INTRODUCTION TO

CLASSLESS ROUTING

CLASSFUL ADDRESSING
The original IPv4 address architecture used an 8 bit
network number for Class A addresses, a 16 bit
network number for Class B addresses, and a 24
bit network number for Class C addresses.
Class A

1 - 126
Network

Class B

Host
128 - 191

Network

Class C
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Host
192 - 223

Network

Host

CLASSFUL ADDRESSING

Classful addressing (A, B, C, etc.) is basically

obsolete.
The Class System
Application

Number of
Network Bits

Number of
Host Bits

Decimal
Address
Range

Number of
Addresses

Number of
Possible Host

Class A

Large
Networks

8 bits

24 bits

1 - 126

126

16,777,214

Class B

Medium-sized
Networks

16 bits

16 bits

128 - 191

65,534

65,534

Class C

Small Networks

24 bits

8 bits

192 - 223

2,097,152

254

Address
Class

3
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

WHAT IS VLSM?
A Variable Length Subnet Mask (VLSM) is a means
of allocating IP addressing resources to subnets
according to their individual need rather than
some general network-wide rule.
VLSM allows an organization to use more than one
subnet mask within the same network address
space. It is often referred to as subnetting a
subnet, and can be used to maximize addressing
efficiency.
Large subnets are created for addressing LANs and
small subnets are created for WAN links (a 30 bit
mask is used to create subnets with only two
host).
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

SUBNETTING VS. VLSM

Subnetting allows you to divide big
networks into smaller, equal-sized slices.
VLSM allows you to divide big networks
into smaller, different-sized slices. This
enables you to make maximum use of
your valuable IP address space.
So basically, you are now utilizing subnet
masks in the same IP address space.

5
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

ROUTING PROTOCOLS SUPPORTING

VLSM

RIP v2
EIGRP
OSPF

6
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

ADDRESSING A NETWORK WITH

STANDARD SUBNETTING
Site A has two Ethernet networks
Site B had one Ethernet network
Site C had one Ethernet network
Site A

Site B

Site C

10 users

8 users

207.21.24.0 /24
25 users

25 users

How many network addresses are needed?

How many hosts are needed for the largest LAN?
How many bits need to be borrowed to address this
network?
7
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

ADDRESSING A NETWORK WITH

STANDARD SUBNETTING
Site A has two Ethernet networks
Site B had one Ethernet network

Site A

Site C had one Ethernet network25 users

25 users

Site B

Site C

10 users

8 users

If we borrow 3 bits from a class C address, that will give

us eight networks, but we can only use six of them. Each
network will have 30 usable addresses.
It will take four network addresses to accommodate the
Ethernet networks at each site. That leaves us with two
extra networks.
There is also a point-to-point WAN connection between
each site. These two connections will take up the
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

ADDRESSING A NETWORK WITH

STANDARD SUBNETTING
Borrowing 3 bits will meet the current needs of the
company, but it leaves little room for growth.
Each network will have 30 usable addresses,
including the point-to-point WAN links (which
only require two addresses).
Subnet # Subnet Address
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

207.21.24.0
207.21.24.32
207.21.24.64
207.21.24.96
207.21.24.128
207.21.24.160
207.21.24.192
207.21.24.224

Bits
Masked
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27

207.21.24.0
Site A

25 users 25 users

Site B

10 users

Site C

8 users

9
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

We can use subnet 0

To enable subnet 0 on a Cisco router (if not already
enabled), it is necessary to use the global configuration
command ip subnet-zero.
Router# configure terminal (config t)
Router(config)# ip subnet-zero
To disable subnet 0, use the no form of this command.
Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# no ip subnet-zero
10
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Subnetting in a Box
To begin, in a
class C network
there are 256
addresses. When
we subnet the
address, we break
it down in to
smaller units or
subnets.

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

256 addresses

11
255

Subnetting in a Box
If we were to
borrow 1 bit, it
would break the
256 addresses in
to two parts
(networks) with
each part (subnet)
having 128
addresses.

128

128 addresses

128 addresses

The subnet mask

would be
255.255.255.128.

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

127

12
255

Subnetting in a Box
0
If we were to
borrow 2 bits, it
would break each
of these 2
networks in half
again. This would
give us 4
networks, each
with 64 addresses.

The subnet mask

would now be
255.255.255.192.

128

64 addresses

64 addresses

63
192

64

64 addresses

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

191

64 addresses

127

13
255

Subnetting in a Box
32
0
128
160
If we were to
borrow 3 bits, it
would break each
of these 4
32
32
32
32
networks in half
addresses addresses addresses addresses
again. This would
give us 8
networks, each
159
31
63
191
with 32 addresses.

The subnet mask

would now be
255.255.255.224.

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

64

192

96

32
addresses

95

32
addresses

127

224

32
addresses

223

32
addresses

14
255

Subnetting in a Box
0
If we were to
borrow 4 bits, it
16
would break each
addresses
of these 8
15
networks in half
16
again. This would
16
give us 16
addresses
networks, each
31
with 16 addresses.

The subnet mask

would now be
255.255.255.240.

64

128

16
addresses

47

16
addresses

16
addresses
16
addresses

95

16
addresses

159

191
224

16
addresses

16
addresses
239

207
208

127

175

176

16
addresses

111

16
addresses

16
addresses

143

192

112

16
addresses

16
addresses

63

79

160

144

48

96

80

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

32

240

16
addresses

223

16
addresses

15
255

ADDRESSING A NETWORK USING

VLSM
When using VLSM to subnet an address, not all of the
subnets have to be the same size.
A different subnet mask may be applied to some of
the subnets to further subnet the address.
In order to take advantage of VLSM, the proper routing
protocol must be selected.
Not all routing protocols share subnetting information
in their routing table updates.
Classful Routing Protocols
(do not share subnet info)
RIP v1
IGRP

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Classless Routing Protocols

(do share subnet info)
RIP v2
EIGRP
OSPF
IS-IS

16

ADDRESSING A NETWORK USING

VLSM
To begin subnetting this network using VLSM,
identify the LAN with the largest number of hosts.
Subnet the address 207.21.24.0 /24 based on this
information.
Site A has two Ethernet networks (25 hosts each)
Site B had one Ethernet network (10 hosts)
Bits
Site
Ethernet
network (8 hosts)
SubnetC
# had
Subnetone
Address
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

207.21.24.0
207.21.24.32
207.21.24.64
207.21.24.96
207.21.24.128
207.21.24.160
207.21.24.192
207.21.24.224

Masked
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27
/27

Site A

25 users

25 users

Site B

Site C

10 users

8 users

17

ADDRESSING A NETWORK USING

VLSM
Subnet 1 & 2 can be used to address Site A Ethernet
networks. Subnet 5 can be subnetted to accommodate
Site B & C Ethernet networks. Subnet 6 can be
subnetted to accommodate the WAN
links.Site B
Site C
Site A
Subnet # Subnet Address

Site A
Free
Addresses
Site B &
WANClinks

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

207.21.24.0 /27
207.21.24.32 /27
207.21.24.64 /27
207.21.24.96 /27
207.21.24.128 /27
207.21.24.160 /27
207.21.24.192 /27
207.21.24.224 /27

25 users 25 users

10 users

8 users

Sub-subnet 0 207.21.24.160
Sub-subnet 1 207.21.24.176

/28
/28

Site B
Site C

Sub-subnet 0
Sub-subnet 1
Sub-subnet 2
Sub-subnet 3
Sub-subnet 4
Sub-subnet 5
Sub-subnet 6
Sub-subnet 7

/30
/30
/30
/30
/30
/30
/30
/30

WAN
1&2

207.21.24.192
207.21.24.196
207.21.24.200
207.21.24.204
207.21.24.208
207.21.24.212
207.21.24.216
207.21.24.220

Free
Addresses

18

ADDRESSING A NETWORK USING

VLSM
Through applying VLSM, the topology was able to be
addressed and still have two complete subnets
available for future growth.
Site B

Site A

207.21.24.192 /
30

207.21.24.32 /27
25 users

207.21.24.196 /
30

207.21.24.64 /27
25 users

Site C

207.21.24.160 /
28
10 users

207.21.24.176 /
28
8 users

19
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

ADDRESSING A NETWORK USING

VLSM
Your
company has been
EXERCISE
1 assigned IP network 195.39.71.0 /
24. Given that headquarters (60 hosts) is connected to
five branch offices (12 hosts each) by a WAN link, and to
an ISP (the ISP owns the addresses on that link),
determine an appropriate IP addressing scheme.
Headquarters
ISP

60 users

Branch 1
12 users

Branch 2
12 users

Branch 3
12 users

Branch 4
12 users

Branch 5
12 users

20
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Given the IP
address
195.39.71.0 /24,
subnet according
to the largest
subnet needed.
(Headquarters 60
hosts)

128

63

You would need to

borrow 2 bits or /
26. This would
give you 4
networks with 64
host addresses on
each subnet.

192

64

127
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

191

255
21

Playing it safe, we
will not use the
first subnet
(subnet 0).

64
We will start
addressing with
195.39.71.64 /26.
Headquarters
needs 60 hosts, so
we will assign
them .64 - .127.

128

192
Headquarters
60 hosts
26 bit mask or /26
(255.255.255.192)

22
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

The 5 Branch
offices only need
12 hosts each.
The next address
block available is
the .128 - .191
block (64
addresses). Here
we will apply
VLSM.
Using a /28 mask
will give us 16
hosts at each
location. This will
take care of 4 of
the Branch offices.
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

128

160

Branch 3
Branch 1
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

144

176

Branch 4
Branch 2
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

192

64
Headquarters
60 hosts
26 bit mask or /26
(255.255.255.192)

23

To obtain a block
for Branch 5, we
will need to subnet
the .192 - .255
block using a /28
mask.

128

160

Branch 3
Branch 1
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

144

176

Branch 4
Branch 2
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

192

64
Headquarters
60 hosts
26 bit mask or /26

224

Branch 5
12 hosts
/28
(255.255.255.240)

208

(255.255.255.192)

24
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

0
Now we need to
address the 5
WAN links that
connect to the
Branch offices.
These are point-topoint connections
and only require 2
addresses.

128

Branch 3
Branch 1
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

144

176

Branch 4
Branch 2
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

192

64

Here we will use

a /30 mask to
further subnet the
subnets.

160

Headquarters
60 hosts
26 bit mask or /26
(255.255.255.192)

224

WAN
1

Branch 5
12 hosts
/28
228
(255.255.255.240) WAN
2

208

240

WAN
5

232

WAN
3

236

WAN
4

248

244
25
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

The remaining
networks could be
used for future
growth of either
LANs or WANs.
Subnet 0 could
also be further
subnetted
according to the
needs of the
network.

128

160

Branch 3
Branch 1
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

144

176

Branch 4
Branch 2
12 hosts
12 hosts
/28
/28
(255.255.255.240) (255.255.255.240)

192

64
Headquarters
60 hosts
26 bit mask or /26
(255.255.255.192)

224

WAN
1

Branch 5
12 hosts
/28
228
(255.255.255.240) WAN
2

208

240

WAN
5

232

WAN
3

236

WAN
4

248

244
26
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Applying the Addresses to the Topology

Address
provided by ISP

5 .3
9 .7
19

195.39.71.144 /28

195.39.71.160 /28

5 .3

9 .7

1 .2

24

/30

30
0/

195.39.71.128 /28

19

.22
.71

1.2

12

/3 0

30

9
5.3
19

19

5.3

9 .7

1.2

/
08

195.39.71.216 /30

195.39.71.64 /26

195.39.71.176 /28

195.39.71.192 /28

27
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

CLASSLESS INTERDOMAIN ROUTING

CIDR (pronounced cider) ignores address class.

With CIDR, a router use a bit mask to determine the
network and host portions of an address.
CIDR replaced the categories (A, B, C, etc.) with a more
generalized network prefix. This prefix could be of any
length rather than just 8, 16, or 24 bits. This allows CIDR
to craft network address spaces according to the size of
a network instead of force-fitting networks into presized
network address spaces.
28
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

CLASSLESS INTERDOMAIN ROUTING

CIDR sounds a lot like VLSM

CIDR is usually discussed in general Internet
context (ISPs)
Uses custom length prefixes to reduce workload in key
Internet routers

VLSM is usually discussed in enterprise

context
Uses custom length prefixes to have better usage of
enterprise address space
29
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

CLASSLESS INTERDOMAIN ROUTING

Routers use the network-prefix, rather than the first

3 bits of the IP address, to determine the dividing
point between the network number and the host
number.
In the CIDR model, each piece of routing
information is advertised with a bit mask or
prefix-length ( /x ). The prefix-length is a way of
specifying the number of leftmost contiguous
bits in the network-portion of each routing table
entry.
30
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

CLASSLESS INTERDOMAIN ROUTING

For example, a network with 20 bits of network-number

and 12 bits of host-number would be advertised with a
20 bit prefix (/20).
The clever thing is that the IP address advertised with the
/20 prefix could be a former Class A, Class B, or Class
C.
All addresses with a /20 prefix represent the same
amount of address space (212 or 4,096 host addresses).
20 bits network + 12 bits host
31
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

CLASSLESS INTERDOMAIN ROUTING

Instead of handing out an entire A, B, or C network to
an organization, address space can be assigned in
chunks that fit the need.
If an organization needs 254 host addresses, what
difference does it make whether they are given:
a Class C (200.23.76.0 /24)
1/256th of a Class B (145.38.20.0 /24)
1/65,536th of a Class A (91.187.7.0 /24)

Using a /24 prefix, each of these specifies eight host

bits which will support 254 hosts.
Note: Each former Class C can be referred to as a /24.
32
CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Prefix Equivalents

CCNA v3.0 Semester 3

Network Prefix

Equivalent Number of Class Addresses

Number of Hosts

/27

1/8th of a Class C

32

/26

1/4th of a Class C

64

/25

1/2 of a Class C

128

/24

1 Class C or 1 /24

256

/23

2 Class C or 2 /24s

512

/22

4 Class C or 4 /24s

1,024

/21

8 Class C or 8 /24s

2,048

/20

16 Class C or 16 /24s

4,096

/19

32 Class C or 32 /24s

8,192

/18

64 Class C or 64 /24s

16,384

/17

128 Class C or 128 /24s

32,768

/16

256 Class C or 1 Class B

65,536

/15

512 Class C or 2 Class B

131,072

/14

1,024 Class C or 4 Class B

262,144

/13

2048 Class C or 8 Class B

524,288

/12

4096 Class C or 16 Class B

1,048,576

/11

8192 Class C or 32 Class B

2,097,152

/10

16384 Class C or 64 Class B

4,194,304

/9

32768 Class C or 128 Class B

8,388,608

/8

65,536 Class C or 256 Class B or 1 Class A

16,777,216

33