This article outlines the steps required to break a Class A, B or C network down into multiple Subnets as defined by the number of Hosts required for each subnet.
Several examples are provided below, along with practice exercises (actual answers not provided.)
Use these examples to work on your speed! Goal: 2 – 3 Minutes per problem.
Steps Required to Break a Network into Subnets by the Number of Hosts
- Determine the Number of Hosts and Convert to Binary
- Reserve Bits in Subnet Mask and find the Increment
- Use Increment to find the Network Ranges
Network Scenario #1: 216.21.5.0 with 30 Hosts Each
1. Determine Bits required for Hosts
- 30 = 0001xxxx = 5 Bits (32 Increment)
2. Reserve Bits in Subnet Mask and Find Increment
- 11111111.11111111.1111111.11100000 = 255.255.255.224 (aka /27)
- Increment = -.-.-.11100000 = 32
- Max Networks = 8
- Max Hosts = 2^5 – 2 = 32 – 2 = 30
3. Calculate the ranges
- 216.21.5.0 – 216.21.5.31
- 216.21.5.32 – 216.21.5.63
- 216.21.5.64 – 216.21.5.95
- 216.21.5.96 – 216.21.5.127
- 216.21.5.128 – 216.21.5.159
- 216.21.5.160 – 216.21.5.191
- 216.21.5.192 – 216.21.5.223
- 216.21.5.224 – 216.21.5.255
Network Scenario #2: 195.5.20.0 with 50 Hosts Each
1. Convert Hosts to Bits
- 50 = 001xxxxx = 6 Bits
- Increment = 2^6 = 64
2. Reserve Bits and find Increment
- Save the Hosts -.-.-.11000000
- Find the Increment -.-.-.11000000 = 255.255.255.192 = /26
- Increment = 64
- Max Networks = 2^2 = 4
- Hosts / Subnet = 2^6 – 2 = 64 – 2 = 62
3. Calculate Ranges
- 195.5.20.0 – 195.5.20.63
- 195.5.20.64 – 195.5.20.127
- 195.5.20.128 – 195.5.20.191
- 195.5.20.192 – 195.5.20.255
Network Scenario #3: 150.5.0.0 with 500 Hosts Each
- Convert Hosts to Binary
- 500 = 00000001.xxxxxxxx = 9 Bits
- Increment = 2^9 = 512
2. Reserve Bits and determine Mask
- -.-.11111110.00000000 = 255.255.254.0 = /23
- Increment = -.-.11111110.00000000 = 2 in 3rd Octet
- Max Networks = 2^7 = 128
- Host / Subnet = 2^9 – 2 = 512 – 2 = 510 Hosts
3. Calculate Ranges
- 150.5.0.0 – 150.5.1.255
- 150.5.2.0 – 150.5.3.255
- 150.5.4.0 – 150.5.5.255
- 150.5.6.0 – 150.5.7.255
Network Scenario #4: 12.0.0.0 with 100 Hosts Each
- Convert Hosts to Binary
- 100 = 01xxxxxx = 7 Bits
- Increment = 128
2. Reserve Bits
- -.11111111.11111111.10000000 = 255.255.255.128 /25
- -.11111111.11111111.10000000 = 128 Increment
- Max Networks = 2^17 = 131,072
- Hosts / Subnet = 2^7 – 2 = 128 – 2 = 126
3. Calculate Ranges
- 12.0.0.0 – 12.0.0.127
- 12.0.0.128 – 12.0.0.255
- 12.0.1.0 – 12.0.1.127
- 12.0.1.128 – 12.0.1.255
- 12.0.2.0 – 12.0.2.127
On My Own
200.1.1.0 with 40 Hosts / Network
Class C
40 = 001xxxxx = 6 Bits = 64 Increment
Networks = -.-.-.11000000 = 4 Networks (2 ^ 2bits)
- 200.1.1.0 – .63
- 200.1.1.64 – .127
- 200.1.1.128 – .191
- 200.1.1.192 – .255
199.9.10.0 with 12 Hosts / Network
Class C
12 = 00001xxx = 4 bits = 16 Increment
Mask = -.-.-.11111000 = 255.255.255.248 / 29
- 199.9.10.0 – 199.9.10.15
- 199.9.10.16 – 199.9.10.31
- 199.9.10.32 – 199.9.10.47
- 199.9.10.48 – 199.9.10.63
- 199.9.10.64 – 199.9.10.79
170.50.0.0 with 1000 Hosts / Network
Class B
1000 = 0000001x.xxxxxxxx = 10 Bits = 1024 Increment = 1022 Hosts/Network
Mask -.-.11111100.00000000 = 255.255.252.0 = /14
- 170.50.0.0 – 170.50.3.255
- 170.50.4.0 – 170.50.7.255
- 170.50.8.0 – 170.50.11.255
- 170.50.12.0 – 170.50.15.255
12.0.0.0 with 100 Hosts / Network
Class A
100 = 01xxxxxx = 7 Bits = 128 Increment
Mask = 255.255.255.128
Networks = 2^17
- 12.0.0.0 – .127
- 12.0.0.128 – 255
- 12.0.1.0 – 127
- 12.0.1.128 – 255