IPv4 Subnetting Practice Examples
Subnetting is the practice of dividing a large network into smaller, more manageable subnetworks. This process allows better control of IP address allocation, improves network performance, and enhances security by isolating segments. Understanding these basics allows you to design networks effectively, optimizing address allocation and segmenting traffic to meet specific requirements:
-
IP Address: Composed of 32 bits in IPv4, split into network and host portions.
-
Subnet Mask: Determines which portion of an IP address identifies the network and which portion identifies the host. For example, a /24 subnet mask (255.255.255.0) reserves the first 24 bits for the network, leaving the remaining 8 bits for hosts.
-
CIDR Notation: Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) uses a suffix (e.g., /26) to specify the number of bits used for the network portion, enabling flexible subnetting.
-
Hosts Per Subnet: The number of available hosts is calculated by 2^host_bits - 2, accounting for the network and broadcast addresses that cannot be assigned to devices.
-
Subnet Range: Each subnet has a unique range of IP addresses, starting with a network address and ending with a broadcast address. The usable host range lies between these two addresses.
Below you will find some exercises to get you familiar and at ease with calculating different subnets.