| Each class of network allows a fixed
number of hosts. In a Class A network, the first octet is assigned,
leaving the last three octets (24 bits) to be assigned to hosts. The
maximum number of hosts, in a Class A network, is 224
(minus 2: the network and broadcast reserved addresses), or 16,777,214
hosts.
In a Class B network, the first two
octets are assigned, leaving the final two octets (16 bits) to be
assigned to hosts. The maximum number of hosts, in a Class B network,
is 216 (minus 2), or 65,534 hosts.
In a Class C network, the first three
octets are assigned. This leaves the final octet (8 bits) to assign to
hosts, so the maximum number of hosts is 28 (minus 2), or 254 hosts.
Remember that the first address in each
network is reserved for the actual network address (or network
number), and the final address in each network is reserved for
broadcasts.
|