A branch LAN requires 50 usable IPv4 host addresses. Which prefix is the smallest that meets the requirement?

KKey Concepts to Remember

• Subnetting divides a network into smaller subnets by borrowing bits from the host portion of the IP address to create additional network addresses.
• The number of usable host addresses in a subnet equals 2 to the power of host bits minus 2, accounting for the network and broadcast addresses.
• A /26 subnet mask uses 26 bits for the network and 6 bits for hosts, providing 62 usable host addresses suitable for a 50-host requirement.
• Choosing the smallest subnet prefix that meets the host requirement prevents IP address waste and optimizes network resource allocation.
• The network and broadcast addresses in each subnet are reserved and cannot be assigned to hosts, reducing usable host count by two.
• Longer subnet prefixes (e.g., /27) provide fewer usable hosts and may be insufficient for larger host requirements.
• Shorter subnet prefixes (e.g., /25 or /24) provide more hosts than needed, leading to inefficient IP address usage.
• Understanding the difference between total and usable addresses is critical to selecting the correct subnet mask in Cisco network design.