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Easy Way to Subnet
Subnetting
Learn the easy way to subnet using the proven Subnetting Secrets™ method.
Subnetting Cheat Sheet
Step 1
Easy Way to Subnet
Write out the subnetting cheat chart by hand. You need to be able to do it by hand in
Subnet Zero case you have to work out subnetting problems in your head or in an exam. The
Class A Subnetting subnetting cheat chart is here.

Class B Subnetting Step 2

Class C Subnetting Look at the IP address and subnet mask. If the subnet mask is written out in
abbreviated form (called CIDR) then just count up in blocks of eight and add the last few
Binary Math numbers to reach the subnet mask. e.g.
FREE Subnetting Tools 192.168.1.23/26 - we need to work out what the slash 26 actually is when written out as
VLSM a full subnet. The binary maths section tells you that 255 in binary is equal to 8 and we
need to reach 26 so..
Contact Us
255 is 8 255.255 is 16 bits 255.255.255 is 24 bits and to get to 26 we need to add 2 to
About Us 24 so tick two places down on the top left column on the subnetting cheat chart.
Site Map 128
192
224
240
248
252
254
255

So you can see that by ticking down two (which is 24 + 2 = 26 bits) we have generated
the subnet mask of 255.255.255.192 which if write out in binary bits is 26 binary bits (or
8 + 8 + 8 + 2).

Step 3

Tick the same number across the top row of the Subnetting Secrets Cheat Chart.

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

The above table is purely one binary octet written out in decimal. Whichever number
your last tick ends at tells you which number your subnets begin on. Don't worry if this
doesn't make much sense at the moment. Please keep with it and like any new still, it
will click very soon.

So we have it number 64 which tell us that our subnets are going up in increments of
64. Our host number out of the IP address 192.168.1.23 is the number 23. It is 23
because 192 is a traditional class C address so we can only use numbers in the last octet
for IP addresses.

Let's write out our subnets counting up in increments of 64. We are allowed to start with
IP subnet zero because the guys who invented the RFC (requests for comment) for
subnetting designed it to permit that.

192.168.1.0 - this is the first subnet and is known as the zero subnet. Host number 23 is
in here because if we go to the next subnet we have gone well past 23.

192.168.1.64 - we have added the first 64 to the end.

192.168.1.128 - we have added another 64 to the end. This is our 3rd subnet.

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192.168.1.192 - our last subnet. We can't go higher because our subnet mask ends in
192.

The answer to the question 'which subnet is host 192.168.1.23 in is subnet 192.168.1.0

Step 4 (Optional)

We have actually reached the answer so in an interview or exam stop there. They may
ask another question though. They may ask you to identify the first and last host and
the broadcast addresses for your subnet. This step is very easy.

Take the subnet our host 192.168.1.23 is in. To get the first host just add one to the
subnet 192.168.1.0 so the answer is 192.168.1.1.

To get the broadcast address just jump to the next subnet and subtract one. Remember
that the boxes our number go in can only run from 0 up to 255. We are working in
binary here and writing it out in decimal. This is where novice network engineers can get
stuck. Just picture each box as a rolling set of numbers like an odometer in a car. It
just rolls from 0 to 1 to 2 to 3 and so on until it reaches 255 and then it rolls back to 0.

Take one away from the second subnet 192.168.1.64 so the broadcast address for your
first subnet is 192.168.1.63.

To get the last host address take one away from that number. The answer is
192.168.1.62.

This is what we are left with:

Subnet 1st Host Last Host Broadcast

192.168.1.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.62 192.168.1.63

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http://www.subnetting-secrets.com/easy_way_to_subnet.html 6/23/2009