Subnetting IP Addresses
Subnetting is the process of
borrowing host bits from the host portion of the IP address in order to
create
multiple subnetworks. The reason for wanting to create multiple networks
is two fold. One we do not have nearly enough IP addresses for every company
to
have as many individual networks as they want and second you have to pay
for each network. So if we can subnet one network and turn it in to multiple
networks
for the same cost that is a good thing. The reason we subnet is because
every router interface needs its own network or subnetwork. Since most
networks
have a two or more routers with three or more interfaces every company would
have to buy multiple networks adding unnecessary cost.
Therefore, we need
a solution to this problem and it
is subnetting.
The definition of subnetting is borrowing bits from the host
portion of the IP address and turning them into subnet portion bits. When
we do this we will change the default subnet mask into a custom subnet
mask.
This is an interesting process and it takes practice but I believe if you
went through the previous three lessons you are ready to start subnetting.
Click on the link below to go through the subnetting power point. Make sure
you do the practice problems on the practice page.
