You are the network administrator for your company. You have a Class B address range and are planning for a
network that allows 150 hosts per subnet and at least 164 subnets.
Which subnet mask should you use to accomplish the task?
A.
255.255.192.0
B.
255.255.255.192
C.
255.255.255.0
D.
255.255.255.252
Explanation:
You should use 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask to allow 150 hosts per subnet and at least 164 subnets. The
formulas used to calculate the number of subnets and hosts are:
Number of subnets = 2number-of-subnet-bits
Number of hosts per subnet = 2number-of-host-bits – 2
Subnet mask in decimal: 255.255.255.0
Subnet mask in binary: 11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000
Number of subnet bits: 8 (binary 1s in the subnet octet of the subnet mask)
Number of host bits: 8 (binary 0s in the subnet mask)
In this scenario, we find that for 255.255.255.0:
Subnets that can be used: 28 = 256
Hosts that can be used: 28 – 2 = 254The other options do not allow 150 hosts per subnet and at least 164 subnets.
If you use 255.255.192.0 as the subnet mask, then the total number of hosts that can be connected per subnet
is 16382 (214 – 2 = 16382). However, there will be 4 subnets (22 = 4).
If you use 255.255.255.192 as the subnet mask, there will be 62 hosts (26 – 2 = 62).
If you use 255.255.255.252 as the subnet mask, there will be two hosts per subnet (22 – 2 = 2).
Note: This mask is frequently used for a subnet that connects two routers. In that case, there are two interfaces
in the subnet, and thus it is most efficient use of the addressing space. This is also the most efficient way to
address a point-to-point serial link.
A note about the formulas: You will always subtract 2 from the number of hosts (2number-of-host-bits – 2)
because the all-zeroes bit address is reserved for the network address and the all-ones bit address is reserved
for the broadcast address.
Before Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0, it was common practice to subtract 2 from the networks formula
(2number-of-subnet-bits) to exclude the all-ones subnet and subnet zero. Today that range is usable, except
with some legacy systems. On certain networks with legacy software, you may need to use the previous
formula (2number-of-subnet-bits – 2) to calculate the number of valid subnets.
Objective:
Network Fundamentals
Sub-Objective:
Apply troubleshooting methodologies to resolve problemsCisco > Technology Support > IP > IP Routing > Design TechNotes > IP Addressing and Subnetting for New
Users > Document ID: 13788 > Understanding IP Addresses
Cisco > Technology Support > IP > IP Addressing Services > Design TechNotes > Subnet Zero and the AllOnes Subnet > Document ID: 13711