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Introduction to TCP/IP >  IP Addressing

Introduction to TCP/IP

Although the conceptual notion of subnetting by utilizing host

bits is straightforward, the actual mechanics of subnetting are a
bit more complicated. Subnetting requires a three step
procedure:

1. Determine the number of host bits to be used for the

subnetting.
2. Enumerate the new subnetted network IDs.
3. Enumerate the IP addresses for each new subnetted
network ID.

Step 1: Determining the Number of Host Bits

The number of host bits being used for subnetting determines

the possible number of subnets and hosts per subnet. Before
you choose the number of host bits, you should have a good
idea of the number of subnets and hosts you will have in the
future. Using more bits for the subnet mask than required saves
you the time of reassigning IP addresses in the future.

The more host bits that are used, the more subnets (subnetted
network IDs) you can have — but with fewer hosts. Using too
many host bits allows for growth in the number of subnets but
limits the growth in the number of hosts. Using too few hosts
allows for growth in the number of hosts but limits the growth in
the number of subnets.

For example, Figure 1.9 illustrates the subnetting of up to the

first 8 host bits of a class B network ID. If you choose one host
bit for subnetting, you obtain 2 subnetted network IDs with
16,382 hosts per subnetted network ID. If you choose 8 host
bits for subnetting, you obtain 256 subnetted network IDs with
254 hosts per subnetted network ID.
Figure 1.9 Subnetting a Class B Network ID

In practice, network administrators define a maximum number

of nodes they want on a single network. Recall that all nodes on
a single network share all the same broadcast traffic; they
reside in the same broadcast domain. Therefore, growth in the
number of subnets is favored over growth in the number of
hosts per subnet.

Follow these guidelines to determine the number of host bits to

use for subnetting.

1. Determine how many subnets you need now and will need
in the future. Each physical network is a subnet. WAN
connections can also count as subnets depending on whether
your routers support unnumbered connections.
2. Use additional bits for the subnet mask if:
 You will never require as many hosts per subnet
as allowed by the remaining bits.
 The number of subnets will increase in the future,
requiring additional host bits.

To determine the desired subnetting scheme, start with an

existing network ID to be subnetted. The network ID to be
subnetted can be a class-based network ID, a subnetted
network ID, or a supernet. The existing network ID contains a
series of network ID bits that are fixed and a series of host ID
bits that are variable. Based on your requirements for the
number of subnets and the number of hosts per subnet, choose
a specific number of host bits to be used for the subnetting.

Table 1.16 shows the subnetting of a class A network ID. Based

on a required number of subnets, and a maximum number of
hosts per subnet, a subnetting scheme can be chosen.

Table 1.16 Subnetting a Class A Network ID

Required Number of
Number of Number of Hosts per
Subnets Subnet Bits Subnet Mask Subnet

1-2 1 255.128.0.0 or /9 8,388,606

3-4 2 255.192.0.0 or /10 4,194,302

5-8 3 255.224.0.0 or /11 2,097,150

9-16 4 255.240.0.0 or /12 1,048,574

17-32 5 255.248.0.0 or /13 524,286

33-64 6 255.252.0.0 or /14 262,142

65-128 7 255.254.0.0 or /15 131,070

129-256 8 255.255.0.0 or /16 65,534

257-512 9 255.255.128.0 32,766

or /17

513-1,024 10 255.255.192.0 16,382

or /18

1,025-2,048 11 255.255.224.0 8,190

 or /19

2,049-4,096 12 255.255.240.0 4,094

or /20

4,097-8,192 13 255.255.248.0 2,046

or /21

8,193-16,384 14 255.255.252.0 1,022

or /22

16,385-32,768 15 255.255.254.0 510

or /23

32,769-65,536 16 255.255.255.0 254

or /24

65,537-131,072 17 255.255.255.128 126

or /25

131,073-262,144 18 255.255.255.192 62
or /26

262,145-524,288 19 255.255.255.224 30
or /27

524,289- 20 255.255.255.240 14
1,048,576 or /28

1,048,577- 21 255.255.255.248 6
2,097,152 or /29
2,097,153- 22 255.255.255.252 2
4,194,304 or /30

Table 1.17 shows the subnetting of a class B network ID.

Table 1.17 Subnetting a Class B Network ID

Required Number of
Number of Number of Hosts per
Subnets Subnet Bits Subnet Mask Subnet

1-2 1 255.255.128.0 32,766

or /17

3-4 2 255.255.192.0 16,382

or /18

5-8 3 255.255.224.0 8,190

or /19

9-16 4 255.255.240.0 4,094

or /20

17-32 5 255.255.248.0 2,046

or /21

33-64 6 255.255.252.0 1,022

or /22

65-128 7 255.255.254.0 510

or /23

129-256 8 255.255.255.0 254

or /24
257-512 9 255.255.255.128 126
or /25

513-1,024 10 255.255.255.192 62
or /26

1,025-2,048 11 255.255.255.224 30
or /27

2,049-4,096 12 255.255.255.240 14
or /28

4,097-8,192 13 255.255.255.248 6
or /29

8,193-16,384 14 255.255.255.252 2
or /30

Table 1.18 shows the subnetting of a class C network ID.

Table 1.18 Subnetting a Class C Network ID

Required Number of
Number of Number of Hosts
Subnets Subnet Bits Subnet Mask per Subnet

1-2 1 255.255.255.128 or 126

/25

3-4 2 255.255.255.192 or 62
/26

5-8 3 255.255.255.224 or 30
/27
 9-16 4 255.255.255.240 or 14
/28

17-32 5 255.255.255.248 or 6
/29

33-64 6 255.255.255.252 or 2
/30

Step 2: Enumerating Subnetted Network IDs

Based on the number of host bits you use for your subnetting,
you must list the new subnetted network IDs. There are two
main approaches:

 Binary—List all possible combinations of the host bits

chosen for subnetting and convert each combination to
dotted decimal notation.

 Decimal—Add a calculated increment value to each

successive subnetted network ID and convert to dotted
decimal notation.

Either method produces the same result: the enumerated list of

subnetted network IDs.

Note

There are a variety of documented shortcut techniques for

subnetting. However, they only work under a specific set of
constraints (for example, only up to 8 bits of a class-based
network ID). The following methods described are designed to
work for any subnetting situation (class-based, more than 8
bits, supernetting, variable length subnetting).

To create the enumerated list of subnetted network IDs

using the binary method

1. Based on n, the number of host bits chosen for

subnetting, create a three-column table with 2n entries. The
first column is the subnet number (starting with 1), the
second column is the binary representation of the subnetted
network ID, and the third column is the dotted decimal
representation of the subnetted network ID.

For each binary representation, the bits of the network ID

being subnetted are fixed to their appropriate values and the
remaining host bits are set to all 0's. The host bits chosen for
subnetting vary.

2. In the first table entry, set the subnet bits to all 0's and
convert to dotted decimal notation. The original network ID is
subnetted with its new subnet mask.
3. In the next table entry, increase the value within the
subnet bits.
4. Convert the binary result to dotted decimal notation.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the table is complete.

For example, create a 3-bit subnet of the private network ID

192.168.0.0. The subnet mask for the new subnetted network
IDs is 255.255.224.0 or /19. Based on n = 3, construct a table
with 8 (= 23) entries. The entry for subnet 1 is the all 0's
subnet. Additional entries in the table are successive increments
of the subnet bits, as shown in Table 1.19. The host bits used
for subnetting are underlined.

Table 1.19 Binary Subnetting Technique for Network ID

192.168.0.0

Subnetted
Subnet Binary Representation Network ID

1 11000000.10101000.00000000.00000000 192.168.0.0/19

2 11000000.10101000.00100000.00000000 192.168.32.0/19
3 11000000.10101000.01000000.00000000 192.168.64.0/19

4 11000000.10101000.01100000.00000000 192.168.96.0/19

5 11000000.10101000.10000000.00000000 192.168.128.0/19

6 11000000.10101000.10100000.00000000 192.168.160.0/19

7 11000000.10101000.11000000.00000000 192.168.192.0/19

8 11000000.10101000.11100000.00000000 192.168.224.0/19

To create the enumerated list of subnetted network IDs

using the decimal method

1. Based on n, the number of host bits chosen for

subnetting, create a three-column table with 2n entries. The
first column is the subnet number (starting with 1), the
second column is the decimal (Base 10 numbering system)
representation of the 32-bit subnetted network ID, and the
third column is the dotted decimal representation of the
subnetted network ID.
2. Convert the network ID (w.x.y.z) being subnetted from
dotted decimal notation to N, a decimal representation of the
32-bit network ID:

N = w*16777216 + x*65536 + y*256 + z

3. Compute the increment value I based on h, the number of

host bits remaining:

I = 2h

4. In the first table entry, the decimal representation of the

 subnetted network ID is N and the subnetted network ID is
w.x.y.z with its new subnet mask.
5. In the next table entry, add I to the previous table entry's
decimal representation.
6. Convert the decimal representation of the subnetted
network ID to dotted decimal notation (W.X.Y.Z) through the
following formula (where s is the decimal representation of
the subnetted network ID):

W = INT(s/16777216)

X = INT((s mod(16777216))/65536)

Y = INT((s mod(65536))/256)

Z = s mod(256)

INT( ) denotes integer division, mod( ) denotes the modulus,

the remainder upon division.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the table is complete.

For example, create a 3-bit subnet of the private network ID

192.168.0.0. Based on n = 3, construct a table with 8 entries.
The entry for subnet 1 is the all 0's subnet. N, the decimal
representation of 192.168.0.0, is 3232235520, the result of
192*16777216 + 168*65536. Because there are 13 host bits
remaining, the increment I is 213 = 8192. Additional entries in
the table are successive increments of 8192 as shown in Table
1.20.

Table 1.20 Decimal Subnetting Technique for Network ID

192.168.0.0

Subnet Decimal Representation Subnetted Network ID

1 3232235520 192.168.0.0/19

2 3232243712 192.168.32.0/19
3 3232251904 192.168.64.0/19

4 3232260096 192.168.96.0/19

5 3232268288 192.168.128.0/19

6 3232276480 192.168.160.0/19

7 3232284672 192.168.192.0/19

8 3232292864 192.168.224.0/19

Note

RFC 950 forbade the use of the subnetted network IDs where
the bits being used for subnetting are set to all 0's (the all-zeros
subnet) and all 1's (the all-ones subnet). The all-zeros subnet
caused problems for early routing protocols and the all-ones
subnet conflicts with a special broadcast address called the all-
subnets directed broadcast address.

However, RFC 1812 now permits the use of the all-zeros and all-
ones subnets in a CIDR-compliant environment. CIDR-compliant
environments use modern routing protocols that do not have a
problem with the all-zeros subnet and the all-subnets directed
broadcast is no longer relevant.

The all-zeros and all-ones subnets may cause problems for

hosts or routers operating in a classful mode. Before you use
the all-zeros and all-ones subnets, verify that they are
supported by your hosts and routers. Windows 2000 and
Windows NT support the use of the all-zeros and all-ones
subnets.

Step 3: Enumerating IP Addresses for Each Subnetted

Network ID

Based on the enumeration of the subnetted network IDs, you

must now list the valid IP addresses for new subnetted network
IDs. To list each IP address individually would be too tedious.
Instead, enumerate the IP addresses for each subnetted
network ID by defining the range of IP addresses (the first and
the last) for each subnetted network ID. There are two main
approaches:

 Binary—Write down the first and last IP address for

each subnetted network ID and convert to dotted decimal
notation.

 Decimal—Add values incrementally, corresponding to

the first and last IP addresses for each subnetted network
ID and convert to dotted decimal notation.

Either method produces the same result: the range of IP

addresses for each subnetted network ID.

To create the range of IP addresses using the binary

method

1. Based on n, the number of host bits chosen for

subnetting, create a three-column table with 2n entries. The
first column is the subnet number (starting with 1), the
second column is the binary representation of the first and
last IP address for the subnetted network ID, and the third
column is the dotted decimal representation of the first and
last IP address of the subnetted network ID. Alternately, add
two columns to the previous table used for enumerating the
subnetted network IDs.
2. For each binary representation, the first IP address is the
address in which all the host bits are set to 0 except for the
last host bit. The last IP address is the address in which all
the host bits are set to 1 except for the last host bit.
3. Convert the binary representation to dotted decimal
 notation.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the table is complete.

For example, the range of IP addresses for the 3 bit subnetting

of 192.168.0.0 is shown in Table 1.21. The bits used for
subnetting are underlined.

Table 1.21 Binary Enumeration of IP Addresses

Range of IP
Subnet Binary Representation Addresses

1 11000000.10101000.00000000.00000001 192.168.0.1 -
- 192.168.31.254
11000000.10101000.00011111.11111110

2 11000000.10101000.00100000.00000001 192.168.32.1 -
- 192.168.63.254
11000000.10101000.00111111.11111110

3 11000000.10101000.01000000.00000001 192.168.64.1 -
- 192.168.95.254
11000000.10101000.01011111.11111110

4 11000000.10101000.01100000.00000001 192.168.96.1 -
- 192.168.127.254
11000000.10101000.01111111.11111110

5 11000000.10101000.10000000.00000001 192.168.128.1 -
- 192.168.159.254
11000000.10101000.10011111.11111110

6 11000000.10101000.10100000.00000001 192.168.160.1 -
- 192.168.191.254
11000000.10101000.10111111.11111110

7 11000000.10101000.11000000.00000001 192.168.192.1 -
 - 192.168.223.254
11000000.10101000.11011111.11111110

8 11000000.10101000.11100000.00000001 192.168.224.1 -
- 192.168.255.254
11000000.10101000.11111111.11111110

To create the range of IP addresses using the decimal

method

1. Based on n, the number of host bits chosen for

subnetting, create a three-column table with 2n entries. The
first column is the subnet number (starting with 1), the
second column is the decimal representation of the first and
last IP address for the subnetted network ID, and the third
column is the dotted decimal representation of the first and
last IP address of the subnetted network ID. Alternately, add
two columns to the previous table used for enumerating the
subnetted network IDs.
2. Compute the increment value J based on h, the number of
host bits remaining:

J = 2h - 2

3. For each decimal representation, the first IP address is N

+ 1 where N is the decimal representation of the subnetted
network ID. The last IP address is N + J.
4. Convert the decimal representation of the first and last IP
addresses to dotted decimal notation (W.X.Y.Z) through the
following formula (where s is the decimal representation of
the first or last IP address):

W = INT(s/16777216)

X = INT((s mod(16777216))/65536)

Y = INT((s mod(65536))/256)

Z = s mod(256)
 INT( ) denotes integer division, mod( ) denotes the modulus,
the remainder upon division.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the table is complete.

For example, the range of IP addresses for the 3-bit subnetting

of 192.168.0.0 is shown in Table 1.22. The increment J is 213 - 2
= 8190.

Table 1.22 Decimal Enumeration of IP Addresses

Subnet Decimal Representation Range of IP Addresses

1 3232235521 - 3232243710 192.168.0.1 -

192.168.31.254

2 3232243713 - 3232251902 192.168.32.1 -

192.168.63.254

3 3232251905 - 3232260094 192.168.64.1 -

192.168.95.254

4 3232260097 - 3232268286 192.168.96.1 -

192.168.127.254

5 3232268289 - 3232276478 192.168.128.1 -

192.168.159.254

6 3232276481 - 3232284670 192.168.160.1 -

192.168.191.254

7 3232284673 - 3232292862 192.168.192.1 -

192.168.223.254

8 3232292865 - 3232301054 192.168.224.1 -

 192.168.255.254

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