In classful addressing each class C network in the IPv4 space can have up to 255 hosts.
In classful addressing, each Class C network in the IPv4 space can have up to 255 hosts. This statement refers to the traditional method of IP addressing, which was widely used before the introduction of Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR). To understand this concept, let's consider the details of classful addressing and how it relates to IP addressing.
In classful addressing, the IPv4 address space is divided into five classes: A, B, C, D, and E. Each class has a different range of addresses and is designed to cater to networks of varying sizes. Class C networks are specifically allocated for small to medium-sized organizations, as they provide a moderate number of hosts.
Class C networks are identified by a specific range of IP addresses. The first three octets of the address are used to identify the network, while the last octet is reserved for host addresses. In class C, the first octet ranges from 192 to 223, allowing for 2^8 or 256 possible values. However, the first and last addresses in each class C network are reserved for network and broadcast addresses, respectively. Therefore, the usable range of host addresses in a class C network is from 192.0.0.1 to 223.255.255.254.
Since the network and broadcast addresses are reserved, the total number of usable host addresses in a class C network is 256 – 2 = 254. Hence, the statement that each class C network can have up to 255 hosts is incorrect. It should be 254 hosts.
To illustrate this, let's consider an example. Suppose we have a network with the IP address 192.168.0.0/24. In this case, the first three octets (192.168.0) represent the network address, and the last octet (0) is the host address. The usable range of host addresses in this network would be from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.254, allowing for a total of 254 hosts.
It is important to note that classful addressing has become less prevalent with the introduction of CIDR. CIDR allows for more flexible allocation of IP addresses by using variable-length subnet masks. This enables organizations to divide their IP address space into smaller subnets, regardless of the traditional class boundaries.
In classful addressing, each class C network in the IPv4 space can have up to 254 hosts. The network and broadcast addresses consume two of the available addresses, leaving 254 usable host addresses. However, it is essential to recognize that CIDR has largely superseded classful addressing, providing more flexibility and efficient allocation of IP addresses.
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