Introduction to Subnetworks

What Is a Subnet?
A Series of Networks within a Network
Created by subdividing the Host address
field and creating a Subnetwork Field
All Hosts on a Subnetwork share a common
subnetwork address

Why Subnet a Network?
Provides Greater Organization of Large
Networks (Class A 16 Million Hosts!)
Allows Additional Networks (subnets)
without applying for additional IPs
Gives local administrators more control
Provides a Third Level of Hierarchy
Reduces the Size of Broadcast Domains

How Do You Create Subnets?
Bits are Borrowed from the Host Field
This Creates a Subnet Field in the IP address




Class C Subnets
Network Network Network Host
S H H H H H H S

Two Bits Borrowed from the Host Field to form a
third layer of hierarchy - A Subnet Field
Two Bits must always remain so a maximum of 6
Bits may be borrowed from a Class C network
How many bits can be borrowed from a Class B
network? From a Class A network?
Class C Subnets
Network Network Network Host
S H H H H H H S

The number of Subnets Created is calculated using
the following formula:
# Subnets Created = 2
# Borrowed Bits
Class C Subnets
S H H H H H H S

Borrow 2 Bits = 2
2
= 4 Subnets

S S S H H H H S

Borrow 4 Bits = 2
4
= 16 Subnets

S H S H H H H S

Borrow 3 Bits = 2
3
= 8 Subnets

Class C Subnets
S S S S H H H S

Borrow 5 Bits = 2
5
= 32 Subnets

Borrow 7 Bits = Cannot
Two Host Bits Must Remain

S S S S S H H S

Borrow 6 Bits = 2
6
= 64 Subnets

How Many Subnets?
Borrowed
Class Bits #Subnets
A,B,C 2 4
A,B,C 3 8
A,B,C 4 16
A,B,C 5 32
A,B,C 6 64
A,B 7 128
A,B 8 256
A,B 9 512
A,B 10 1,024
A,B 11 2,048
A,B 12 4,096
A,B 13 8,192
A,B 14 16,384
A 15 32,768
A 16 65,536
A 17 131,072
A 18 262,144
A 19 524,288
A 20 1,048,576
A 21 2,097,152
A 22 4,194,304
If you Borrow 2 Host Bits you do NOT get
4 Subnets. Why?
Remember the Network Address and
Broadcast Address - Both of these addresses
are Reserved, they cannot be used!
How Many Subnets?
Borrow 2 Bits = 2
2
= 4 Subnets

How Many Subnets?
Borrowed Available
Class Bits #Subnets Subnets
A,B,C 2 4 2
A,B,C 3 8 6
A,B,C 4 16 14
A,B,C 5 32 30
A,B,C 6 64 62
A,B 7 128 126
A,B 8 256 254
A,B 9 512 510
A,B 10 1,024 1,022
A,B 11 2,048 2,046
A,B 12 4,096 4,094
A,B 13 8,192 8,190
A,B 14 16,384 16,382
A 15 32,768 32,766
A 16 65,536 65,534
A 17 131,072 131,070
A 18 262,144 262,142
A 19 524,288 524,286
A 20 1,048,576 ########
A 21 2,097,152 ########
How Many Hosts/Subnet?
Network Network Network Host
S H H H H H H S

The number of Hosts per subnet is calculated using
the following formula:
# Hosts/Subnet = 2
# Host Bits Remaining
# Hosts = 2
6
= 64 hosts/subnet

If there are 6 Host Bits remaining you do
NOT get 64 Hosts/Subnet. Why?
Each subnetwork has its own Subnetwork
Address and Broadcast Address - Both of
these addresses are Reserved and cannot be
used!
Thus only 62 Hosts are available.
How Many Hosts/Subnet?
6 Host Bits Remain = 2
6
= 64 Hosts

How Many Hosts/Subnet?
Borrowed Remaining Available
Class Bits Host Bits #Hosts Hosts
C 2 6 64 62
C 3 5 32 30
C 4 4 16 14
C 5 3 8 6
C 6 2 4 2
B 7 9 512 510
B 8 8 256 254
B 9 7 128 126
B 10 6 64 62
B 11 5 32 30
B 12 4 16 14
B 13 3 8 6
B 14 2 4 2
Remember to subtract 2 for the Network
Address and Broadcast Address.


Remember to subtract 2 for the Subnetwork
Address and Subnetwork Broadcast
Address.
Formulas to Remember!
# Subnets Created = 2
# Borrowed Bits
# Hosts/Subnet = 2
# Host Bits Remaining
Subnetting is not an easy concept to grasp
but you can make life easier on yourself if
you will Remember the formulas and rules.
Failure to remember this information will
guarantee your inability to subnet a
network.
If you require assistance with subnetting I
must see your formulas before I will help
you. Flash cards work great!
Subnetting Made Easier!