Net masks are decimal representations of 32-bit binary addresses. Each number represents 8 bits thus 255.255.255.0 is equivalent to 11111111111111111111111100000000. As you can see there are 24 bits set. This value is logically or'ed with an ip address and therefore the first 24 bits can be safely ignored. I am sure others have better explanations, but hopefully this will help some. -- There are 10 kinds of people in the world; those who understand binary, and those who don't. Thomas Stivers stivers_t at ev1.net http://stivers-home.dyndns.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gregory Nowak" <greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca> Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 6:10 PM Subject: determining the netmask > Hi all. > > I know that a netmask of 255.255.255.0 is a 24-bit netmask. I also know that 8 bits is a byte. However, I don't understand how it is determined that 255.255.255.0 is a 24-bit netmask. Can someone please explain this? Thanks in advance. > Greg > > > _______________________________________________ > Speakup mailing list > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup >
