Project : Research Subnetting Calculation Shortcuts

Instructors, network technicians, and IT students have developed a plethora of shortcuts, mnemonics, and lock-step methods to calculate subnets. The trick is to find the method that clicks for you.

In this project, you will research some of the options these various methods provide, and create your own "cheat sheet" to help pre-pare you for subnetting on the CompTIA Networkþ exam.

1. Start with a search engine and, if you know you prefer videos instead of written instructions, limit your search to videos or images, or conduct your search on youtube. Do a search for topics such as "subnetting," "subnetting made easy," "subnetting l," or "subnetting for dummies."

2. Explore at least three different methods of calculating subnets. (You can use the method presented in this book as one of your selections.) Take the time to understand each method, and why it works. List the Web links for each method you evaluated, and make a few general notes about how each method is performed and what you learned from it.

3. Select one of the methods that makes the most sense to you, and list the steps in detail. Imagine that you're helping another student in how to calculate subnets, and be sure to include enough detail that the steps would make sense to someone who doesn't already know how to calculate subnets.

4. If the method relies on any mnemonics, lists, diagrams, or formulas, draw those on an index card. Set the card somewhere that you will notice it on a daily basis, and each day for at least a week take a little time to review this mental starting point for subnet calculations. Redraw this information at least three times during the week.

5. Rework the scenario in Project 10-1 using your selected subnetting calculation method. Did you come up with the same numbers? What differences do you notice in the method presented in this book as compared with the method you selected?