How many IP addresses can be assigned to hosts in subnet 192.168.12.64/26?
A.
32
B.
62
C.
128
D.
256
Explanation:
Subnet 192.168.12.64/26 has 62 IP addresses that can be assigned to hosts.
The formula to calculate the available number of hosts is:
2n – 2 = x
Where n = the number of host bits in the subnet mask and x = the number of possible hosts.
You will subtract 2 from the hosts calculation to remove the first address (the network ID) and the last address
(the broadcast ID) from the valid hosts range. These addresses are reserved as the network ID and the
broadcast address, respectively, in each subnet.
An IP address has 32 available bits divided into four octets. In this scenario, the /26 indicates that the subnet
mask is 26 bits long, or that 26 bits are reserved for the network portion of the address. This leaves 6 bits for
the host addresses (32 – 26 = 6). The number of host addresses would be calculated as follows:
Number of hosts = 26 – 2
Number of hosts = 64 – 2 = 62
Another simple way of determining the number of hosts in a range, when the subnet mask extends into the last
octet, is to determine the decimal value of the last bit in the subnet mask after converting it to binary notation.
This process only works when the subnet extends into the last octet, meaning that the subnet is greater
than /24. The /26 subnet mask equals 26 network bits and 6 hosts bits, written as follows:
11111111.11111111.1111111.11000000
The 1s represent network bits and the 0s represent host bits.
In this example, the 26th bit (read from left to right) has a decimal value of 64, indicating that this subnet has 64
addresses. Subtract 2 to represent the network and broadcast addresses (64 – 2 = 62). This shows that this
subnet range can be used to address 62 hosts.
Network address: 192.168.12.0Subnet Mask in decimal: 255.255.255.192
Subnet Mask in binary: 11111111.11111111.11111111.11000000
Hosts: 64 – 2 = 62
For subnet 192.168.12.64, the valid host range will start from 192.168.12.65 to 192.168.12.126. For the next
subnet 192.168.12.128, the valid host range will start from 192.168.12.129 to 192.168.12.190.
To construct a subnet that would contain 32 addresses would require using a mask of 255.255.255.224. This
mask would leave 5 host bits, and 25 – 2 = 32.
To construct a subnet that would contain 128 addresses would require using a mask of 255.255.255.128. This
mask would leave 7 host bits, and 27 – 2 = 128.
To construct a subnet that would contain 256 addresses would require using a mask of 255.255.255.0. This
mask would leave 8 host bits, and 2(8) – 2 = 256.
Objective:
Network Fundamentals
Sub-Objective:
Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv4 addressing and subnettingCisco > Design Tech Notes > IP Routing > IP Addressing and Subnetting for New Users > Understanding IP
Addresses > Document ID: 13788
Nooning, Thomas. “TechRepublic Tutorial: Subnetting a TCP/IP Network.” TechRepublic, 20 May 2003.