Subnetting

Fig. 1

Diagram showing 2 interconnected class C networks.

Fig. 2

Diagram showing two scenarios:

Scenario 1 shows 8 interconnected separate networks each having a different class C network address
Scenario 2 shows 8 interconnected separate networks derived from a single class C network address

Fig. 3

Class C network address 192.168.239.0 with the subnet mask 255.255.255.224

Fig. 4

Class C network address 192.168.239.0 with the subnet mask 255.255.255.192

Fig. 5

Class C network address 192.168.239.0 with the subnet mask 255.255.255.240

This table needs completing as a student exercise.

Fig. 6

Class B network network address 172.16.0.0 with subnet mask 255.255.192.0

Fig. 7

Class B network network address 172.16.0.0 with subnet mask 255.255.224.0

M.T. Stanhope September 2009

Fig. 1 Two interconnected class C networks.

In this example the router connects 2 class C networks, 192.168.239.0/24 and 192.168.240.0/24
The router is a specialised computer that can be configured to control access between the networks.

ROUTER
192.168.239.254

ROUTER
192.168.240.254

Network192.168.239.0

Network192.168.240.0

SWITCH

SWITCH

HOST
192.168.239.1

HOST

192.168.239.2

HOST
192.168.239.253

HOST
192.168.240.1

HOST
192.168.240.2

HOST
192.168.240.253

Network: 192.168.239.0
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
HOSTS: .1 TO .253
Router Interface (Gateway): .254
Broadcast 192.168.239.255

Network 192.168.240.0
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
HOSTS .1 TO .254
Broadcast 192.168.240.255

Some examples state there are

254 host addresses available but
remember one is required for the
router interface. Usually the first
(.1) or the last (.254) is used.

The above notation will be used in the remaining pages to save on space.
Notice how the interfaces to the router have been assigned an IP address from the corresponding networks.
The router interface addresses are known as the gateway addresses. Each PC has to be configured so it has
a unique IP address, a subnet mask and the address of the gateway, i.e. the router interface it has to access
to send data out of the network the PC is in.

Fig. 2 Two scenarios

Scenario 1
In this scenario the router connects 8 individual class C networks 192.168.239.0/24 to 192.168.246.0/24
The router is a specialised computer that can be configured to control access between the networks.
Remember that each network has 254 host addresses and that 1 of these is required for the subnet's interface on the router.

ROUTER
(A speciailised computer used to connect networks and control the traffic flow
between them)

Network 192.168.239.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.239.255

Network 192.168.240.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.240.255

Network 192.168.241.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.241.255

Network 192.168.242.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.242.255

Network 192.168.243.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.243.255

Network 192.168.244.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.244.255

Network 192.168.245.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.245.255

Network 192.168.246.0
Mask 255.255.255.0
PCs .1 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.246.255

Scenario 2
Subnetting is all about preserving IP addresses. In this scenario we still have 8 separately managed networks but they are all created from one class C network address.
By changing the class C default subnet mask from 255.255.255.0 to 255.255.255.224 we can create 8 individual networks, albeit smaller ones referred to as 'subnetworks'.

ROUTER

Network 192.168.239.0
Mask 255.255.255.224
PCs
.1 to .29
Router Interface .30
Broadcast 192.168.239.31

Network 192.168.239.32
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.33 to .61
Router Interface .62
Broadcast 192.168.239.63

Network 192.168.239.64
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.65 to .93
Router Interface .94
Broadcast 192.168.239.95

The next page details how the above numbers have been determined.

Network 192.168.239.96
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
. 97 to .125
Router Interface .126
Broadcast 192.168.239.127

Network 192.168.239.128
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.129 TO .157
Router Interface .158
BCAST: 192.168.239.159

Network 192.168.239.160
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.161 to .189
Router Interface .190
Broadcast 192.168.239.191

Network 192.168.239.192
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.193 TO .221
Router Interface .222
Broadcast 192.168.239.223

Network 192.168.239.224
Mask
255.255.255.224
PCs
.225 TO .253
Router Interface .254
Broadcast 192.168.239.255

Fig. 3 - Class C IP address format and the default class C subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
IP format
SNM

110nnnnn nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnn

11111111 11111111 11111111

hhhhhhhh
00000000

E.g

192
192
192

0
97
255

168
168
168

239
239
239

An example of a network address (note all the host bits are zero)
An example of a host address
The network broadcast address (note all the host bits are ones)

Number of hosts on a class C network = 2 8 = 256 (although 2 have special meanings leaving 254 for assigning to hosts)
Class C IP address format and the subnet mask of 255.255.255.224
IP format
SNM

110nnnnn nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnn

11111111 11111111 11111111

ssshhhhh
11100000

(note how 27 bits are in the 1 state)

Key:
n = network id bit
h = host id bit
s = subnet id bit
Take note of the following:
3 bits are used to identify the subnets therefore the number of subnets = 2 3 = 8
5 bits are used to identify a host, therefore the number of hosts per subnet = 2 5 = 32 , but 2 have
special meanings leaving 30 for assigning to hosts.
There are 27 1s in the subnet mask
Example of subnet address ranges
Net address
192.168.239.0
Subnet mask
255.255.255.224
Alternative subnet notation: 192.168.239.0/27
Subnet
0

IP address in decimal/binary mix

192
168
239
192
168
239

Detail
000 00000 Subnet address
000 00001 1st host on subnet

IP address
192.168.239.0
192.168.239.1

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

000 11110
000 11111
001 00000
001 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.30
192.168.239.31
192.168.239.32
192.168.239.33

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

001 11110
001 11111
010 00000
010 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.62
192.168.239.63
192.168.239.64
192.168.239.65

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

010 11110
010 11111
011 00000
011 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.94
192.168.239.95
192.168.239.96
192.168.239.97

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

011 11110
011 11111
100 00000
100 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.126
192.168.239.127
192.168.239.128
192.168.239.129

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

100 11110
100 11111
101 00000
101 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.158
192.168.239.159
192.168.239.160
192.168.239.161

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

101 11110
101 11111
110 00000
110 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.190
192.168.239.191
192.168.239.192
192.168.239.193

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

110 11110
110 11111
111 00000
111 00001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.222
192.168.239.223
192.168.239.224
192.168.239.225

192
192

168
168

239
239

111 11110 Router interface

111 11111 Subnet broadcast address

192.168.239.254
192.168.239.255

Fig. 4 - Class C IP address format and the default class C subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
IP format 110nnnnn
SNM
11111111

nnnnnnnn
11111111

nnnnnnnn
11111111

hhhhhhhh
00000000

E.g

168
168
168

239
239
239

0
97
255

192
192
192

An example of a network address (note all the host bits are zero)
An example of a host address
The network broadcast address (note all the host bits are ones)

Number of hosts on a class C network = 2 8 = 256 (although 2 have special meanings leaving 254 for assigning to hosts)
Class C IP address format and the subnet mask of 255.255.255.192
IP format 110nnnnn
SNM
11111111

nnnnnnnn
11111111

nnnnnnnn
11111111

sshhhhhh
11000000

(note how 26 bits are in the 1 state)

Key:
n = network id bit
h = host id bit
s = subnet id bit
Take note of the following:

2 bits are used to identify the subnets therefore the number of subnets = 2 2 = 4
6 bits are used to identify a host, therefore the number of hosts per subnet = 2 6 = 64 , but 2 have
special meanings leaving 62 for assigning to hosts.
There are 26 1s in the subnet mask
Example of subnet address ranges
Net address
192.168.239.0
Subnet mask
255.255.255.192
Alternative subnet notation: 192.168.239.0/26
Subnet
0

192
192

IP address in decimal/binary mix

Detail
00 000000 Subnet address
168
239
00 000001 1st host on subnet
168
239

IP address
192.168.239.0
192.168.239.1

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

00 111110
00 111111
01 000000
01 000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.62
192.168.239.63
192.168.239.64
192.168.239.65

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

01 111110
01 111111
10 000000
10 000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.126
192.168.239.127
192.168.239.128
192.168.239.129

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

10 111110
10 111111
11 000000
11 000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.190
192.168.239.191
192.168.239.192
192.168.239.193

192
192

168
168

239
239

11 111110 Router interface

11 111111 Subnet broadcast address

192.168.239.254
192.168.239.255

Fig. 5 - Class C IP address format and the default class C subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
IP format 110nnnnn
SNM
11111111

nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnn hhhhhhhh

11111111 11111111 00000000

E.g

168
168
168

192
192
192

239
239
239

0
97
255

An example of a network address (note all the host bits are zero)
An example of a host address (host ID = 97)
The network broadcast address (note all the host bits are ones)

Number of hosts on a class C network = 2 8 = 256 (although 2 have special meanings leaving 254 for assigning to hosts)
Class C IP address format and the subnet mask of 255.255.255.240
IP format 110nnnnn
SNM
11111111

nnnnnnnn nnnnnnnn sssshhhh

11111111 11111111 11110000

(note how 28 bits are in the 1 state)

Key:
n = network id bit
h = host id bit
s = subnet id bit
Take note of the following:
4 bits are used to identify the subnets therefore the number of subnets = 2 4 = 16
4 bits are used to identify a host, therefore the number of hosts per subnet = 2 4 = 16 , but 2 have
special meanings leaving 14 for assigning to hosts.
There are 28 1s in the subnet mask
Example of subnet address ranges
Net address
192.168.239.0
Subnet mask
255.255.255.240
Alternative subnet notation: 192.168.239.0/28

Subnet
0

IP address in decimal/binary mix

192
168
239
192
168
239

Detail
0000 0000 Subnet address
0000 0001 1st host on subnet

IP address
192.168.239.0
192.168.239.1

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0000 1110
0000 1111
0001 0000
0001 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.14
192.168.239.15
192.168.239.16
192.168.239.17

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0001 1110
0001 1111
0010 0000
0010 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.32
192.168.239.

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0010 1110
0010 1111
0011 0000
0011 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.48
192.168.239.

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0011 1110
0011 1111
0100 0000
0100 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.64
192.168.239.

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0100 1110
0100 1111
0101 0000
0101 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0101 1110
0101 1111
0110 0000
0110 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.

192
192
192
192

168
168
168
168

239
239
239
239

0110 1110
0110 1111
0111 0000
0111 0001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.

192
192
192

168
168
168

239
239
239

0111 1110 Router interface

0111 1111 Subnet broadcast address
1000 0000 Subnet address

Finish the table for all 16 subnets

192.168.239.
192.168.239.
192.168.239.128

Fig. 6 - Class B IP address format and the default class B subnet mask of 255.255.0.0
IP format 10nnnnnn nnnnnnnn hhhhhhhh
SNM
11111111 11111111 00000000

hhhhhhhh
00000000

E.g

0
1
255

172
172
172

16
16
16

0
64
255

Number of hosts on a class C network = 2

16

An example of a network address (note all the host bits are zero)
An example of a host address (host ID = 64.1)
The network broadcast address (note all the host bits are ones)

= 65536 (although 2 have special meanings leaving 65534 for assigning to hosts)

Class B IP address format and the subnet mask of 255.255.192.0

IP format 10nnnnnn nnnnnnnn sshhhhhh
SNM
11111111 11111111 11000000

hhhhhhhh
00000000 (note how 18 bits are in the 1 state)

Key:
n = network id bit
h = host id bit
s = subnet id bit
Take note of the following:
2 bits are used to identify the subnets therefore the number of subnets = 2 2 = 4
14 bits are used to identify a host, therefore the number of hosts per subnet = 2 14 = 16384 , but 2 have
special meanings leaving 16382 for assigning to hosts.
There are 18 1s in the subnet mask
Example of subnet address ranges
Net address
172.16.0.0
Subnet mask
255.255.192.0
Alternative subnet notation: 172.16.0.0/18
Subnet
0

IP address in decimal/binary mix

Detail
00 000000 00000000 Subnet address
172
16
00 000000 00000001 1st host on subnet
172
16

IP address
172.16.0.0
172.16.0.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

00 111111
00 111111
01 000000
01 000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.63.254
172.16.63.255
172.16.64.0
172.16.64.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

01 111111
01 111111
10 000000
10 000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.127.254
172.16.127.255
172.16.128.0
172.16.128.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

10 111111
10 111111
11 000000
11 000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.191.254
172.16.191.255
172.16.192.0
172.16.192.1

172
172

16
16

11 111111 11111110 Router interface

11 111111 11111111 Subnet broadcast address

172.16.255.254
172.16.255.255

Fig. 7 - Class B IP address format and the default class B subnet mask of 255.255.0.0
IP format
SNM

10nnnnnn nnnnnnnn
11111111 11111111

hhhhhhhh
00000000

hhhhhhhh
00000000

E.g

172
172
172

0
64
255

0
1
255

16
16
16

Number of hosts on a class C network = 2

16

An example of a network address (note all the host bits are zero)
An example of a host address
The network broadcast address (note all the host bits are ones)

= 65536 (although 2 have special meanings leaving 65534 for assigning to hosts)

Class B IP address format and the subnet mask of 255.255.224.0

IP format
SNM

10nnnnnn nnnnnnnn
11111111 11111111

ssshhhhh
11100000

hhhhhhhh
00000000

(note how 19 bits are in the 1 state)

Take note of the following:

3 bits are used to identify the subnets therefore the number of subnets = 2 3 = 8
13 bits are used to identify a host, therefore the number of hosts per subnet = 2 13 = 8192 , but 2 have
special meanings leaving 8190 for assigning to hosts.
There are 19 1s in the subnet mask
Example of subnet address ranges
Net address
172.16.0.0
Subnet mask
255.255.224.0
Alternative subnet notation: 172.16.0.0/19
Subnet
0

172
172

IP address in decimal/binary mix

Detail
00000000 00000000 Subnet address
16
00000000 00000001 1st host on subnet
16

IP address
172.16.0.0
172.16.0.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

00011111
00011111
00100000
00100000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.31.254
172.16.31.255
172.16.32.0
172.16.32.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

00111111
00111111
01000000
01000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.63.254
172.16.63.255
172.16.64.0
172.16.64.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

01011111
01011111
01100000
01100000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.95.254
172.16.95.255
172.16.96.0
172.16.96.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

01111111
01111111
10000000
10000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.127.254
172.16.127.255
172.16.128.0
172.16.128.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

10011111
10011111
10100000
10100000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.159.254
172.16.159.255
172.16.160.0
172.16.160.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

10111111
10111111
11000000
11000000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.191.254
172.16.191.255
172.16.192.0
172.16.192.1

172
172
172
172

16
16
16
16

11011111
11011111
11100000
11100000

11111110
11111111
00000000
00000001

Router interface
Subnet broadcast address
Subnet address
1st host on subnet

172.16.223.254
172.16.223.255
172.16.224.0
172.16.224.1

172
172

16
16

11111111
11111111

11111110 Router interface

11111111 Subnet broadcast address

172.16.255.254
172.16.255.255