Wellink Corporation NEOBIT1014VA Manuale Utente
Appendix A. IP Addresses, Network Masks, and Subnets
NEOBIT 1014VA ADSL Router User’s Guide
Network classes
The three commonly used network classes are A, B, and C. (There
is also a class D but it has a special use beyond the scope of this
discussion.) These classes have different uses and characteristics.
is also a class D but it has a special use beyond the scope of this
discussion.) These classes have different uses and characteristics.
Class A networks are the Internet's largest networks, each with
room for over 16 million hosts. Up to 126 of these huge networks
can exist, for a total of over 2 billion hosts. Because of their huge
size, these networks are used for WANs and by organizations at the
infrastructure level of the Internet, such as your ISP.
room for over 16 million hosts. Up to 126 of these huge networks
can exist, for a total of over 2 billion hosts. Because of their huge
size, these networks are used for WANs and by organizations at the
infrastructure level of the Internet, such as your ISP.
Class B networks are smaller but still quite large, each able to hold
over 65,000 hosts. There can be up to 16,384 class B networks in
existence. A class B network might be appropriate for a large
organization such as a business or government agency.
over 65,000 hosts. There can be up to 16,384 class B networks in
existence. A class B network might be appropriate for a large
organization such as a business or government agency.
Class C networks are the smallest, only able to hold 254 hosts at
most, but the total possible number of class C networks exceeds 2
million (2,097,152 to be exact). LANs connected to the Internet are
usually class C networks.
most, but the total possible number of class C networks exceeds 2
million (2,097,152 to be exact). LANs connected to the Internet are
usually class C networks.
Some important notes regarding IP addresses:
The class can be determined easily from field1:
field1 = 1-126:
Class A
field1 = 128-191: Class B
field1 = 192-223: Class C
(field1 values not shown are reserved for special uses)
A host ID can have any value except all fields set to 0 or all
fields set to 255, as those values are reserved for special
uses.
uses.
Subnet masks
Definition
mask
A mask looks like a regular IP address, but contains a pattern of
bits that tells what parts of an IP address are the network ID and
what parts are the host ID: bits set to 1 mean "this bit is part of the
network ID" and bits set to 0 mean "this bit is part of the host ID."
bits that tells what parts of an IP address are the network ID and
what parts are the host ID: bits set to 1 mean "this bit is part of the
network ID" and bits set to 0 mean "this bit is part of the host ID."
Subnet masks are used to define subnets (what you get after
dividing a network into smaller pieces). A subnet's network ID is
created by "borrowing" one or more bits from the host ID portion of
the address. The subnet mask identifies these host ID bits.
dividing a network into smaller pieces). A subnet's network ID is
created by "borrowing" one or more bits from the host ID portion of
the address. The subnet mask identifies these host ID bits.
For example, consider a class C network 192.168.1. To split this
into two subnets, you would use the subnet mask:
into two subnets, you would use the subnet mask:
255.255.255.128
It's easier to see what's happening if we write this in binary:
11111111. 11111111. 11111111.10000000
As with any class C address, all of the bits in field1 through field 3
are part of the network ID, but note how the mask specifies that the
first bit in field 4 is also included. Since this extra bit has only two
values (0 and 1), this means there are two subnets. Each subnet
are part of the network ID, but note how the mask specifies that the
first bit in field 4 is also included. Since this extra bit has only two
values (0 and 1), this means there are two subnets. Each subnet