Subnet Mask Example
If you've ever worked with computer networks, you've probably come across the term subnet mask. It's an essential component of any IP address and determines which part of the address represents the network and which part represents the host.
To illustrate this concept, let's take the example of a small business with a local network. Suppose the network administrator assigns the IP address 192.168.1.0/24 to the network. The /24 notation indicates that the first 24 bits of the address represent the network, while the remaining 8 bits represent the host.
To convert this information into a subnet mask, we need to calculate the decimal value of the first 24 bits, which is 255.255.255.0 in dotted decimal notation. This number tells us that the first three octets of the address are used for network identification, and the last octet is reserved for hosts.
Now, let's say the business wants to create a subnet for their sales department, which will have up to 30 hosts. We can use the subnet mask 255.255.255.224 (/27 notation), which means that we're borrowing 3 bits from the host portion to create subnets, leaving 5 bits for hosts.
This calculation gives us eight possible subnets, each with 32 possible hosts. So, the IP address for the sales department could be 192.168.1.32/27 or 192.168.1.64/27, depending on which subnet we assign.
In conclusion, understanding subnet masks is crucial for designing and managing computer networks. With some basic math and binary manipulation, you can create subnets to suit your organization's needs and ensure efficient network utilization.