Subnet
A subnet allows the flow of network traffic between hosts to be segregated based on a network configuration. By organizing hosts into logical groups, subnetting can improve network security and performance.
Subnet Mask
Perhaps the most recognizable aspect of subnetting is the subnet mask. Like IP addresses, a subnet mask contains four bytes (32 bits) and is often written using the same "dotted-decimal" notation. For example, a very common subnet mask in its binary representation- 11111111 11111111 11111111 00000000
- 255.255.255.0
Applying a Subnet Mask
A subnet mask neither works like an IP address, nor does it exist independently from them. Instead, subnet masks accompany an IP address and the two values work together. Applying the subnet mask to an IP address splits the address into two parts, an "extended network address" and a host address. For a subnet mask to be valid, its leftmost bits must be set to '1'. For example,- 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
- 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111111
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