2006-06-23 03:26:23 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
Subnet mask
A subnet mask is a mechanism used to split a network into subnetworks; it can be used to reduce the traffic on each subnetwork by confining traffic to only the subnetwork(s) for which it is intended, thereby eliminating issues of associated congestion on other subnetwork(s) and reducing congestion in the network as a whole. Each subnet functions as though it were independent, keeping traffic local and forwarding traffic to another subnetwork only if the address of the data is external to the subnetwork.
2006-06-23 03:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by MK6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in simple terms it is a value that is used to seperate the network identifier part of an ip address from the host part of an ip address
in more complex terms it is a 32 bit binary value that is ANDed with a 32 bit binary address to give the binary address of the network segment on which the host computer is located
either way, it is needed to allow packets to be sent between routers on a large network when using the tcp/ip transport protocol
2006-06-23 10:34:24 · answer #2 · answered by Ivanhoe Fats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to add, subnet mask is one of the settings in the tcp/ip... all network systems uses this mask... either WAN or LAN side...
2006-06-23 12:59:03 · answer #3 · answered by ray16_mm2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It defines your network. You can use VLSM design to expand your network to larger size.
2006-06-30 07:04:49 · answer #4 · answered by Engineer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋