What is the number of usable hosts per subnet when dividing a Class C network into 4 subnets?
Understand the Problem
The question is referring to subnetting in a Class C network. To determine the number of usable hosts per subnet when a Class C network is divided into 4 subnets, we must first understand how to calculate hosts per subnet given the number of subnets created. The formula for calculating the number of usable hosts is (2^n) - 2, where n is the number of bits used for host addresses after the subnetting. Each subnet must have at least 2 addresses reserved, one for the network address and one for the broadcast address.
Answer
62 usable hosts per subnet.
Answer for screen readers
Each subnet can support 62 usable hosts.
Steps to Solve
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Determine the total bits for the network and host A Class C IP address has a default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 which uses 24 bits for the network and 8 bits for the host.
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Calculate the number of bits needed for subnetting Since we are dividing the Class C network into 4 subnets, we need to determine how many bits are required to create a sufficient number of subnets. We use the formula $2^m$, where $m$ is the number of bits.
Solving for $m$ gives us: $$ 2^m \geq 4 $$ Since $2^2 = 4$, we need to use 2 bits for subnetting.
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Calculate the new number of host bits After using 2 bits for the subnetting, we have: $$ 8 - 2 = 6 $$ This means there are 6 bits left for the host addresses.
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Calculate usable hosts per subnet Utilizing the formula for the number of usable hosts per subnet, which is $(2^n) - 2$, where $n$ is the remaining host bits: $$ (2^6) - 2 = 64 - 2 = 62 $$ So, there are 62 usable hosts per subnet.
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State the final result In concluding, each of the 4 subnets can host 62 usable addresses.
Each subnet can support 62 usable hosts.
More Information
In subnetting, the network address (first address) and broadcast address (last address) cannot be assigned to hosts. This is why we subtract 2 from the total calculated hosts, which effectively gives us the number of usable host addresses in each subnet.
Tips
- Forgetting to subtract 2 from the total number of addresses calculated, which leads to overstating the number of usable hosts.
- Miscalculating the number of bits for subnetting, which can result in insufficient subnets or hosts.
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