You can utilize modern technologies to divide the network into smaller subnets. Or you can combine smaller networks to form a larger one. You may have already heard about these techniques. However, in computer language, we refer to these techniques as subnetting and supernetting.
Today, these techniques are applied to every network worldwide. You can use a subnet calculator to check these details of your network.
In this article, we will discuss the background and advantages of subnetting and supernetting. Moreover, we will also compare these two networking techniques. So stay connected til the end.
CONTENTS
History of Subnetting
In the early era of the internet, network engineers faced challenges in classifying the network. Due to excessive traffic, the networks became slower and laggy. To solve this problem, engineers developed the subnetting technique. It was officially introduced in 1984 in an RFC.
The routers were used to divide the network traffic, and subnetting helped limit the traffic on each router. This strategy made the internet faster and more efficient without decreasing traffic. However, the IP address of the devices remained the same. But the subnets were divided into classes. You can check the subnet class of your network through the subnet calculator.
Each set of subnets can be attached to a router. Routers had to analyze the last part of the IP address, the subnet address, to connect the device to the network. On the other hand, the other bits were used for their primary function, to locate the user. For example, the CIDR /26 will have a subnet mask of 255.255.255.192 and can support up to 64 IP addresses.
The subnetting technique was so effective. It is still used worldwide after nearly 40 years. Everyone uses the same type of subnetting technique to organize their networks. It was an invention to save you from setting up more networks to manage the increasing traffic.
Furthermore, you can not identify the subnet and local addresses by just looking at the IP address. You needed the help of a router in the past. In the early years, it was done using Static Configuration. After that, the Interior Routing Protocol was used. However, in this modern age, you do not need to be a network expert to do this. You can conveniently check your subnet and other details using the subnet calculator tool.
History of Supernetting
Just seven years after the invention of the subnetting technique, many engineers felt the need to create a more advanced classification system. They believed that subnetting techniques would not be effective in the future when network traffic exceeded a specific limit. Therefore, the network manager can face some severe issues. And you have to agree with that.
For this, a new networking technique was introduced in 1991. This technique is currently known as the supernetting technique. It is quite the opposite of subnetting.
The size of the networks of subnetting classes was not suitable for a normal-sized company. Class C can handle up to 254 hosts, while class B can handle up to 65534. As you can see, there is an enormous difference between these two classes. Therefore, it causes significant trouble for typical companies.
Moreover, as the traffic increased, it became difficult for the software to manage the routing table of Internet routers. At that time, the 32-bit system became outdated. Furthermore, the space and speed of 32-bit systems are also limited and slow. Therefore, it was clear that the problem would become much larger in the coming years.
Network engineers devised another plan. The RFC 1338 presented this plan as “The proposed solution is to hierarchically allocate future IP address assignment, by delegating control of segments of the IP address space to the various network service providers.”
Supernetting VS Subnetting
Simple Definition
- Subnet: A subnetwork is created by dividing a network into smaller ones.
- Supernet: A large network formed by connecting small networks.
Positioning of Bits
- Subnet: Positioned on the right side of the default mask.
- Supernet: Positioned on the left side of the default mask.
Execution
- Subnet: executed using VLSM (Variable-length subnet masking).
- Supernet: Executed using CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing).
Objective
- Subnet: Reduces the depletion of addresses
- Supernet: untangles and binds the routing process.
Advantages of Supernetting
- In router memory tables, several routing information entries are merged into one to minimize their size.
- The speed of routing lookup is increased.
- Provide a mechanism for isolating changes in topology from other routers via the router.
- Bring down the number of users on a network.
Advantages of Subnetting
- Reduce the volume of the broadcasts in order to reduce the network traffic.
- Increases addressing flexibility.
- The network addresses become flexible.
- The local networks are allowed to manage a large number of hosts.
- Allows employing network security between subnets.
- Very easy to operate and organize.
Conclusion
Here are all the history and details you need to learn about subnetting and supernetting. Hopefully, you have understood everything discussed in the article. If yes, please leave a comment below about your experience.
Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.
I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.
Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.
My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.