IP Subnet

In TCP/IP by default three sizes of networks are available: -

(1) Class A -224 PC -> 16777216
(2) Class B - 216 PC-> 65536
(3) Class C – 28 PC -> 256

In subneting, we will divide class A,B & C network into small size sub networks. This
procedure is called subneting.
Subneting is performed with the help of subnet mask. There are two types of
subneting that we performed: -
(1) FLSM Fixed Length Subnet Mask
(2) VLSM Variable Length Subnet Mask

Why to Sub?
(i) Default Class Network provide us large no. of PCs in comparison to the requirement
of PCs in the network.
(ii) It is practical never possible to create a class A or class B sized network.
To reduce the broadcast of network, we have to perform LAN segmentation of
routers. In each sub network, we need different network addresses.

How to Subnet?
In this formula, we will first modify our requirement according to the no. of subnet
possible then we calculate new subnet mask and create IP range.
Example 1
Class = C
No. of subnet =5

Step1
No. of subnet possible is 2,4,8,16,32……
Class= C
No. of subnets= 8

Step 2
Calculate key value
2? = No. of subnets
2? = 8
23= 8

Step 3
Calculate new subnet mask
In class C
Net id Host id
24+key 8-key
24+3 8-3
27 5
11111111.11111111.11111111.11100000
255. 255. 255. 224

We add this address to make subnet mask

Step 4
Range
No. of Pc/Subnet= Total Pc/ No. of Subnet
= 256/8 =32

In Class C
x.x.x.0 – x.x.x.31
(1)- (30)
x.x.x.32- x.x.x.63
64- 95
96- 127
128- 159
160- 191
192- 223
x.x.x.224-x.x.x.255

The first IP of each subnet will be subnet id and last IP will be sub network broadcast
address.

Example 2
Class= C
No. of subnet= 10

Step 1
No. of subnet= 16

Step 2
24= 16

Step 3
Net id Host id
24+4 8-4
11111111.11111111.11111111.11110000

Subneting method 2
Class=
No. of Pc/Sub= 8
Mask= ?
Range= ?
In this case we have to calculate the key according to the no. of per subnet according to
the key value the bits of subnet mask from right hand side are set to zero then range is
calculated.

Example
Class= C
No. of Pc/Sub=5

Step 1
No. of Pc/Subnet possible 4,8,16,32,64….

New requirement
Class= C
No. of Pc/Sub= 8

Step 2
2?= No. of Pc/Sub
2?= 8
23= 8

key 3

11111111.11111111.11111111.11111000
255. 255. 255. 248

No. of Subnet= Total Pc/(Pc/Sub)

= 256/8

Class C Sub Pc/Sub

255.255.255.248 32 8

200.100.100.0 200.100.100.7
.8 .15
.16 .23
.24 .31
.
.

Example 2
Class C
No. of Pc/Sub=50

Step 1
Class= C
No. of Pc/Sub= 64
Step 2
26= 64
11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000
255. 255. 255. 192

No. of subnet= 256/64= 4

Class C Sub Pc/Sub

255.255.255.192 4 64

Method 3
No. of Pc/Sub= 50

New req.
No. of Pc/Sub= 64

No. of Subnet= 256/64= 4

Class= C
No. of Sub= 4
22= 4
24+2 8-2
11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000
255. 255. 255. 192

Zero Subnet
According to the rules of IP Addressing the first subnet and last subnet is not useable due
to routing problem. In new Cisco router a command is present in default configuration.
With this command, we are able to use first and last Subnet after Subneting.
Command is
Router#config ter
Router(config)#ip subnet-zero
Router(config)#exit

Example: - Check whether an address is valid IP, N/w address or Broadcast address. If
IP is valid then calculate its N/w & Broadcast address.

200.100.100.197
255.255.255.240
28 4

200.100.100.197
200.100.100.1100 0101 Valid IP
200.100.100.192
200.100.100.1100 0000 Network address

200.100.100.207
200.100.100.1100 1111 Broadcast address

Example: -
Class= B
No. of subnet= 64
26= 64
11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000
255. 255. 255. 192

No. of Pc/Sub= 65536/64= 1024

150.20.0.0 – 150.20.3.255
150.20.4.0 – 150.20.7.255
150.20.8.0 – 150.20.11.255

Prefix Notation of representing IP Address

IP address can be written as IP & Mask as well as IP/Prefix.

200.100.100.18
255.255.255.248
200.100.100.18/29

170.20.6.6
255.255.255.224.0
170.20.6.6/19

This method is representing IP address also called CIDR (Classless Inter Domain
Routing) notation.

No Subneting
200.100.8.X
200.100.1.X
200.100.7.X 200.100.9.X

200.100.4.X 200.100.6.X
200.100.5.X
200.100.3.X
200.100.2.X
FLSM
200.100.1.112-127/28 200.100.1.128-143/28

200.100.1.95-111/28

200.100.1.48-63/28

200.100.1.80-95/28

200.100.1.64-79/28
200.100.1.32-47/28
200.100.0-15/28
200.100.1.16-31/28

Remaining Subnet
144 – 159
160 – 175
176 – 191
192 – 207
208 – 223
224 – 239
240 – 255

Problem with FLSM

In FLSM, we have to create subnet of equal size. All N/w will be allotted constant size
subnet instead of their IP addresses requirement. Due to this a N/w may be allotted more
than required IP address and less than required IP addresses.
VLSM
/25 /26 /27 /28 /29
255.255.255.128 255.255.255.192 255.255.255.224 255.255.255.240 255.255.255.248

Sub Pc/Sub Sub Pc/Sub Sub Pc/Sub Sub Pc/Sub Sub Pc/Sub
2 128 4 64 8 32 16 16 32 8

0 – 127 0 – 63 0 – 31 0 – 15 0–7
128 – 255 64 – 127 32 – 63 16 – 31 8 – 15
128 – 191 64 – 95 32 – 47 16 – 23
192 – 255 96 – 127 48 – 63 24 - 31
64 –79
80 – 95
96 – 111

/30
255.255.255.252

Sub Pc/Sub
64 4

0–3
4–7
8 – 11 20 30
12 – 15 32-63/30 64-95/27

2 IP
2 0-3/30
4-7/30
2 2
8-11/30 12-15/30

5
16-23/29

10 50
96-111/28 128-191/26

Remaining
24 – 31
112 – 127
If we are using VLSM and Dynamic Routing then routing be compatible to VLSM. This
will happen only if Subnet masks are also sends in the routing updates.

Super Netting
Combining small N/w to create a large size N/w is called Super Network. Super netting is
mostly used to define route summarizations in routing tables. It is not used for the
implementation of large network.

170.10.0.0 170.00001010.00000000.00000000

170.11.0.0 170.00001011.00000000.00000000