Which class in traditional subnetting yields the largest default subnet mask, allowing the most hosts?

Which class in traditional subnetting yields the largest default subnet mask, allowing the most hosts?

• A. Class B
• B. Class A
• C. Class C
• D. Class D

Answer: (B)

In traditional subnetting, the number of hosts per network is determined by how many bits are left for the host portion in the default subnet mask. Class A uses a default mask of 255.0.0.0, which leaves 24 bits for hosts. That allows up to 2^24 minus 2 usable addresses per network (16,777,214), which is far more than what Class B or Class C can offer. Class B has 16 host bits (65,534 usable hosts), and Class C has only 8 host bits (254 usable hosts). Class D is for multicast and isn’t used for regular host networks, so it doesn’t provide host addresses in the same sense. Therefore, Class A yields the most hosts.

In traditional subnetting, the number of hosts per network is determined by how many bits are left for the host portion in the default subnet mask. Class A uses a default mask of 255.0.0.0, which leaves 24 bits for hosts. That allows up to 2^24 minus 2 usable addresses per network (16,777,214), which is far more than what Class B or Class C can offer. Class B has 16 host bits (65,534 usable hosts), and Class C has only 8 host bits (254 usable hosts). Class D is for multicast and isn’t used for regular host networks, so it doesn’t provide host addresses in the same sense. Therefore, Class A yields the most hosts.