User's Manual

SPEEDLAN Installation and Operation User Guide
Setting Up the IP Addresses (IP Host Setup) 7-5
• Class D
• Range is 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255
• Used for multicast packets (i.e., host sends out router discovery packets to learn all of
the routers on the network)
• Class E
• Range is 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255
• Reserved for future use
Note: Class D & E should NOT be assigned to net assignment of IP addresses. In addition,
the first octet, 127, is reserved. In each network definition, the first node number (i.e.,
"0") is used to define the network, as well as the last number (i.e., "255"). The last num-
ber is known as the broadcast address.
Public IP addresses can be obtained from the following address:
Network Solutions
InterNIC Registration Services
505 Huntmar Park Drive
Herndon, VA 22070
[e-mail]
Note: Non-public addresses can include a network address assigned from the network
administrator or from the IP provider. Also, there is one network in each class that is
defined for private use, allowing the creation of internal networks. These addresses are
Class A: 10.0.0.0, Class B: 172.10.0.0, and Class C: 192.168.0.0.
Subnetting a Network
The increasing number of hosts and networks make impractical address blocks that are not smaller
than 245. In order keep the IP address small, so routers can manage them without changing the
whole protocol, a smaller network definition is created. This is called a subnet. Subnets are intended
to:
• Reduce network traffic
• Optimize performance
• Simplify management
• Create more effective and efficient addresses for large geographic distances