1. What is CIDR Notation?

CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) notation is a compact representation of an IP address and its associated network mask. It specifies an IP address followed by a slash (/) and the number of bits in the network portion of the address.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses CIDR notation to determine:

Where:

• Network - The base address of the subnet
• Mask - The subnet mask derived from CIDR
• First IP - First usable host address in the subnet

Explanation: The calculator performs bitwise operations to determine all subnet characteristics from the given IP and CIDR notation.

3. Importance of Subnet Calculation

Details: Proper subnet calculation is essential for network design, IP address allocation, routing efficiency, and security zone implementation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter a valid IPv4 address and CIDR notation (0-32). The calculator will show all subnet characteristics including network address, usable IP range, and total hosts.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between network address and broadcast address?
A: The network address identifies the subnet itself, while the broadcast address is used to send data to all hosts in the subnet.

Q2: Why are the first and last IPs in a subnet not usable?
A: The first address is the network identifier and the last is the broadcast address, leaving the middle addresses for hosts.

Q3: What is a typical CIDR value for a home network?
A: Most home networks use /24 (255.255.255.0) which provides 254 usable addresses.

Q4: How does CIDR relate to subnet masks?
A: CIDR notation is a shorthand for subnet masks, where the number represents the count of leading 1 bits in the mask.

Q5: Can I use this for IPv6 addresses?
A: This calculator is for IPv4 only. IPv6 uses a different addressing scheme and much larger subnet sizes.