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Subnetting Tutorial Subnetting Made Easy

September 28th, 2011 Go to comments
Calculate how many networks and hosts-per-subnet
In our example, you may raise a question: when we borrow 8 bits, how many sub-networks and how
many hosts per sub-network do it create?
Note: From now, we will call sub-networks subnets. This term is very popular so you should be
familiar with it.
How many new subnets?
Because we can change any bit in the second octet to create a new subnet, each bit can be 0 or 1 so
with this subnet mask (255.255.0.0) we can create 28 more subnets. From here we can deduce the
formula to calculate the newly created subnets. Suppose n is the number of bits we borrow:
The number of newly created subnets = 2n
In our example, we borrow 8 bits so we will have 2n = 28 = 256 subnets!
How many hosts per subnet?
The number of hosts per subnet is depended on the Host part, which is indicated by the 0 part of the
subnet mask. So suppose k is the number of bits 0 in the subnet mask. The formula to calculate the
number of hosts is 2k. But notice that with each subnet, there are two addresses we cant assign for hosts
because they are used for network address & broadcast address. Thus we must subtract the result to 2.
Therefore the formula should be:
The number of hosts per subnet = 2k 2
In our example, the number of bit 0 in the subnet mask 255.255.0.0 (in binary form) is 16 so we will
have 2k 2 = 216 2 = 65534 hosts-per-subnet!
Some other examples

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Well, practice makes perfect so we should have some more exercises to be familiar with them. But
remember that this is only the beginning in your journey to become a subnetting guru :)
Exercise 1
Your company has just been assigned the network 4.0.0.0. How many subnets and hosts-per-subnet you
can create with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0?
(Please try to solve by yourself before reading the solution ^^)
Solution
First of all you have to specify which class this network belongs to. According to Table 1, it belongs to
class A (simply, class A ranges from 1 to 126) and its default subnet mask is 255.0.0.0. Therefore if we
use a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, it means we borrowed 16 bits (to convert from 0 to 1).
255.0.0.0 = 1111 1111.0000 0000.0000 0000.0000 0000
255.255.255.0 = 1111 1111.1111 1111.1111 1111.0000 0000
Now use our above formulas to find the answers:
The number of newly created subnets = 216 = 65536 (with 16 is the borrowed bits)
The number of hosts per subnet = 28 2 = 254 (with 8 is the bit 0s left in the 255.255.255.0 subnet
mask)
Exercise 2
Your company has just been assigned the network 130.0.0.0. How many subnets and hosts-per-subnet
you can create with a subnet mask of 255.255.128.0?
(Please try to solve by yourself before reading the solution ^^)
Solution
130.0.0.0 belongs to class B with the default subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. But is the subnet mask of
255.255.128.0 strange? Ok, lets write all subnet masks in binary:
255.255.128.0 = 1111 1111.1111 1111.1000 0000.0000 0000
This is a valid subnet because all bit 1s and 0s are successive. Comparing to the default subnet
mask, we borrowed only 1 bit:
255.255.0.0 = 1111 1111.1111 1111.0000 0000.0000 0000
Therefore:
The number of newly created subnets = 21 = 2 (with 1 is the borrowed bits)
The number of hosts per subnet = 215 2 = 32766 (with 15 is the bit 0s left in the 255.255.128.0

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subnet mask)
Exercise 3
Your company has just been assigned the network 198.23.16.0/28. How many subnets and hosts-persubnet you can create with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.252?
(Please try to solve by yourself before reading the solution ^^)
Solution
In this exercise, your company was given a subnetted network from the beginning and it is not using
the default subnet mask. So we will compare two subnet masks above:
/28 = 1111 1111.1111 1111.1111 1111.1111 0000 (=255.255.255.240)
255.255.255.252 = 1111 1111.1111 1111.1111 1111.1111 1100 (= /30)
In this case we borrowed 2 bits. Therefore:
The number of newly created subnets = 22 = 4 (with 2 is the borrowed bits)
The number of hosts per subnet = 22 2 = 2 (with 2 is the bit 0s left in the 255.255.255.252 subnet
mask)
In this exercise I want to go a bit deeper into the subnets created. We learned there are 4 created subnets
but what are they? To find out, we should write all things in binary:

Because two subnet masks (/28 & /30) only affect the 4th octet so we dont care about the first three
octets. In the 4th octet we are allowed to change 2 bits (in the green box) of the IP address to create a
new subnet. So there are 4 values we can use: 00, 01, 10 & 11. After changing, we convert them back to
decimal numbers. We get 4 subnets:
+ First subnet: 198.23.16.0/30 (the 4th octet is 00000000)
+ Second subnet: 198.23.16.4/30 (the 4th octet is 00000100)
+ Third subnet: 198.23.16.8/30 (the 4th octet is 00001000)
+ Fourth subnet: 198.23.16.12/30 (the 4th octet is 00001100)
So how about hosts per subnet? Please notice that all these 4 subnets are successive. So we can deduce

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the range of these subnets:

+ First subnet: ranges from 198.23.16.0 to 198.23.16.3
+ Second subnet: ranges from 198.23.16.4 to 198.23.16.7
+ Third subnet: ranges from 198.23.16.8 to 198.23.16.11
+ Fourth subnet: ranges from 198.23.16.12 to 198.23.16.15
Lets analyze the first subnet which ranges from 198.23.16.0 to 198.23.16.3. Notice that all networks
(and subnets) have a network address and a broadcast address. In this case, the network address is
198.23.16.0 and the broadcast address is 198.23.16.3 and they are not assignable or usable for hosts.
This is the reason why we have to subtract 2 in the formula The number of hosts per subnet = 2k 2.
After eliminating these 2 addresses we have 2 addresses left (which are 198.23.16.1 & 198.23.16.2) as
calculated above.
In the next part we will learn how to calculate subnet quickly. This is also a must requirement for
CCNA so you have to grasp it.
Pages: 1 2 3
Comments (239) Comments
Comment pages
Previous 1 3 4 5 850
1. Raju Gupta
June 30th, 2015
i Really influnce by ur Teaching ..methodology..great work..
2. ghafleks
July 2nd, 2015
well done, suppose this type of question came out in exam.with this type of example how do u
expect me to convert 2^16 with no calculator?
3. philip yakwa
July 13th, 2015
fantastic expresed
4. Anonymous
July 14th, 2015
In Exercise 3 , no of host should be 2^4=16(here we borrow 4 bits) and no of host =2^162=65534.
Please let me correct if im wrong.
5. Anonymous
July 14th, 2015

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Anonymous July 14th, 2015 In Exercise 3 , no of network should be 2^4=16(here we borrow 4

bits) and no of host =2^16-2=65534.
Please let me correct if im wrong.
6. Alexie Nepeh
July 17th, 2015
@ Anonymous No, you are wrong. The network address 198.23.16.0/28 has been sub-netted
already this is a class c network and the subnet mask should be 255.255.255.0 in decimal,
11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000 in binary and the actual address 198.23.16.0/24. but
instead the address given is 198.23.16.0/28, which means we have borrowed 4 bits already. so
in order to create subnets with the given mask( 255.255.255.252), we need just to borrow 2 bits.
hope im clear
7. premkuamr K
July 21st, 2015
Really great work bro
8. ghfff
July 26th, 2015
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9. ghghgfhgf
July 26th, 2015
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10. clinton
August 12th, 2015
i need a help on these question (because of increased enrolment,Arcitic university is expanding its
stundent computers services by additional six computers labs located on the main campus.Each
lab will contain 100 new windows XP-base computers. To reduce the amount of network traffic
and increase control ,you recommend that each new lab be configured as a separate subnet .The
new computers labs caan use the network ID 172.16.0.0.What subnet masks will you use to subnet
the labs? What range of IP
Addresses can you assign to each lab? Use a table similar to the one show below to recor your
answer
11. pathu
August 13th, 2015
great
12. pathu

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August 13th, 2015

nice teaching method, this is a very easy method to calculate subnetting.
thank you very much
13. ggsf
August 18th, 2015
sdfgsdfgsdfg
14. yugantha
September 1st, 2015
youve done this in a very understanding way.thank you mate!!!
15. Anonymous
September 5th, 2015
what the max number of subnet can we get in class A and in Class B and C
16. Huh
September 18th, 2015
I still dont get it. you suck
17. Huh
September 18th, 2015
There has to be an easier way to do this. you suck
18. Anonymous
September 24th, 2015
can anyone provide me latest dumps on rahulpabale@yahoo.com
19. Anonimo
September 28th, 2015
wow da PUTO ASCO
20. Mcebo
September 29th, 2015
Can anyone provide me with the latest dumps pls at maphosamcebo@yahoo.com
21. Omo
September 30th, 2015
Thanks, bro. It helps me much more :)

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22. Omo
September 30th, 2015
Thanks, bro. It helps me much more :)
23. johnd
October 2nd, 2015
exercise 3, two subnet masks? how do you know which to use or how are both applied? I cant
follow the progression on this problem.
24. johnd
October 2nd, 2015
and this is a great site. its helped me nail down some concepts ive been struggling with. that 3rd
exercise though just isnt sinking in
25. Anonymous
October 3rd, 2015
First sentence after the first table: Class A addresses begin with a 0 bit.This is a poor
explanation. 10.16.32.100 is a class A. 172.15.10.200 is a class A. I dont understand your
methodology.
26. Anonymous
October 3rd, 2015
First sentence after the first table: Class A addresses begin with a 0 bit.This is a poor
explanation. 10.16.32.100 is a class A. 172.15.10.200 is a class A. I dont understand your
methodology. Forget it, i got it. bit.
27. Anonymous
October 9th, 2015
Dear,
I need free ccna dumps, I do hope that, you will not discourage me
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October 9th, 2015
engineer.shaikh89@gmail.com
29. Baqi Bellah Durrani
October 30th, 2015
Really impressive but i have one Question can we go to B and C sides as well?
30. Baqi Bellah Durrani
October 30th, 2015

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i need all your Teachings materials of CCNA

i need Dumps and as well guide to CCNA exam, our teacher didnt guide and toughs correctly.
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31. Baqi Bellah Durrani
October 30th, 2015
kindly
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Excellent workKeep It Up
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