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Subnetting in Networking

The document discusses subnetting in networking. Some key points: - Subnetting involves dividing a single network into multiple subnetworks called subnets. - It improves security and makes network maintenance and administration easier. - Each subnet has a unique network address called the subnet ID, which is created by borrowing bits from the host ID portion of IP addresses. - There are two types of subnetting: fixed length and variable length. Fixed length uses the same subnet mask for all subnets, while variable length allows different subnet masks. - Examples show how to divide a sample network into 2, 4, and 3 subnets using subnetting. The process and properties of each new subnet are described.

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Shariff Oluoch Odiwuor
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© © All Rights Reserved
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154 views

Subnetting in Networking

The document discusses subnetting in networking. Some key points: - Subnetting involves dividing a single network into multiple subnetworks called subnets. - It improves security and makes network maintenance and administration easier. - Each subnet has a unique network address called the subnet ID, which is created by borrowing bits from the host ID portion of IP addresses. - There are two types of subnetting: fixed length and variable length. Fixed length uses the same subnet mask for all subnets, while variable length allows different subnet masks. - Examples show how to divide a sample network into 2, 4, and 3 subnets using subnetting. The process and properties of each new subnet are described.

Uploaded by

Shariff Oluoch Odiwuor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Subnetting in Networking-

In networking,

 The process of dividing a single network into multiple sub networks is called as subnetting.
 The sub networks so created are called as subnets.
 

Example-
 

Following diagram shows the subnetting of a big single network into 4 smaller subnets-

Advantages-
 

The two main advantages of subnetting a network are-

 It improves the security.


 The maintenance and administration of subnets is easy.
 

Subnet ID-
 

 Each subnet has its unique network address known as its Subnet ID.
 The subnet ID is created by borrowing some bits from the Host ID part of the IP Address.
 The number of bits borrowed depends on the number of subnets created.
 

Types of Subnetting-
 

Subnetting of a network may be carried out in the following two ways-

1. Fixed Length Subnetting


2. Variable Length Subnetting
 

1. Fixed Length Subnetting-


 

Fixed length subnetting also called as classful subnetting divides the network into subnets where-

 All the subnets are of same size.


 All the subnets have equal number of hosts.
 All the subnets have same subnet mask.
 

2. Variable Length Subnetting-


 

Variable length subnetting also called as classless subnetting divides the network into subnets
where-

 All the subnets are not of same size.


 All the subnets do not have equal number of hosts.
 All the subnets do not have same subnet mask.
 

Subnetting Examples-
 

Now, we shall discuss some examples of subnetting a network-

 
Example-01:
 

Consider-

 We have a big single network having IP Address 200.1.2.0.


 We want to do subnetting and divide this network into 2 subnets.
 

Clearly, the given network belongs to class C.

Also Read- Classes of IP Address


 

For creating two subnets and to represent their subnet IDs, we require 1 bit.

So,

 We borrow one bit from the Host ID part.


 After borrowing one bit, Host ID part remains with only 7 bits.
 

 If borrowed bit = 0, then it represents the first subnet.


 If borrowed bit = 1, then it represents the second subnet.
 
IP Address of the two subnets are-

 200.1.2.00000000 = 200.1.2.0
 200.1.2.10000000 = 200.1.2.128
 

For 1st Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.0


 Total number of IP Addresses = 27 = 128
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 128 – 2 = 126
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.00000000, 200.1.2.01111111] = [200.1.2.0, 200.1.2.127]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.01111111 = 200.1.2.127
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

For 2nd Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.128


 Total number of IP Addresses = 27 = 128
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 128 – 2 = 126
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.10000000, 200.1.2.11111111] = [200.1.2.128, 200.1.2.255]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.11111111 = 200.1.2.255
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

Example-02:
 
Consider-

 We have a big single network having IP Address 200.1.2.0.


 We want to do subnetting and divide this network into 4 subnets.
 

Clearly, the given network belongs to class C.

For creating four subnets and to represent their subnet IDs, we require 2 bits.

So,

 We borrow two bits from the Host ID part.


 After borrowing two bits, Host ID part remains with only 6 bits.
 

 If borrowed bits = 00, then it represents the 1st subnet.


 If borrowed bits = 01, then it represents the 2nd subnet.
 If borrowed bits = 10, then it represents the 3rd subnet.
 If borrowed bits = 11, then it represents the 4th subnet.
 

IP Address of the four subnets are-

 200.1.2.00000000 = 200.1.2.0
 200.1.2.01000000 = 200.1.2.64
 200.1.2.10000000 = 200.1.2.128
 200.1.2.11000000 = 200.1.2.192
 

For 1st Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.0


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.00000000, 200.1.2.00111111] = [200.1.2.0, 200.1.2.63]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.00111111 = 200.1.2.63
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

For 2nd Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.64


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.01000000, 200.1.2.01111111] = [200.1.2.64, 200.1.2.127]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.01111111 = 200.1.2.127
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

For 3rd Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.128


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.10000000, 200.1.2.10111111] = [200.1.2.128, 200.1.2.191]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.10111111 = 200.1.2.191
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

For 4th Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.192


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.11000000, 200.1.2.11111111] = [200.1.2.192, 200.1.2.255]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.11111111 = 200.1.2.255
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

Example-03:
 

Consider-

 We have a big single network having IP Address 200.1.2.0.


 We want to do subnetting and divide this network into 3 subnets.
 

Here, the subnetting will be performed in two steps-

1. Dividing the given network into 2 subnets


2. Dividing one of the subnets further into 2 subnets
 

Step-01: Dividing Given Network into 2 Subnets-


 

The subnetting will be performed exactly in the same way as performed in Example-01.

After subnetting, we have-

 
 

Step-02: Dividing One Subnet into 2 Subnets-


 

 We perform the subnetting of one of the subnets further into 2 subnets.


 Consider we want to do subnetting of the 2nd subnet having IP Address 200.1.2.128.
 

For creating two subnets and to represent their subnet IDs, we require 1 bit.

So,

 We borrow one more bit from the Host ID part.


 After borrowing one bit, Host ID part remains with only 6 bits.
 

 If 2nd borrowed bit = 0, then it represents one subnet.


 If 2nd borrowed bit = 1, then it represents the other subnet.
 

IP Address of the two subnets are-


 200.1.2.10000000 = 200.1.2.128
 200.1.2.11000000 = 200.1.2.192
 

Finally, the given single network is divided into 3 subnets having IP Address-

 200.1.2.0
 200.1.2.128
 200.1.2.192
 

For 1st Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.0


 Total number of IP Addresses = 27 = 128
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 128 – 2 = 126
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.00000000, 200.1.2.01111111] = [200.1.2.0, 200.1.2.127]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.01111111 = 200.1.2.127
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

For 2nd Subnet-


 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.128


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.10000000, 200.1.2.10111111] = [200.1.2.128, 200.1.2.191]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.10111111 = 200.1.2.191
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 
For 3rd Subnet-
 

 IP Address of the subnet = 200.1.2.192


 Total number of IP Addresses = 26 = 64
 Total number of hosts that can be configured = 64 – 2 = 62
 Range of IP Addresses = [200.1.2.11000000, 200.1.2.11111111] = [200.1.2.192, 200.1.2.255]
 Direct Broadcast Address = 200.1.2.11111111 = 200.1.2.255
 Limited Broadcast Address = 255.255.255.255
 

Disadvantages of Subnetting-
 

Point-01:
 

Subnetting leads to loss of IP Addresses.

During subnetting,

 We have to face a loss of IP Addresses.


 This is because two IP Addresses are wasted for each subnet.
 One IP address is wasted for its network address.
 Other IP Address is wasted for its direct broadcasting address.
 

Point-02:
 

Subnetting leads to complicated communication process.

After subnetting, the communication process becomes complex involving the following 4 steps-

1. Identifying the network


2. Identifying the sub network
3. Identifying the host
4. Identifying the process
 
PRACTICE PROBLEMS BASED ON SUBNETTING IN
NETWORKING-
 

Problem-01:
 

Suppose a network with IP Address 192.16.0.0. is divided into 2 subnets, find number of hosts per
subnet.

Also for the first subnet, find-

1. Subnet Address
2. First Host ID
3. Last Host ID
4. Broadcast Address
 

Solution-
 

 Given IP Address belongs to class C.


 So, 24 bits are reserved for the Net ID.
 The given network is divided into 2 subnets.
 So, 1 bit is borrowed from the host ID part for the subnet IDs.
 Then, Number of bits remaining for the Host ID = 7.
 Thus, Number of hosts per subnet = 27 = 128.
 

For 1st Subnet-


 

 Subnet Address = First IP Address = 192.16.0.00000000 = 172.16.0.0


 First Host ID = 192.16.0.00000001 = 192.16.0.1
 Last Host ID = 192.16.0.01111110 = 192.16.0.126
 Broadcast Address = Last IP Address = 192.16.0.01111111 = 172.16.0.127
 

Problem-02:
 

What is not true about subnetting?

1. It is applied for a single network


2. It is used to improve security
3. Bits are borrowed from network portion
4. Bits are borrowed from Host portion
 

Solution-
 

Clearly, Option (C) is correct.

Problem-03:
 

In a class B, network on the internet has a subnet mask of 255.255.240.0. What is the maximum
number of hosts per subnet?

1. 4096
2. 4094
3. 4092
4. 4090
 

Solution-
 

 Number of bits reserved for network ID in the given subnet mask = 20.
 So, Number of bits reserved for Host ID = 32 – 20 = 12 bits.
 Thus, Number of hosts per subnet = 212 – 2 = 4094.
 In class B, 16 bits are reserved for the network.
 So, Number of bits reserved for subnet ID = 20 – 16 = 4 bits.
 Number of subnets possible = 24 = 16.
 Thus, Option (B) is correct.

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