Understanding Subnet Calculations
Subnetting is the practice of dividing a network into smaller, more manageable segments. Each subnet has its own range of IP addresses, defined by the network address and subnet mask. This calculator helps you quickly determine all the essential values for any given IP address and CIDR prefix.
Key Terms Explained
- CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing): A notation that specifies the number of bits used for the network portion (e.g., /24 means 24 bits for network, 8 bits for hosts).
- Network Address: The first address in a subnet, identifying the network itself.
- Broadcast Address: The last address in a subnet, used to send data to all hosts in the network.
- Wildcard Mask: The inverse of the subnet mask, commonly used in ACLs and firewall rules.
Common CIDR Sizes
/8 (16.7M hosts) — Large enterprise networks
/16 (65,534 hosts) — Medium enterprise networks
/24 (254 hosts) — Standard LAN subnet
/28 (14 hosts) — Small office networks
/30 (2 hosts) — Point-to-point links
/32 (1 host) — Single host routes