HOW IMPORTANT IS SUBNETTING?
First WHAT IS SUBNETTING?
Subnetting is the Art of dividing up a network into two or more networks. The need for applying the concept of subnetting is to provide way to prevent the wastage of IP addresses. Then dividing an IP address into multiple smaller units that can work as a separate network unit known as subnet, in the host network is known as the subnetting process.
Subnetting works by applying the concept of extended network addresses to individual computer (and another network device) addresses. An extended network address includes both a network address and additional bits that represent the subnet number. Subnetting allows network administrators some flexibility in defining relationships among network hosts. Hosts on different subnets can only talk to each other through specialized network gateway devices like routers. The ability to filter traffic between subnets can make more bandwidth available to applications and can limit access in desirable ways.
There could be hundreds of thousands of devices that are connected within a network, and the corresponding IP addresses can create a complex route that traffic must travel. Subnetting limits the IP address usage to within a few devices. This allows an engineer to use subnetting to create sub-networks, sorting data so that it can travel without touching every part of the more complex routers. To do this, an engineer needs to match each IP address class to a subnet mask.
A subnet mask echoes an IP address, but it can only be utilized within an internal network. This mask helps to identify which part of the IP address relates to the network and which part relates to the host so specific data is sent on particular routes according to its destination. A subnet mask creates the tool that enables a router to match an IP address with a sub-network
SUBNETTING BENEFITS
To begin with, Subnetting divides broadcast domains so traffic is routed efficiently, improving speed and network performance.
Network security can be readily employed between sub networks rather than employing it in the whole network
In the case of Small networks, maintenance is easy.
Subnetting increases the number of allowed hosts in the local area network.
Subnetting decreases the volume of broadcast, hence minimize the number of network traffic.
Sub networks are easy to maintain and manage.
Subnetting increases the flexibility of address.
