Summary

The binary mathematics and binary to decimal conversions presented in this chapter are essential to understanding the IP address space. Although the various classes of addresses have passed into obsolescence, their memory lingers on. Quite a few network-savvy people still think in terms of classes and often describe their network as being a Class A, B, or C. More importantly, the topics presented in this chapter formed the foundation on which other innovations advanced the usefulness and longevity of the IPv4 address space. The next two chapters focus on splitting a network address block into subnetworks. Subnetting, as that process is called, is extremely useful in building efficient address allocation schemes.