Subnetting Class C Addresses

There are many different ways to subnet a network. The right way is the way
that works best for you. First you will learn to use the binary method, and
then we’ll look at an easier way to do the same thing.
 In a Class C address, only 8 bits is available for defining the hosts.
Remember that subnet bits start at the left and go to the right, without skip-
ping bits. This means that subnet masks can be

10000000=128
11000000=192
11100000=224
11110000=240
11111000=248
11111100=252
11111110=254

Now, the RFCs state that you cannot have only one bit for subnetting,
since that would mean that the bit would always be either off or on, which
would be illegal. So, the first subnet mask you can legally use is 192, and the
last one is 252, since you need at least two bits for defining hosts.

The Binary Method: Subnetting a Class C Address

In this section you will learn how to subnet a Class C address using the
binary method. We will take the first subnet mask available with a Class C
address, which borrows two bits from subnetting. For this example, we are
using 255.255.255.192.
192=11000000 Two bits for subnetting, 6 bits for defining the hosts in
each subnet. What are the subnets? Since the subnet bits can’t be both off
or on at the same time, the only two valid subnets are
• 01000000=64 (all host bits off)
or
• 10000000=128 (all host bits off)
The valid hosts would be defined as the numbers between the subnets,
minus the all host bits off and all host bits on.
To find the hosts, first find your subnet by turning all the host bits off,
then turn all the host bits on to find your broadcast address for the subnet.
The valid hosts must be between those two numbers. Table 3.4 shows the 64
subnet, valid host range, and broadcast address.
TABLE 3.4 Subnet 64

Subnet Host Meaning

01 000000=64 The network (do this first)

01 000001=65 The first valid host

01 111110=126 The last valid host

01 111111=127 The broadcast address (do

this second)

Table 3.5 shows the 128 subnet, valid host range, and broadcast address.

TABLE 3.5 Subnet 128

Subnet Host Meaning

10 000000=128 The subnet address

10 000001=129 The first valid host

10 111110=190 The last valid host

10 111111=191 The broadcast address

That wasn’t all that hard. Hopefully you understood what I was trying to
show you. However, the example I presented only used two subnet bits.
What if you had to subnet using 9, 10, or even 20 subnet bits? Let’s learn an
alternate method of subnetting that makes it easier to subnet larger numbers.

The Alternate Method: Subnetting a Class C Address

When you have a subnet mask and need to determine the amount of subnets,
valid hosts, and broadcast addresses that the mask provides, all you need to
do is answer five simple questions:
1. How many subnets does the subnet mask produce?

2. How many valid hosts per subnet?

 3. What are the valid subnets?

4. What are the valid hosts in each subnet?

5. What is the broadcast address of each subnet?

It is important at this point that you understand your powers of 2. Please

refer to the sidebar earlier in this chapter if you need help. Here is how you
determine the answers to the five questions:
1. How many subnets? 2x–2=amount of subnets. X is the amount of
masked bits, or the 1s. For example, 11000000 is 22–2. In this example,
there are 2 subnets.
2. How many hosts per subnet? 2x–2=amount of hosts per subnet. X
is the amount of unmasked bits, or the 0s. For example, 11000000 is
26–2. In this example, there are 62 hosts per subnet.
3. What are the valid subnets? 256–subnet mask=base number. For
example, 256–192=64.
4. What are the valid hosts? Valid hosts are the numbers between the
subnets, minus all 0s and all 1s.
5. What is the broadcast address for each subnet? Broadcast address is all
host bits turned on, which is the number immediately preceding the
next subnet.
Now, because this can seem confusing, I need to assure you that it is easier
than it looks. Just try a few with me and see for yourself.

Subnetting Practice Examples: Class C Addresses

This section will give you an opportunity to practice subnetting Class C
addresses using the method I just described. We’re going to start with the
first Class C subnet mask and work through every subnet that we can using
a Class C address. When we’re done, I’ll show you how easy this is with
Class A and B networks as well.

Practice Example 1: 255.255.255.192

Let’s use the Class C subnet address from the preceding example,
255.255.255.192, to see how much simpler this method is than writing out
 Subnetting 140

the binary numbers. In this example, you will subnet the network address
192.168.10.0 and subnet mask 255.255.255.192.
192.168.10.0=Network address
255.255.255.192=Subnet mask
Now, answer the five questions:
1. How many subnets? Since 192 is two bits on (11000000), the answer
would be 22–2=2. (The minus 2 is the subnet bits all on or all off,
which is not valid by default.)
2. How many hosts per subnet? We have 6 host bits off (11000000), so
the equation would be 26–2=62 hosts.
3. What are the valid subnets? 256–192=64, which is the first subnet and
our base number or variable. Keep adding the variable to itself until
you reach the subnet mask. 64+64=128. 128+64=192, which is
invalid because it is the subnet mask (all subnet bits turned on). Our
two valid subnets are, then, 64 and 128.
4. What are the valid hosts? These are the numbers between the subnets.
The easiest way to find the hosts is to write out the subnet address and
the broadcast address. This way the valid hosts are obvious.
5. What is the broadcast address for each subnet? The number right
before the next subnet is all host bits turned on and is the broadcast
address. Table 3.6 shows the 64 and 128 subnets, the valid host ranges
of each, and the broadcast address of both subnets.

TABLE 3.6 The 64 and 128 Subnet Ranges

First Subnet Second Subnet Meaning

64 128 The subnets (do this first)

65 129 Our first host (perform host addressing

last)

126 190 Our last host

127 191 The broadcast address (do this second)

 Subnetting 141

Notice that we came up with the same answers as when we did it the
binary way. This is a much easier way to do it because you never have to
do any binary-to-decimal conversions. However, you might be thinking
that it is not easier than the first method I showed you. For the first
subnet with only two subnet bits, you’re right, it isn’t that much easier.
Remember, we’re going for the big one: being able to subnet in your head.
You need to practice this approach to be able to perform subnetting in
your head.

Practice Example 2: 255.255.255.224

In this example, you will subnet the network address 192.168.10.0 and
sub- net mask 255.255.255.224.
192.168.10.0=Network address
255.255.255.224=Subnet mask
1. How many subnets? 224 is 11100000, so our equation would be
23–2=6.
2. How many hosts? 25–2=30.

3. What are the valid subnets? 256–224=32. 32+32=64. 64+32=96.

96+32=128. 128+32=160. 160+32=192. 192+32=224, which is
invalid because it is our subnet mask (all subnet bits on). Our
subnets are 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, and 192.
4. What are the valid hosts?

5. What is the broadcast address for each subnet?

To answer questions 4 and 5, first just write out the subnets, then
write out the broadcast addresses, which is the number right before the
next sub- net. Last, fill in the host addresses. Table 3.7 shows all the
subnets for the
255.255.255.224 Class C subnet mask.

TABLE 3.7 The Class C 255.255.255.224 Mask

Subnet 1 Subnet 2 Subnet 3 Subnet 4 Subnet 5 Subnet 6 Meaning

32 64 96 128 160 192 1. The subnet address

32+1=33 65 97 129 161 193 2. The first valid host

Bc-1= 62 94 126 158 190 222 Our last valid host

64-1=63 95 127 159 191 223 3. The broadcast address