Question

a) An IP address is a number that uniquely identifies a device within a computer network. This address can be derived from a General Network Address.
i. Using any network address of your choice, explain how you would generate IP addresses by subnet masking.
ii. Briefly explain the concept of Host Address and Network Address.

Answer 1

IP Address:

An IP address is an identifier or label used to identify a machine on the internet or a particular network. Each of the devices on the internet must have an IP address for identification.

IPv4 is the first version of Internet Protocol that uses a 32-bit address and this protocol is most widely used.

Total number of IP address supported by IPv4 = 2³²

The netmask and subnet mask is used to divide the IP address as given below:

The netmask is a sequence of '1' followed by a sequence of '0' and it is used to divide an IP address into multiple subnets.

The subnet mask is a sequence of '1' followed by a sequence of '0' and it is used to separate a big network into smaller multiple networks.

The subnet mask is used to separate the IP address into a network address and host address.

It is made by setting '1' to all network bits and '0' to all host bits. In a network, the first and last IP addresses are used for the special purpose and the remaining addresses are used as a host address.

Address class:

Class A:

The range of the first octet: 0 to 127

The first bit of the first octet is used to identify the class and always set to zero.

Subnet mask = 255.0.0.0

Class B:

First octet range: 128 to 191

The first two bit of the first octet is used to identify the class and always set to 10.

Subnet mask = 255.255.0.0

Class C:

First octet range: 192 to 223

The first three bits of the first octet is used to identify the class and always set to 110.

Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0

i.

For example:

Let us suppose the given IP address is:

193.62.83.0

The above address belongs to class C.

The netmask in binary representation will be:

11111111 11111111 11111111 00000000

The netmask in decimal representation will be:

255.255.255.0

A class C address can be used to generate 2⁸ = 256 addresses.

The first address will be = 193.62.83.0

The second address will be = 193.62.83.1

The second last address will be = 193.62.83.254

The last address will be = 193.62.83.255

ii.

Let us suppose the given IP address is:

193.62.83.0

The above address belongs to class C.

The class C netmask is:

255.255.255.0

Here, the first 24 bits are used for network id, and the last 8 bits are used for host id.

The total number of IP addresses will be = 2⁸ = 256

In a network, the first and last IP addresses are used for the special purpose and the remaining addresses are used as a host address.

The total number of the host address in this network will be = 256 - 2 = 254

The network id is used to identify the network and the host id is used to find the host in that identified network.