RMIT Classification: Trusted

VLSM – LAB Practice

Demystifying the
process!!
VLSM Addressing –Demo Exercise :Create an addressing
RMIT Classification: Trusted

scheme which utilizes VLSM. Show the subnet address &

CIDR in the space below.

1. How many host 2. New mask:

bits required? Subtract host bits
from 32 = /…..
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
VLSM Addressing – Demo Exercise :
Create an VLSM scheme for the Network. Show the subnet address &
CIDR in the space below.

1. 60 Hosts requires 6 host 1. 28 host requires 5 host

bits (26-2=62) bits (25-2=30)
2. New mask =32 – 6 = /26 2. New mask =32 – 5= /27

64 27
0 26
Host range (1-62) Broadcast 63; next No is next subnet.
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
VLSM Addressing – Exercise : Show Full scheme on Table

Divide Network and host bits to show the host Range for
each network 64 27
0 26
Subnet Address No of Host Mask in Increm Host RangeBroadcas
Hosts bits CIDR ent t
address
220.10.10.0 60 6 /26 64 (.1 – .62) .63
220.10.10.64 28 5 /27 32 (.65- .94) .95

Next network is 220.10.10.64 +32 = 220.10.10.96.

So the broadcast address of previous network is 220.10.10.95
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

No special configuration
• Cisco routers don’t need any special
configuration to use VLSM.
• VLSM is simply a side effect of using the ip
address interface command.
• Routers collectively configure VLSM by setting
IP addresses in the same classful network but
with different masks.
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

Configuring 2 Interfaces on RMIT router, creating VLSM:

•Lets consider interface f0/0 is connected to subnet 10.2.1.0/24.
•Here we are configuring f0/0 and s0/0/1 only;

rmit(config)# interface Fa0/0

rmit (config-if)# ip address 10.2.1.1 255.255.255.0
rmit (config-if)# interface S0/0/1
rmit (config-if)# ip add 10.2.5.1 255.255.255.252

10.2.5.0/30

RMIT
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

Verify VLSM configuration

use sh ip route command

• VLSM can also be verified by a close look via

output of the show ip route command.
• lists routes in groups, by classful network, so that
you see all the subnets of a single Class A, B, or C
network all in a row.
• look to see, if any, have different masks are listed.
Example (PTO) lists RMIT’s routing table on which
uses masks /24 & /30 inside network 10.0.0.0:
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

sh ip route: offers the Routing Table

10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 5 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.2.1.0/24 is directly connected, Fastethernet 0/0
C 10.2.2.0/24 is directly connected, Fastethernet 0/0
C 10.2.3.0/24 is directly connected, Fastethernet 0/0
C 10.2.4.0/24 is directly connected, Fastethernet 0/0
C 10.2.5.0/30 is directly connected, Serial0/1 10.2.5.1/32 is directly
connected, Serial0/1

10.2.5.0 /30

RMIT
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

VLSM & Routing Protocols?

• Routing protocols do not have to be configured to

support VLSM or to be classless.
• There is no command to enable or disable
because classless routing protocols include the
mask with each route.
• Only configuration choice is to use a classless
routing protocol – such as RIPv2.
• RIPv1 does not support VLSM
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

Designing Subnetting Plans

with VLSM

When creating a subnetting plan using VLSM, be

more careful in choosing what subnets to use.
First, whatever masks used in a VLSM design, each
subnet ID must be a valid subnet ID given the mask
that used for that subnet.
Best Practice is to Work in a specific order form the
LARGEST(Highest number of HOST) to the Smallest
Network
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

NO OVERLAPS ALLOWED!!

• Regardless of whether a design uses VLSM, the

subnets used in any IP internetwork design should
never overlap their address ranges.
• When subnets in different locations overlap their
addresses, a router’s routing table entries overlap.
• As a result, hosts in different locations can be
assigned the same IP address creating errors.
• BUT Routers clearly can’t route packets correctly!
 RMIT Classification: Trusted

Identifying Overlaps
211.21.1.14/29

211.21.1.1/28

211.21.1.21/29
Step 1. Find subnet ID & subnet broadcast address of each
subnet, gives the host range of addresses in that subnet.
Step 2. List subnet IDs with their subnet broadcast addresses
Step 3. Scan list carefully, comparing each pair of adjacent
entries, to see whether their range of addresses overlaps.
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
211.21.1.14/29

211.21.1.1/ 28

211.21.1.21/29
Subnet ID Host /25 /26 /27 /28 /29 /30 * * B’cast
Range 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
1 211.21.1.0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 15 1
SPOT the OVERLAP? (R2)
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
211.21.1.17/29

211.21.1.1/ 28

211.21.1.21/29
Subnet ID Host /25 /26 /27 /28 /29 /30 * * B’cast
Range 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
211.21.1.0 (1 – 14) 15
211.21.1.16 (17-22) FIXED !!! 0 0 0 7
1 1
1 1 1 23

SPOT the OVERLAP? (R3)

 RMIT Classification: Trusted
211.21.1.17/29

211.21.1.1/28

211.21.1.25/29
Subnet ID Host /25 /26 /27 /28 /29 /30 * * B’cast
Range 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
211.21.1.0 (1 – 14) 15
211.21.1.16 (17-22) FIXED !!! 0 0 0 23
1 211.21.1.24 (25-30) 1 1 1
131
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
211.21.1.17/29

211.21.1.1/ 28

211.21.1.25/29
Subnet ID Host /25 /26 /27 /28 /29 /30 * * B’cast
Range 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
211.21.1.0 (1 – 14) 15
211.21.1.16 (17-22) FIXED !!! 7
1 1
211.21.1.24 (25-30) 31
172.16.9.0 (1-2) 0 0 3
172.16.9.4 (5-6) 1 1 7
 RMIT Classification: Trusted
5 Steps to use for successful VLSM Subnetting
Step 1. Arrange network – in descending order.
Step 2. Calculate host bits.
Step 3. Calculate new mask, increment.
Step 4. Assign subnets.
Step 5. Calculate host range.
200.20.2.0

WAN #1 WAN #2

West Centre East

1 2 3
105 62 25
 5 Steps to employ VLSM RMIT Classification: Trusted

Step 1. Arrange network – in descending order. 200.20.2.0

Step 2. Calculate host bits. WAN WAN
Step 3. Calculate new mask, increment. #1 #2
West Centre East
Step 4. Assign subnets .
Step 5. Calculate host range.
1 2 3
105 62 25

Step 1 Network shows Step 2 Required Step 3 CIDR (32-?)

five host groups are: Host Bits: Value:
LAN network 1 West 105 7 /25
LAN network 2 Centre 62 6 /26
LAN network 3 East 25 5 /27
WAN #1 2 2 /30
WAN #2 2 2 /30
200.20.2.0 Expand 4 th /25 /26 /27 /30
Octet
Step 4 & 5 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 Host Range BC
West 200.20.2.0 /25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (X.X.X.1 to 126) 127
Centre 200.20.2. 128/26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (X.X.X.129 to 190)191
East 200.20.2. 192/27 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 (X.X.X.193 to 222) 223