ll explore subnetting examples to provide a clear understanding of how it works.
Subnetting is like creating smaller neighborhoods within a large city. In networking, it involves dividing a range of IP addresses into smaller, more manageable segments. This helps in organizing and securing the network efficiently.
Let’s consider a simple example using decimal representation:
In binary representation, this division would occur by breaking addresses into powers of 2. For instance, the binary form of the first few addresses reveals clear subnets: 01100 and 01101.
Decimal | Binary | Subnet |
100 | 01100100 | 01100 100 |
101 | 01100101 | 01100 101 |
102 | 01100110 | 01100 110 |
103 | 01100111 | 01100 111 |
104 | 01101000 | 01101 000 |
To identify the boundary of a network, a subnet mask is used. In the example, the subnet mask would be 11111000 in binary, equivalent to 248 in decimal.
Extending this principle to full-length IP addresses involves longer addresses and masks. Consider IP addresses 193.62.83.10 and 193.62.83.108 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.224:
The mask, in this case, has 27 ones, and an alternative representation is to append the ‘prefix length’ to the IP address, like this: 193.62.83.10/27.
Let’s delve into a practical example at Anycollege:
Name | Start Position | Subnet Mask | Max Size (Power of 2) | Host IP Address Range |
Faculties | 0.0.0.0 | 255.255.255.128 | 128 | 193.62.83.1 – 193.62.83.126 |
Administration | 0.0.0.128 | 255.255.255.224 | 32 | 193.62.83.129 – 193.62.83.158 |
Computing | 0.0.0.160 | 255.255.255.224 | 32 | 193.62.83.161 – 193.62.83.191 |
Understanding how IP addresses fit into subnets is crucial. For instance, an IP address of 193.62.83.135 in the subnet 255.255.255.224 is part of the subnet starting at 193.62.83.128.
Subnetting is a powerful tool for network management, enhancing efficiency and security. These examples illustrate how subnetting works in practical scenarios. As networks grow, mastering subnetting becomes increasingly important for effective IP address management.
Evgeny Sevastyanov
Client Support Teamleader