Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by Abhishek Sharma
Subnetting is the process of dividing a large network into smaller sub-networks, or subnets. This is done to improve network performance, security, and management. Subnetting allows for more efficient use of IP addresses and enables better organization of network resources.
In computer networking, IP addresses are used to identify devices on a network. An IP address consists of two parts: a network portion and a host portion. Subnetting involves creating a subnet mask, which is used to determine the network and host portions of an IP address.
What is Subnetting in Computer Networks?
Subnetting in computer networks is a technique that allows a single network to be divided into multiple smaller networks, known as subnets.
Think of it like dividing a large city into smaller neighborhoods, each with its own unique address range. This makes it easier for devices to communicate within their own neighborhood without the need to send messages to every device in the city.
Subnetting involves creating a logical separation of a network by extending the subnet mask beyond its default value. This allows for more subnets to be created and a limited number of hosts to be allocated within each subnet.
By doing this, the network administrator can allocate specific IP address ranges to each subnet, making it easier to manage and troubleshoot network issues. This also improves security by isolating traffic between subnets and reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Overall, subnetting in computer networks is a technique used to better organize, allocate resources, and improve security.
How does Subnetting in Computer Networks Work?
Subnetting, as we now know, divides a network into small subnets. Routers are used to communicate between subnets, and each subnet allows its connected devices to communicate with one another. The size of a subnet is decided by the network technology used and the number of connections required. Each organization is responsible for determining the number and size of subnets it generates within the constraints of the address space available for its use.
Let’s look at how subnetting divides a network into subnets.
An IP address is made up of two fields: a Network Prefix (also known as the Network ID) and a Host ID. The way the Network Prefix and the Host ID are separated depends on whether the address belongs to Class A, B, or C. The picture shown below illustrates an IPv4 Class B address with a value of 172.16.37.5. The first two octets (172.16) represent the network prefix, while the last two octets (37.5) represent the host ID.
To generate subnets, we commonly fix the MSB (Most Significant Bit) bits of the Host ID. The image below illustrates how we can create two network subnets by fixing one of the host’s Most Significant Bit (MSB) bits. We cannot modify network bits because doing so changes the entire network.
A subnet mask is needed to identify a subnet, which is calculated by substituting ‘1’ for all Network ID bits and the number of bits reserved in Host ID to generate the subnet. The subnet mask is responsible for routing data packets from the internet to the desired subnet network. A subnet mask also determines which part of an address will be used as the Subnet ID. To apply the subnet mask to the entire network address, a binary AND operation is performed. AND operations work by assuming that output is "true" if both inputs are "true." If not, "false" is returned.
This generates the Subnet ID. Routers use the Subnet ID to figure out the most efficient route between different subnetworks.
Refer to the illustration of generating a subnet mask for further information.
To build variable-length subnets, we use permutations on the number of bits reserved for subnet creation. This is referred to as Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM).
A subnet’s broadcast address is determined by setting all of the remaining bits of Host Id as’1′ after some bits are reserved to represent the subnet.
See the below image of the Broadcast Address.
Example of Subnetting
Let’s look at a simple situation to better grasp subnetting. A small organization is divided into four departments: the technology department, the sales and marketing department, the finance department, and the HR department. Every department has 50 employees. The organizations made use of a private class C IP network (with network ID 192.168.1.0). If there is no subnetting, all computers will operate in a single large network. It becomes difficult for the network administrator to manage the task because if he broadcasts a message to the system, it will be forwarded to all departments. Subnetting is used to solve this type of difficulty.
After subnetting, the network will look something like this:
Uses of Subnetting in Computer Networks
Subnetting in computer networks has several uses, including:
- Efficient use of IP addresses: Subnetting allows for the creation of smaller networks within a larger network, which helps to conserve IP addresses.
- Improved network performance: By creating smaller networks, subnetting can help reduce network traffic and improve overall network performance.
- Enhanced security: Subnetting can improve network security by separating different parts of the network into smaller subnetworks, making it harder for unauthorized access.
- Flexibility: Subnetting allows for the creation of networks of different sizes, depending on the specific needs of the organization.
- Routing efficiency: Subnetting can improve routing efficiency by allowing routers to route traffic directly to the appropriate subnet instead of broadcasting it to the entire network.
- Improved fault tolerance: Subnetting can help improve fault tolerance by isolating network problems to specific subnets and preventing them from affecting the entire network.
Advantages of Subnetting in Computer Networks
There are several advantages of subnetting in computer networks, including:
- Better Organization and Management: Subnetting allows network administrators to divide a larger network into smaller, more manageable subnets. This makes it easier to allocate resources, troubleshoot network issues, and manage network traffic.
- Improved Network Performance: Subnetting can improve network performance by reducing network congestion and limiting the amount of broadcast traffic on the network. With smaller subnets, broadcast traffic is limited to only the devices on that subnet, reducing the overall amount of network traffic.
- Enhanced Security: Subnetting improves network security by isolating traffic between subnets and restricting access to sensitive information. This makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to access sensitive data or launch attacks on the network.
- More Efficient Use of IP Addresses: By dividing a larger network into smaller subnets, network administrators can make more efficient use of IP addresses. This is particularly important as the number of devices connected to the network continues to grow.
- Flexibility: Subnetting provides network administrators with greater flexibility in how they manage their networks. They can allocate resources more efficiently, troubleshoot issues more effectively, and make changes to the network more easily.
Overall, we can confidently say subnetting in computer networks is valuable for network administrators.
Disadvantages of Subnetting in Computer Networks
Although there are several advantages of subnetting, there are also some potential disadvantages of subnetting in computer networks that network administrators should consider:
- Increased Complexity: Subnetting can add complexity to network design and configuration, which can make it more difficult for network administrators to manage the network.
- Requires Additional Resources: Subnetting requires additional resources such as routers and switches, which can increase the cost of building and maintaining the network.
- Risk of Misconfiguration: Subnetting requires careful planning and configuration to ensure that subnets are properly set up and configured. Misconfiguration can lead to network issues, security vulnerabilities, and other problems.
- Reduced Broadcast Capability: By dividing a network into smaller subnets, the overall broadcast capability of the network is reduced. This can make it more difficult to broadcast messages to all devices on the network.
- Potential for Subnet Overlap: If subnets are not properly designed and configured, there is a risk of subnet overlap, which can lead to network issues and security vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
Subnetting is an important concept in computer networking that allows for the efficient use of IP addresses and improved network organization. By dividing a large network into smaller subnets, organizations can better manage their network resources and improve network performance and security.
FAQs Related to the Subnetting in Computer Networks
Here are some frequently asked questions on subnetting in computer networks:
1. Why is subnetting necessary?
Subnetting is necessary to efficiently use IP addresses and improve network performance. It also helps in better organization and management of network resources.
2. How do you subnet a network?
To subnet a network, you need to create a subnet mask, which is used to divide the network into smaller subnets. This involves determining the number of subnets and hosts required and then applying the subnet mask to the IP addresses.
3. What is a subnet mask?
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that is used to divide an IP address into network and host portions. It consists of a series of 1s followed by a series of 0s, with the number of 1s indicating the size of the network portion.
4. What is the difference between subnetting and supernetting?
Subnetting involves dividing a large network into smaller subnets, while supernetting involves combining multiple smaller networks into a larger network. Subnetting is used to create smaller, more manageable networks, while supernetting is used to aggregate multiple smaller networks for more efficient routing.
5. What are the benefits of subnetting?
Subnetting offers several benefits, including efficient use of IP addresses, improved network performance, better organization and management of network resources, and enhanced network security.
6. How does subnetting improve network performance?
Subnetting can improve network performance by reducing network congestion and improving routing efficiency. By dividing a large network into smaller subnets, network traffic can be localized to specific subnets, reducing the overall traffic on the network.