How many usable hosts are available in a subnet with a subnet mask of 255.255.25

₹0.0

Question: How many usable hosts are available in a subnet with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.240?

Options:

Correct Answer: 14

Solution:

A subnet mask of 255.255.255.240 allows for 16 total addresses, but 2 are reserved (network and broadcast), leaving 14 usable hosts.

How many usable hosts are available in a subnet with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.240?

How many usable hosts are available in a subnet with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.240?

Step 1: Understand the subnet mask 255.255.255.240. This is also written in binary as 11111111.11111111.11111111.11110000.
Step 2: Count the number of '0's in the subnet mask. There are 4 '0's in 255.255.255.240.
Step 3: Calculate the total number of addresses in the subnet. Use the formula 2^n, where n is the number of '0's. Here, n = 4, so 2^4 = 16 total addresses.
Step 4: Identify the reserved addresses. One address is reserved for the network address and one for the broadcast address. This means 2 addresses are not usable.
Step 5: Subtract the reserved addresses from the total addresses. So, 16 total addresses - 2 reserved addresses = 14 usable hosts.

Subnetting – Understanding how to calculate the number of usable hosts in a subnet based on the subnet mask.
Reserved Addresses – Recognizing that the first address is the network address and the last address is the broadcast address, which cannot be used for hosts.