Network Segmentation

Reasons for Subnetting

Subnetting is the process of segmenting a network into
multiple smaller network spaces called subnetworks or
subnets.
 Large networks must be segmented into smaller
subnetworks,
creating smaller groups of devices and services to:
• Control traffic by containing broadcast traffic within
each subnetwork.
• Reduce overall network traffic and improve network
performance.
Communication Between Subnets
 A router is necessary for devices on different networks and
subnets to communicate.
 Each router interface must have an IPv4 host address that belongs
to the network or subnet that the router interface is connected.
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 Devices on a network and subnet use the router interface attached
Presentation_ID
 IP Subnetting is FUNdamental
The Plan
Planning the Network

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Presentation_ID
 Traditional
Subnetting an IPv4 Network

Subnetting
 Borrowing Bits to Create Subnets
 Borrowing 1 bit 21 = 2 subnets

Borrowing 1 Bit from the host portion creates 2 subnets with the same subnet
mask

Subnet 0 Subnet 1
Network 192.168.1.0-127/25 Network 192.168.1.128-255/25
Mask: 255.255.255.128 Mask: 255.255.255.128
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Presentation_ID
Subnetting an IPv4 Network
Subnets in Use
Subnets in Use

Subnet 0
Network 192.168.1.0-127/25

Subnet 1
Network 192.168.1.128-255/25

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Presentation_ID
 Subnetting an IPv4 Network
Subnetting Formulas

Calculate number
of subnets

Calculate number
of hosts

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Presentation_ID
 Subnetting an IPv4 Network
Creating 4 Subnets
Borrowing 2 bits to create 4 subnets. 22 = 4 subnets

Creating 4 Subnets

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Presentation_ID
 Subnetting an IPv4 Network
Creating Eight Subnets
Borrowing 3 bits to Create 8 Subnets. 23 = 8 subnets

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Presentation_ID
 Subnetting an IPv4 Network

Creating Eight Subnets (Cont.)

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Presentation_ID
 Subnetting an IPv4 Network

Creating Eight Subnets (Cont.)

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Presentation_ID
 Determining the Subnet Mask
Subnetting Based on Host Requirements
Two considerations when planning subnets:
 Number of subnets required
 Number of host addresses required

Formula to determine number of usable hosts: 2^n-2

 2^n (where n is the number of remaining host bits) is used
to calculate the number of hosts.
 -2(The subnetwork ID and broadcast address cannot be used on
each subnet.)

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Presentation_ID
 Determining the Subnet Mask
Subnetting Network-Based Requirements

Calculate the
number of subnets:
2^n (where n is the
number of bits
borrowed)
 Subnet needed for
each department.

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Presentation_ID
 Determining the Subnet Mask
Subnetting To Meet Network Requirements
 Balance the
required number of
subnets and hosts
for the largest
subnet.
 Design the
addressing scheme
to accommodate
the maximum
number of hosts for
each subnet.
 Allow for growth in
each subnet.

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Presentation_ID
Determining the Subnet Mask
Subnetting To Meet Network Requirements

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Presentation_ID
 Benefits of Variable Length Subnet Masking
Traditional Subnetting Wastes Addresses
 Traditional subnetting –
Uses the same number
of addresses is allocated
for each subnet.
 Subnets that require
fewer addresses have
unused (wasted)
addresses; for example,
WAN links only need two
addresses.

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Presentation_ID
 Benefits of Variable Length Subnet Masking
Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSM)
 The variable-length subnet
mask (VLSM) or
subnetting a subnet
provides more efficient
use of addresses.
 VLSM allows a network
space to be divided in
unequal parts.
 Subnet mask varies,
depending on how many
bits have been
borrowed for a
particular subnet.
 Network is first subnetted,
and then the subnets are
resubnetted.
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Presentation_ID
Characteristics of VLSM
• It creates subnets with different number of hosts
• Subnets have different subnet masks
• Ideal modern type of subnetting which conserves IP address
unlike traditional subnetting which wastes IP addresses by
creating equal subnets with fixed number of hosts.
• Calculated using host bits

Example
Given the IP address 10.10.20.8/22 to subnet across 3 subnets with
the following requirement subnet A – 600 hosts, subnet b – 200 hosts
and subnet C 20 hosts. For each subnet derive the following showing
all working (a) NID, (b) 1st usable IP address (c) Last usable IP address
broadcast IP address and (d)subnet mask

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VLSM EXAMPLE

Step 1
You have to find the valid NID where to start to subnet from. This is
done by ANDing the IP address and the subnet mask.

IP address : 10 10. 00010100. 00001000

Mask: 255. 255. 11111100. 00000000

Result: 10. 10 00010100. 00000000 = 10.10.20.0

We start to subnet from 10.10.20.0

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VLSM Example
• We start with the subnet with highest number of hosts which is
subnet A with 600.
• We use the formulae 2n – 2 , where n is the number of host bits

• 2n – 2 >= 600, N = 10. We need 10 host bits

10. 10. 00010100. 00000000 = 10.10.20.0

10 10. 00010100. 00000001 = 10.10.20.1
10. 10. 00010111. 11111110 = 10.10.23.254
10. 10. 00010111. 11111111 = 10.10.23.255

Subnet Mask
255. 255. 11111100 00000000 = 255.255.252.0

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VLSM Subnetting

• You can use the same principle to calculate subnet B and Subnet C

Example 2
Given the IP address 172.18.89.23/23 to subnet across 4 subnets with
the following number of hosts. Subnet A – 40, subnet B – 400 and
Subnet C – 120.

For each subnet derive the following showing all working

Network Address
1st Usable IP address
Last Usable IP address
Broadcast IP address
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VLSM Subnetting

• Example 3
Given the IP address 192.168.50.9/23 to subnet across 4 subnets with
the following number of hosts. Subnet A – 500, subnet B – 250 and
Subnet C – 6.

For each subnet derive the following showing all working

Network Address
1st Usable IP address
Last Usable IP address
Broadcast IP address

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