Question:
How does a Windows Administrator specify Network Classes (A,B,C) with an associated default subnet mask?
In Windows, network classes (A, B, and C) are defined by their default subnet masks.
To specify a network class with an associated default subnet mask, a Windows administrator can do the following:
- Determine the network class that is needed based on the number of hosts that will be on the network. A network class A is typically used for very large networks, while network classes B and C are used for smaller networks.
- Determine the default subnet mask for the chosen network class. The default subnet mask for a network class A is 255.0.0.0, for a network class B it is 255.255.0.0, and for a network class C it is 255.255.255.0.
- Open the Network and Sharing Center in Windows and select Change adapter settings.
- Right-click on the network adapter that will be used for the network and select Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- Select the option to Use the following IP address.
- In the IP address field, enter the IP address for the network. The first portion of the IP address should match the network class chosen, followed by additional octets that define the specific network address. For example, for a network class B, the IP address might start with 172.16.x.x.
- In the Subnet mask field, enter the default subnet mask for the chosen network class.
- Click OK to save the changes and close the network properties window.
By specifying a network class with an associated default subnet mask in this way, a Windows administrator can configure the network settings for a Windows computer to match the requirements of the network. This allows the computer to communicate with other devices on the network and access network resources.
