IPv4 Subnetting Best Practices

For networking pros, subnetting is an essential skill. Follow these steps to ensure reliable performance and security in IPv4 networks.

Subnetting is a fundamental practice for accommodating network growth and improving network performance and security, but it can be time-consuming and frustrating. While subnet calculators are available, subnetting is far more than just numbers and remains a core skill for networking professionals.

While there are obvious organizational variables that impact your overall subnetting plan, there are universal best practices you should follow. In this article, I cover several best practices to ensure your network's IPv4 subnetting strategy is both efficient and scalable. I focus on Internet Protocol version 4 since it's the most widely used IP version in the enterprise today.

About the Author(s)

Andrew Froehlich, President, West Gate Networks

President, West Gate Networks

As a highly experienced network architect and trusted IT consultant with worldwide contacts, particularly in the United States and Southeast Asia, Andrew Froehlich has nearly two decades of experience and possesses multiple industry certifications in the field of enterprise networking. Froehlich has participated in the design and maintenance of networks for State Farm Insurance, United Airlines, Chicago-area schools and the University of Chicago Medical Center. He is the founder and president of Loveland, Colo.-based West Gate Networks, which specializes in enterprise network architectures and data center build outs. The author of two Cisco certification study guides published by Sybex, he is a regular contributor to multiple enterprise IT related websites and trade journals with insights into rapidly changing developments in the IT industry.

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