Talk:Supernetwork/Archive 1

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Author indicated supernetting requires link-state routing protocol such as RIP2 or OSPF. RIP is a distance-vector routing protocol. Supernetting only requires that contigious address blocks be used and a routing protocol which is capable of carrying subnet information in its updates (also added). Author also states "Supernetting is a networking technique which allows the use of multiple IP networks on the same network interface" which is false. Supernetting mainly allows contigious blocks to be assigned to an organization when larger blocks, such as class A or B ranges are unavailable. Instead multiple blocks of address, for instance class C, are assigned. It also allows for smaller internet routing tables as now only one entry need be placed in the upstream router representing the networks below it. This is my first Wikipedia contribution, I'll add more to this article once I learn the customs around here :-).

The author claims:

Supernets always have masks that are smaller than the classful mask, otherwise it isn't a supernet.

I am not sure this is the case. It is common, for instance, to create 16-bit aggregations in 10.0.0.0/8 address space, with 24-bit subnets beneath the 16-bit aggregations:

• 10.0.0.0/8
  • 10.1.0.0/16
    • 10.1.1.0/24
      • Hosts

I consider this use of 16-bit aggregation to be "supernetting", regardless of the fact that the 16-bit chunks have longer prefixes (larger masks) than the classful /8 prefix.

76.20.226.15 (talk) 21:58, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Clay

No, this is just subnetting a subnet. Supernetting is just the act of breaking the Classful rules of IP addressing. Just because you have created a subnet beneath one of your subnets does not make it a supernet. I see where you are coming from though, but its not correct.Jwjkp (talk) 22:10, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Want to add on this a little. Just think of it this way, if the bits for the network portion are larger than the classful bits for the IP, then its subnetting. If the bits used is less than the classful bits for the IP, its supernetting.

The only a class A address can be supernetted is if the mask is 1-7; for class B 1-15; and for class C 1-23. Jwjkp (talk) 01:35, 23 December 2008 (UTC)