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CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71)InfrastructureHard

A network engineer assigns a subnet using the CIDR notation /26. How many usable host addresses does this subnet provide?

  1. A14
  2. B30
  3. C126
  4. D62
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. 62

A /26 subnet leaves 32-26=6 host bits, giving 2^6=64 total addresses. Subtracting 2 for the network and broadcast addresses leaves 62 usable host addresses (64-2=62).

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. 14 usable hosts corresponds to a /28 subnet.
  • B. 30 usable hosts corresponds to a /27 subnet.
  • C. 126 usable hosts corresponds to a /25 subnet.

CIDR Subnetting

CIDR notation (e.g., /26) indicates the number of network bits; remaining bits determine host addresses, minus 2 for network and broadcast.

  • Formula: 2^(32-CIDR)-2 = usable hosts
  • /24 = 254 usable hosts
  • /26 = 62 usable hosts
  • /30 = 2 usable hosts (point-to-point links)

Memory trick: Take host bits, power of 2, then subtract 2 party crashers (network & broadcast).

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