Subnetting Guide

Subnetting

Example you were given the IP address 192.1.2.0, three bits borrowed. Bits
borrowed is used for the subnetter to identify the total number of usable
subnets and usable hosts that will later be assigned to different interfaces
and workstations in a given network.

Solution:
The basic formula for usable subnet and host is as follows

2b – 2 = usable subnets
2n – 2 = usable hosts

where: b is the number of bits borrowed

n is the number of bits remaining

Net Net Net Host

192. 1. 2. [11100000 ]

23 = 8 – 2 = 6 usable subnets
25 = 32 – 2 = 30 usable hosts

This means that from the given IP add we can create 6 sub networks
and 30 usable hosts per subnet.

No Subnet ID Usable Hosts Broadcast

. Address
0 192.1.2.0 192.1.2.1 – 192.1.2.30 192.1.2.31
1 192.1.2.32 192.1.2.33 – 192.1.2.62 192.1.2.63
Usable
2 192.1.2.64 192.1.2.65 – 192.1.2.94 192.1.2.95
subnets 3 192.1.2.96 192.1.2.97 – 192.1.2.126 192.1.2.127
4 192.1.2.128 192.1.2.129 – 192.1.2.158 192.1.2.159
5 192.1.2.160 192.1.2.161 – 192.1.2.190 192.1.2.191
6 192.1.2.192 192.1.2.193 – 192.1.2.222 192.1.2.223
7 192.1.2.224 192.1.2.225 – 192.1.2.254 192.1.2.255

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How we get the subnet ID relies on the number of hosts. In our
computation for usable hosts, 2n – 2, we remove two from the result
because these two addresses are reserved for the subnet ID or network
address and the broadcast address for the particular subnet.
In our first usable subnet 192.1.2.32 is the network address, 192.1.2.63 is
the broadcast address and 192.1.2.33 – 192.1.2.62 is the range of the
usable host per subnet.

If we try to count the addresses:

192.1.2.32 1 address
192.1.2.33 – 192.1.2.62 30 addresses
192.1.2.63 1 address

Total 32 addresses

But sometimes subnetting is so confusing. If we already know the basics of

subnetting, it is advisable to identify all network address first.

Example: 192.1.2.0 3 bits borrowed. Follow these steps:

1. Convert the octet of the host part into binary. The bits borrowed are
represented by 1’s and the remaining bits by 0’s.

192.1.2. [ 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 ]

2. Apply the corresponding decimal conversion for each bit.

[1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0]
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

3. From left, choose the last bit of 1, notice that the corresponding decimal
conversion of it is 32.
[1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0]
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

So it means that our network address counts by 32. From there it is easier
to identify the broadcast address and the range of the usable hosts. see
subnetting in page 1.

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Tricky huh? Maybe you were asking right now… how about in class A or B?
is it applicable? Let’s try it again using a class B address.

Given 171.3.0.0 5 bits borrowed

25 – 2 = 30 usable subnets
211 – 2 = 2046 usable hosts

What we normally do in this case is to divide the usable hosts by 255 to get
the division of the addresses.

2046 / 255 = 8

Let’s try the shortcut

[1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0]
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

Network Range Broadcast

171.3.8.0 171.3.8.1 – 171.3.15.254 171.3.15.255

171.3.16.0 171.3.16.1 – 171.3.24.254 171.3.24.255
171.3.24.0 171.3.24.1 – 171.3.31.254 171.3.31.255

Let us prove if the total range per subnet is equal to 2046

Range: 171.3.8.1 – 171.3.15.254

171.3.8.1 – 171.3.8.255 255 addresses

171.3.9.0 – 171.3.9.255 256 addresses
171.3.10.0 – 171.3.10.255 256 addresses
171.3.11.0 - 171.3.11.255 256 addresses
171.3.12.0 - 171.3.12.255 256 addresses
171.3.13.0 - 171.3.13.255 256 addresses
171.3.14.0 - 171.3.14.255 256 addresses
171.3.15.0 – 171.3.15.254 255 addresses

Total 2046 usable hosts

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Another example 171.3.0.0 10 bits borrowed

210 – 2 = 1022 usable subnets

26 – 2 = 62 usable hosts

[1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1] Third octet (Hosts)

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

[1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0] Fourth octet (Hosts)

128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

Network Range Broadcast

171.3.0.0 171.3.0.1 – 171.3.0.62 171.3.0.63

171.3.0.64 171.3.0.65 – 171.3.0.126 171.3.0.127
171.3.0.128 171.3.0.129 – 171.3.0.190 171.3.0.191

Let us prove if the total range per subnet is equal to 62

Range: 171.3.0.1 – 171.3.0.62

171.3.0.1 – 171.3.0.62 62 addresses

Total 62 usable hosts

Usable Subnets

When a Network Administrator of a company buys an IP address, he is

only given one address. For example, if the company has a very large
network, he may be given a Class A IP. If medium sized Class B and if
small network Class C. it is then the responsibility of the IT Department of
the company to subnet the given IP depending on the companies needs.

How to decide on how many bits borrowed

The number of bits borrowed must be decided before subnetting. Its result
must satisfy the network needs of the company. What we have to consider
mainly is the number of networks. If you only have 5 networks, you will be
given a Class C address. You may borrow a minimum of 3 bits because if

4
we compute using the formula 23 – 2 = 6 usable subnets. Of course 6
subnets can already support 5 networks. Higher bits can also be borrowed
if the network is predicted to increase in a period of time.

So why do we have to subtract 2? This is because if we consider the

network as a whole, the first address is assigned as the network address
and the last is as broadcast address.

Usable Hosts

In our earlier discussion about subnetting the usable hosts is derived from
the formula 2n – 2, where n is the number of bits remaining. We subtract 2
to assign them as subnetwork address and broadcast address.