CCNA Subnetting

Identifying Subnets
Is
Easier than You Think
Joe Lindo
Western Governors University Student
jlindo@my.wgu.edu

Know the Binary Method First

Using the conventional method, the most challenging subnet number to
find is one that resides within a 30-bit mask, 255.255.255.252. Knowing
how to translate from decimal to binary and back again is necessary for a
complete understanding, but its not good for test-taking or for real life.
From the formula to calculate the number of subnets, 2^n, we know that
there are 2^6 or 64 possible subnets. Starting at zero and adding multiples
of 4 until we find the subnet containing the target IP address takes too
much time to calculate. Starting at the top, 256, and subtracting multiples
of 4 is also tedious. Theres an easier way that still requires understanding
of the binary method but takes only a fraction of the time to compute.
From the chart on the following page, remember subnet numbers that
exist for each binary weight, like 96, 128, 160 and 192. They provide an
instant place to start when looking for a subnet number.
Some examples follow.

 Find the subnet for the IP address 192.168.15.230 255.255.255.252.

Examine the table in the previous slide and notice the relationships
highlighted in yellow for any of the mask values. They are multiples of 5
and 10 of the binary weight for that bit in the mask. In order to find the
subnet in which 192.168.15.230 255.255.255.252 resides, find the closest
multiple of 40 to the significant octet, 230. The results are subnet
numbers.

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Multiplied by

Equals

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

The significant octet for the IP address in the example, 192.168.15.230, falls
between subnet numbers 200 and 240. To further narrow the search, multiply
4 times 55 to get 220 then start adding 4 to 220 until the subnet is found. In
this case the subnet number for 192.168.15.230 is 192.168.15.228.
From the table below you can see that the total number of long-hand
calculations is drastically reduced. If you can do it in your head, follow the
bottom chart.

Plus

200

204

208

212

216

220

224

228

232

208

212

216

220

224

228

232

236

Equals 204

50
Multiplied by

Equals

200

7
Plus

28

This Subnet
Equals

Next Subnet
Plus 4 Equals

228

232

 Find the subnet number for IP address 192.168.100.211/29.

Without paper and pencil, 20 X 8 = 160 and 30 X 8 = 240. We now know
that the subnet number for 192.168.100.211/29 falls between subnets
160 and 240.
Resorting to long-hand arithmetic, we find that the subnet number is
192.168.100.208/29 (255.255.255.248)
160

168

176

184

192

200

208

216

Plus

Equals

168

176

184

192

200

208

216

224

20
Multiplied by

Equals

160

6
Plus

48

This Subnet
Equals

Next Subnet
Plus 8 Equals

208

216

 For the last example, calculate the subnet number for IP address
192.168.100.100/29.
Without paper and pencil, 10 X 8 = 80 and 20 X 8 = 160. We now know
that the subnet number for 100 falls between subnets 80 and 160.
Resorting to long-hand arithmetic, we find that the subnet number for IP
address 192.168.100.100/29 is 192.168.100.96/29 (255.255.255.248)
80

88

96

104

Plus

Equals

88

96

104

112

10
Multiplied by

Equals

80

2
Plus

16

This Subnet
Equals

Next Subnet
Plus 8 Equals

96

104

 You can see from the following table that 64 plus 32 equals 96. 128 on its
own is too big, and the addition of 64, 32 and any other of the available
weights for the mask value of 248 produces subnet numbers too large to
include 192.168.100.100/29. 100 is bigger than 96 and 96 + 8 = 104, which
is the next subnet number. In order to save time, you should be able to
identify the major (easier) subnet values without resorting to any
calculations. For example, a mask weight of /26 has only four subnets, 0,
64, 128 and 192.
Mask Weight

128

192

224

240

248

252

254

255

Mask Bits

Bit Weight

128

64

32

16