Read the book Network+ by Todd Lammle. I still need to perfect it though...
or there is a three step process to do which dumbs it down into a super easy process that works.
1. Find the number of networks and convert into binary.
for example, you need 5 networks so in binary that is 00000101
2.Reserve the bits in the subnet mask then find the increment
for example if the binary number that you need is 00000101 then its 3 bits. then the 3 bits will be placed as 1's from the left to the right until there are no more bits to place. (note: if 255.255.255.0 = 11111111.11111111.11111111.11100000 will be the subnet converted into binary) the Increment will be the lowest network bit that you have, converted into a decimal number. (i.e. in 11100000, the lowest network bit is 32)
3.Use the increment to find your network ranges.
x.x.x.0-x.x.x.31
x.x.x.5-x.x.x.63
x.x.x.64-x.x.x.95
x.x.x.96-x.x.x.127
.....
.......
........and so on and so forth all the way up to x.x.x.254
segmentation
Devices interpret subnetting information on a LAN by determining where the traffic originated and routing it to the appropriate area. By creating subnets, it is possible to have segregated areas of a network.
There is no need to use subnetting if you have no wish to further divide up your network into smaller, logical networks.
Loose of ip address
Yes. Subnetting separates a network into multiple logically defined segments, or subnets.
one number of host bits must be left when you doing subnetting.
12
Summary: A subnet mask is a way of telling your computer or router what network addresses it can consider local and which are remote.mcsgul@yahoo.com
Subnetting is the practice of dividing a network into two or more networks.
172.16.1.0 24
126
Subnetting allows you to create multiple local networks within a network. For more details use this site: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk365/technologies_tech_note09186a00800a67f5.shtml