Randomly generated questions available at www.subnettingquestions.

com
Increment 128

64

32

16

Mask
Value

192

224

240

248

252

254

255

128

There are two types of question:

Type 1: Design based question

How many subnets and hosts per subnet can you get from the network
192.168.244.0 255.255.255.224?

Step 1: what class is it?

Class C
Step 2: Default Subnet mask (CIDR)
/24
Step 3: Custom Mask (CIDR)
/27
Step 4: CM DSM = BB
27 24 = 3
Step 5: 2^BB = Number of networks
2 ^3 = 8 networks
Step 6: 32 CM = HB
32 27 = 5
Step 7: 2^hb-2 = Hosts
2^5 -2 = 30 Hosts

Answer: 8 subnets and 30 hosts

Subnetting Worksheet

Richard Price 2013-14

Randomly generated questions available at www.subnettingquestions.com

Increment

128

64

32

16

Mask
Value

128

192

224

240

248

252

254

255

Type2: subnet anatomy

What is the broadcast address of the network 172.17.88.0 255.255.248.0?
For these we will actually work out the network address, the first and last host, the broadcast address, and the
Next network.
Steps 1 & 2 focus exclusively on the subnet mask
Step 1: Workout which octet the split between network and host is i.e. the last 1 in the binary subnet mask
If in dotted decimal as above: 255.255.248.0
The last octet which isnt zero. So in this case it is the third
If in CIDR notation this would be given as /21
The octet divisions occur at bits 8, 16 & 24
Second octet: above 8 and below 16
Third octet: Above 16 below 24
Fourth octet: 24+
The given value of /21 indicates it is in the 3rd octet
Step2: Increment
If in dotted decimal as above:
Take the value from the octet chosen in step 1 (in this case 3rd)
Look at the subnet mask value in that octet (248)
Refer to the sheet above (a binary octet) and pick the number above it (8)
If in CIDR:
Take away from the CIDR value (21), the highest of these values 8, 16 or 24 (16)
This leaves us with a number (5)
On the grid above, count along from the Higher order bits, (starting at 128) by that number
This will also leave us pointing at the value 8
We now start to look exclusively at the IP address
Step3: List the IP address value for the octet identified in step 1, and is it a multiple of the increment (88)
In order to be a network address the value MUST be a multiple of the increment.
We are after the multiple of the increment either equal to or immediately below the number
In this case the value is 88 and it is a multiple of the increment
If it was 90 then the multiple immediately below would still be 88
We then add the increment (8) to this value (96)

Subnetting Worksheet

Richard Price 2013-14

Randomly generated questions available at www.subnettingquestions.com

Step 4: Work out addresses

In this example it is in the third octet.

The lower multiple (88) will become our subnet number in the increment identified in step 1 (3rd)

Subnet Number: 172.17.88._

We take the higher multiple (96) and it becomes the value for the next network

Next network: 172.17.96._

Since they are both subnet number the host portion is always 0 in binary, as in this instance this
covers the entire octet the resulting value will always be 0
If the split occurred in the fourth octet it would be the higher and lower multiples plus 0

Subnet
First host
Last Host
Broadcast
Next network

3rd
88

4th
0

96

3rd
88
88

4th
0
1

96

To work out the first host we add 1, to the fourth octet only

Subnet
First host
Last Host
Broadcast
Next network

To work out the broadcast we subtract 1 from the fourth octet of the next network

Subnet
First host
Last Host
Broadcast
Next network

3rd
88
88

4th
0
1

95
96

255
0

3rd
88
88
95
95
96

4th
0
1
254
255
0

We take another 1 from the fourth octet to find the last host
Subnet
First host
Last Host
Broadcast
Next network

From this we can work out the answer to the question what is the broadcast address

Answer: 172.17.95.255

Subnetting Worksheet

Richard Price 2013-14

Randomly generated questions available at www.subnettingquestions.com

Increment

128

64

32

16

Mask
Value

128

192

224

240

248

252

254

255

Lets do this again where the split is in the fourth octet

Which subnet does host 192.168.21.135/28 belong to?

Step 1: Workout which octet the split between network and host is i.e. the last 1 in the binary subnet mask
/28 is above 24 so therefore this is in the fourth octet
Step2: Increment
28 24 = 4
Therefore the increment counting along the top from 128 is 16
Step3: List the IP address value for the octet identified in step 1, and is it a multiple of the increment
135, is it a multiple of 16? No
The closest multiples are:
Immediately below: 128
Immediately above: 144
Step 4: Work out addresses
Lower multiple is our network, higher is next
To work out the first host we add 1, to the fourth octet only
To work out the broadcast we subtract 1 from the fourth octet of the next network
We take another 1 from the fourth octet to find the last host
From this we can work out the answer to the question what is the broadcast address

Subnet
First host
Last Host
Broadcast
Next network

4th
128
129
142
143
144

Answer: 192.168.21.128

Subnetting Worksheet

Richard Price 2013-14