Semester 3 - Computer Networks - Prerequisites of Subnetting

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Prerequisites for Subnetting

Let’s have a clear understanding of basic terms before starting actual subnetting.
If you have a foundational knowledge of networking, then you might want to visit the subnetting Ip4

Some important & frequently used terms

  • Bits: The basic unit of digital information, represented as 0 or 1.
  • Byte: A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.
  • IP Address: A unique identifier for a device on a network. Example: 192.168.0.1.
  • IPv4: An IP addressing system using 32 bits divided in 4 octets.

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  • IPv6: An IP addressing system using 128 bits divided into 8 blocks, 4 hexa digits in each block, each hexa digit represents 4 bits, hence each block is 16 bits.

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  • Network Address: The identifier for a network, shared by all devices on that network. Example: 192.168.1.0/24 where 192.168.1.0 is the network address.
  • Host Address: The unique identifier for a device within a network. Example: In 192.168.1.105/24, 105 is the host address.
  • Subnet: A division of a network, allowing for smaller, more manageable networks. Example: 192.168.1.0/26 and 192.168.1.64/26 are two subnets of 192.168.1.0/24.
  • Subnet Mask: A mask used to determine what subnet an IP address belongs to.
  • Prefix Length: In an IP address notation, the number after the slash indicating the number of bits used for the network prefix. Example: In 192.168.1.0/24, /24 is the prefix length meaning first 24 bits out of 32 are used for network.
  • Network Interface: A device’s hardware or software that connects it to a network. Example: Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter in a computer.
  • Default Gateway: The device that routes traffic from a local network to other networks or the internet. Example: A home router with IP address 192.168.1.1 acting as the default gateway for all devices on the network.
  • Broadcast: A special type of IP address used to send data to all devices in a specific network. Example: The broadcast address for the network 192.168.1.0/24 is 192.168.1.255.
  • CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing): An IP addressing scheme that replaces the old system based on classes. It uses a syntax of IP address/Prefix Length, e.g., 192.0.2.0/24.


For reference table and formulas:

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