VLSM

What is VLSM?
• VLSMs enable the creation of subnets of
specific sizes and allows the division of a
classless network into smaller networks that
do not need to be equal in size. This makes
use of the address space more efficient as
many times IP addresses are wasted with
classfull subnetting.
Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSMs)
• the link between the two routers never uses
more than two valid hosts!
• It is efficient to apply the subnet mask to every
subnet based on the requirement of valid hosts
addresses in that subnet.
• The above scheme is called VLSM – Variable
length Subnet Masks
• Valid Block sizes are 4,8,16,32,64 and 128
• Applicable Subnet masks can be found out from
the block size fixed.
Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSMs)

• VLSM can be used with classless routing

protocols such as RIPv2, EIGRP, or OSPF.
• VLSM cannot be used with Classful Routing
Protocols such as RIPv1 and IGRP.
Block Sizes
 VLSM design Example -1
• IP address -135.100.80.0/22
• Find – IP for 500 hosts
– IP for 2 hosts
– IP for 10 hosts
– IP for 40 hosts
– IP for 20 hosts
– IP for 70 hosts
– IP for 100 hosts
 Solution of example 1
• Firstly divide for larger size – for 500
• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2
• H<=29 -2
• H<=510
• Now IP is - 135.100.80.0/23
• Icrement values – 256-254 =2
Net id Starting IP Ending IP Broad cast IP

135.100.80.0/23 135.100.80.1 135.100.81.254 135.100.81.255

135.100.82.0/23
 SECOND larger size – for 100

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=27 -2
• H<=126
• Increment values =256-128=128
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.82.0/25 135.100.82.1 135.100.82.126 135.100.82.127
135.100.82.128/25
135.100.83.0/25
135.100.83.128/25
 Third larger size – for 70

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=27 -2
• H<=126
• Increment values =256-128=128
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.82.128/25 135.100.82.129 135.100.82.254 135.100.82.255
135.100.83.0/25
135.100.83.128/25
 Third larger size – for 40

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=26 -2
• H<=62
• Increment values =256-192=64
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.83.0/26 135.100.83.1 135.100.83.62 135.100.83.63
135.100.83.64/26
135.100.83.128/25
 Third larger size – for 20

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=25 -2
• H<=30
• Increment values =256-224=32
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.83.64/27 135.100.83.65 135.100.83.94 135.100.83.95
135.100.83.96/27
135.100.83.128/25
 Third larger size – for 10

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=24 -2
• H<=14
• Increment values =256-240=16
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.83.96/28 135.100.83.97 135.100.83.110 135.100.83.111
135.100.83.112/28
135.100.83.128/25
 Third larger size – for 2

• No of off bits(host) – H<=2n1 -2

• H<=22 -2
• H<=2
• Increment values =256-252=4
Net oid Fist IP Last IP Broad cast IP
135.100.83.112/30 135.100.83.113 135.100.83.114 135.100.83.115
135.100.83.116/30
135.100.83.120/30
135.100.83.124/30
135.100.83.128/25
Solution to VLSM design example