Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter

Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter

Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter

Convert your subnet mask to the corresponding IP range!

Instructions:
  1. Enter the **IP address** (e.g., 192.168.1.0) and **subnet mask** (e.g., 255.255.255.0 or /24).
  2. Click “Calculate” to find the **IP range** and other subnet details.
  3. The result will show the **network address**, **broadcast address**, and the range of **usable IP addresses**.

When configuring networks, one of the most essential concepts to understand is subnetting. Subnetting allows network administrators to divide a larger network into smaller, more manageable sub-networks (subnets). To do this, you need to calculate the IP range for each subnet based on the subnet mask. Using a Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter simplifies this process, helping you quickly determine the range of IP addresses that fall within a specific subnet.

In this article, we will break down what a subnet mask is, how it works, and how you can use a Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter to efficiently determine the IP address range for any given network.

What is a Subnet Mask?

A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that divides an IP address into two parts: the network portion and the host portion. It is used to identify which part of an IP address refers to the network and which part can be assigned to individual devices (hosts) within that network.

For example, in a typical IPv4 address, the subnet mask is written in the format of four octets (e.g., 255.255.255.0), where each octet represents 8 bits. The subnet mask determines the number of IP addresses available for devices within a subnet and how the network and host portions are divided.

Common Subnet Masks:

  • 255.255.255.0: This is a typical subnet mask for home networks, providing 256 IP addresses (including network and broadcast addresses).
  • 255.255.255.128: This mask divides the network into two subnets, each with 128 addresses.
  • 255.255.0.0: A subnet mask for larger networks with 65,536 addresses.

How Subnet Mask Determines IP Range

The subnet mask helps define the IP range for a specific network. The number of usable IP addresses depends on the number of bits allocated for the host portion of the IP address.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Network Portion: The part of the IP address specified by the subnet mask.
  2. Host Portion: The remaining part of the IP address that can be assigned to individual devices.

To calculate the IP range:

  • The first IP address in the subnet is always the network address, and it cannot be assigned to any device.
  • The last IP address is the broadcast address, and it is used to send messages to all devices within the subnet, so it also cannot be assigned to any device.
  • The range of usable IP addresses is between the network address and the broadcast address.

Example: Subnet Mask to IP Range Conversion

Let’s walk through an example. Assume we are working with the following IP address and subnet mask:

  • IP Address: 192.168.1.10
  • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Step 1: Determine Network Address

The subnet mask 255.255.255.0 means that the first 24 bits (the first three octets) are used for the network portion. So, we need to AND the IP address with the subnet mask.

  • IP Address: 192.168.1.10 → 11000000.10101000.00000001.00001010
  • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 → 11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000

By performing a bitwise AND operation:

11000000.10101000.00000001.00001010 (IP Address)
11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000 (Subnet Mask)
------------------------------------
11000000.10101000.00000001.00000000 (Network Address)

So, the network address is 192.168.1.0.

Step 2: Calculate Broadcast Address

To calculate the broadcast address, we invert the subnet mask’s host bits and OR it with the network address.

  • Inverted Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.255 (the host portion is all ones)
  • Network Address: 192.168.1.0

Performing the OR operation:

11000000.10101000.00000001.00000000 (Network Address)
00000000.00000000.00000000.11111111 (Inverted Subnet Mask)
------------------------------------
11000000.10101000.00000001.11111111 (Broadcast Address)

The broadcast address is 192.168.1.255.

Step 3: Calculate IP Range

Now, the usable IP range is between the network address and the broadcast address. The first usable IP address is 192.168.1.1 and the last usable IP address is 192.168.1.254.

  • Usable IP Range: 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254

Thus, the IP range for the subnet 192.168.1.0/24 (with subnet mask 255.255.255.0) is from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254, providing 254 usable IP addresses for hosts.

Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter Tool

To simplify this process, you can use a Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter to automatically calculate the IP address range for any subnet. Here’s an example of a basic table showing how different subnet masks affect the number of usable IP addresses:

Subnet MaskNetwork AddressBroadcast AddressUsable IP RangeNumber of Usable IPs
255.255.255.0192.168.1.0192.168.1.255192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254254
255.255.255.128192.168.1.0192.168.1.127192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.126126
255.255.255.192192.168.1.0192.168.1.63192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.6262
255.255.255.224192.168.1.0192.168.1.31192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.3030
255.255.255.252192.168.1.0192.168.1.3192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.22

How to Use the Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter

A Subnet Mask to IP Range Converter works by taking an IP address and subnet mask as input and calculating:

  1. The network address: The first address in the range, representing the network itself.
  2. The broadcast address: The last address in the range, used for broadcasting to all devices within the subnet.
  3. The usable IP range: The range of IP addresses that can be assigned to individual devices (excluding the network and broadcast addresses).

Here’s a simple process to use the converter:

  1. Enter the IP address and subnet mask in the designated fields.
  2. Click on Calculate or Convert.
  3. The tool will output the network address, broadcast address, and the usable IP range for that subnet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the subnet mask used for?

  • The subnet mask is used to divide an IP address into the network portion and the host portion. It helps determine how many devices can exist within a particular network.

2. What does a smaller subnet mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0) mean?

  • A smaller subnet mask means that there are more available IP addresses within the subnet. For example, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 provides 254 usable IP addresses, while 255.255.255.252 only provides 2 usable IP addresses.

3. How do I calculate the IP range manually?

  • To calculate the IP range manually, convert the subnet mask into binary, perform a bitwise AND operation with the IP address to get the network address, and then invert the host portion to calculate the broadcast address.

4. Can a subnet mask be changed?

  • Yes, subnet masks can be changed. However, changing a subnet mask can affect the IP address distribution within the network and may require reconfiguration of devices.

5. What is the maximum number of IP addresses in a subnet?

  • The maximum number of IP addresses in a subnet depends on the subnet mask. For example, a subnet with a 255.255.255.0 mask has