* Understanding Subnetting:
* Original Network: 192.168.1.0/24 has a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, which allows for 256 IP addresses (including network and broadcast addresses).
* Objective: Divide this network into two equal subnets.
* Calculating Subnet Mask:
* New Subnet Mask: To divide 192.168.1.0/24 into two equal halves, we need to borrow one bit from the host portion of the address, changing the subnet mask to 255.255.255.128 (/25).
* Subnet Breakdown:
* First Subnet: 192.168.1.0/25 (192.168.1.0 - 192.168.1.127)
* Second Subnet: 192.168.1.128/25 (192.168.1.128 - 192.168.1.255)
* Verification:
* Each subnet now has 128 IP addresses (126 usable IP addresses, excluding the network and broadcast addresses).
* Comparison with Other Options:
* 255.255.0.0 (/16): Provides a much larger network, not dividing the original /24 network.
* 255.255.254.0 (/23): Also creates a larger subnet, encompassing more than the original /24 network.
* 255.255.255.0 (/24): Maintains the original subnet size, not dividing it.
References:
* CompTIA Network+ study materials on subnetting and IP addressing.