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Performace Issues Based On Large Subnet

This should be a fairly easy, opinion based question. When designing a private network segment (NATed), what would be the pro’s and con’s to using a Class B IP network vs a Class C. Biggest question in the pro’s and con’s is can anyone see network performance deteriorating because a Class B was used rather than a Class C. The idea behind the Class B is to us the third octet to designate functionality in the network, for example 10.1.0.x is where routers/switches/firewall’s go, 10.1.1.x is where the Servers go, 10.1.2.x where the phones go, and so on. Does anyone see an performance issue with this?

MitchV85

There would be no performance issues with using a 255.255.0.0 mask for this. The only potential drawback you would have would be if you were trying not to waste IP addresses because this subnet will consume 65,535 addresses. If you are worried about consuming too many addresses you can use VLSM to create smaller subnets and save address space. For example you can make your subnet mask 255.255.248.0 to break your subnet to use up to 32 blocks of 2048 addresses.

Best of luck,
Mitch

Craig_200X

I dont see any performance issues as long as you dont add too many clients to a subnet. 50-100 per subnet on a 100mbit network should be fine, as long as they are not doing to much ... if the clients are hogging the network, you want to lower that... this is where you create a baseline... as far as A vs B vs C.... most businesses use 10.x.x.x vs a 192...

Keith Alabaster

If you use the Class C mask, something is going to have to perform the routing between the subnets; using a class B removes that overhead. using a class B increases the broadcast traffic as they are now all on the same subnet. Personally I would use the class C mask and live with the router device having to earn its keep.
Regards
Keith.

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Craig_200X

Was that really you Tim?

JK!!

Well put!

IM trying to think like THAT... :))

Craig

Keith Alabaster

Thanks for the confirmation Tim.

ECNSSMT

Hi Craig,

What's JK?

(Thanks)

Regards,

Craig_200X

just kiddin!