VLSM Example:

Available address space: 192.168.50.0/24

Subnet requirements:

- Instructors: 27 users
- Students: 75 users
- Management: 3
- Accounting: 8

Step 1: Analyze the available address space

Subnet ID: 192.168.50.0

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

PARENT Network or Subnet

Decimal Binary
Subnet ID 192.168.50.0 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 00000000 All Zeros in the host field
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111111 . 00000000
First Usable Host 192.168.50.1 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 00000001
Last Usable Host 192.168.50.254 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 11111110
Broadcast ID 192.168.50.255 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 11111111 All ones in the host field
Number of usable IPs 254 2^n - 2
Step 2: Sort the required subnets largest to smallest

- Students: 75 users
- Instructors: 27 users
- Accounting: 8
- Management: 3

Step 3: Start with the biggest subnet

SUBNET 1: Students (75 users)

Number of bits needed 7 2^n-2>=75 => n = 7
for 75 users 1 bit borrowed for Network portion
Decimal Binary
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.128 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111111 . 1 0000000 /25 In CIDR Notation
Subnet ID 192.168.50.0 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 0 0000000 All Zeros in the host field
First Usable Host 192.168.50.1 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 0 0000001
Last Usable Host 192.168.50.126 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 0 1111110
Broadcast ID 192.168.50.127 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 0 1111111 All ones in the host field
Number of usable IPs 126 2^n - 2

Step 4: Next biggest subnet

SUBNET 2: Instructors (27 users)

Number of bits needed 5 2^n-2>=27 => n = 5
for 27 users 3 bits borrowed for Network portion
Decimal Binary
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.224 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111111 . 111 00000 /27 In CIDR Notation
Subnet ID 192.168.50.128 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 100 00000 All Zeros in the host field
First Usable Host 192.168.50.129 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 100 00001
Last Usable Host 192.168.50.158 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 100 11110
Broadcast ID 192.168.50.159 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 100 11111 All ones in the host field
Number of usable IPs 30 2^n - 2
Step 5: Next biggest subnet

SUBNET 3: Accounting (8 users)

Number of bits needed 4 2^n-2>=8 => n = 4
for 8 users 4 bits borrowed for Network portion
Decimal Binary
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.240 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111111 . 1111 0000 /28 In CIDR Notation
Subnet ID 192.168.50.160 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 1010 0000 All Zeros in the host field
First Usable Host 192.168.50.161 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 1010 0001
Last Usable Host 192.168.50.174 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 1010 1110
Broadcast ID 192.168.50.175 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 1010 1111 All ones in the host field
Number of usable IPs 14 2^n - 2

Step 6: Next biggest subnet

SUBNET 4: management (3 users)

Number of bits needed 3 2^n-2>=3 => n = 3
for 3 users 5 bits borrowed for Network portion
Decimal Binary
Subnet Mask 255.255.255.248 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111111 . 11111 000 /29 In CIDR Notation
Subnet ID 192.168.50.176 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 10110 000 All Zeros in the host field
First Usable Host 192.168.50.177 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 10110 001
Last Usable Host 192.168.50.182 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 10110 110
Broadcast ID 192.168.50.183 11000000 . 10101000 . 00110010 . 10110 111 All ones in the host field
Number of usable IPs 6 2^n - 2