Calculating IPv4 Subnets and Hosts

IP version 4

A protocol for IP addressing that allows for the identification and location of devices on a network.

VLSM

Variable-Length Subnet Masking allows for different subnet masks for each network, providing flexibility in network design.

Class A address

An IP address class that has a default subnet mask of 255.0.0.0 and supports a large number of hosts.

CIDR

Classless Inter-Domain Routing, a method for allocating IP addresses and IP routing that uses variable-length subnet masking.

Subnet bits

The bits in an IP address that determine the number of networks available within a given address.

Host bits

The bits in an IP address allocated to individual hosts within a subnet.

Subnet mask

A 32-bit number used to divide an IP address into a network and host portion.

Powers of 2

A mathematical utility used to calculate the number of subnets and hosts in a variable length subnet mask.

Broadcast address

The address used to communicate with all devices on a network.

Class C address

An IP address class that supports a smaller number of hosts and has a default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

Calculation of subnets

Determined using the formula 2 to the power of the number of subnet bits.

Calculation of hosts

Determined using the formula (2 to the power of the number of host bits) - 2.

Subnet

A smaller network formed by splitting a larger network to improve performance and management.

Default gateway

The IP address of a router that serves as an access point for devices leaving their local network.

Network address

The first IP address in a range that identifies a subnet.

Max hosts per subnet

Calculated as 2 to the power of the number of host bits minus 2, accounting for the network and broadcast addresses.