Dear sir or madam,
Firstly I am sorry for my bad English because I am not native
speaker.I have a problem that I cant resolve...
Suppose I have more than 300 computers that I want to connect into a
LAN. But how can I put all my computers in to one LAN, for ex: com1
10.0.0.1 -->com 254 (10.0.0.254) then the rest of my computers
(com255->com3xx) how can I connect it to see another computer from
com1-->com254. If we dont use hardware router can u show me how can I
do this. PS: I had many switch hubs for all that computers. Thanx
alot.

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Clarification of Question by goldsea-ga on 16 Dec 2004 20:33 PST

Briefly I just want to creat a LAN that contains more than 254
computers. I dont know how to make the 10.0.1.1 LAN see the 10.0.0.1
LAN. Can u get me ?

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Clarification of Question by goldsea-ga on 17 Dec 2004 17:28 PST

Thank you, all of u for helping me. Now I can connect all my comps
together without using routers. I use the first comp (ip:10.0.0.1
subnesmak: 255.0.0.0) --> comp254 and comp255(10.0.1.1 subnesmask
255.0.0.0). I now see the problem. Thanks again all or u.

The answer is very simple, you don't even need ip addresses or a
network layer in this case. Just connect all your computers together
with a switch or switches. Ok, your applications may expect a network
layer, but still you can just assign these 300 IP addresses and all
will work OK. That is, unless some application or transport protocol
wrongly expects a subnet mask to be assigned. It is also likely you
want to connect to the internet. In that case you will need a router
and the use of NAT. With a router in the network you have to have a
subnet mask that will work (e.g. 255.255.254.0). This allows 512 hosts
within your LAN.
          regards,
                    racerx

p.s. I got the feeling this question might be from your homework for
some University computer science course. In that case, my answering it
would be unethical.

First, use what is called a class B addressing scheme. Your subnet
mask on the computers will be 255.255.0.0
This means that the first two numbers are the network, and the second
two groups are the host ip addresses. So, all of the computers on the
network will have an ip address that starts with 10.0. , then after
that, it can be anything unique, up to 254.
So, for example, if you had 300 computers, you could assign 254 of
them 10.0.0.1 - 10.0.0.254, and then you could assign the next 254
10.0.1.1 - 10.0.1.254. Because you have assigned a subnet mask of
255.255.0.0, you can use 10.0.1.x - 10.0.254.x, which is 64,000+ ip
addresses. Plug them all into the switches, which should be plugged
into each other (probably via crossover cables), and you have a
network.

I'd rather go with 255.255.254.0 subnet or 255.255.252.0 ... at least
it can let me have a finer level of control to subnet the network. the
254.0 gives 512-2=510 available IP addresses, btw. You can't use zero,
and the highest IP should be used for broadcast address. If you have
300 computers in use, 510 available may or may not be enough. If you
were running closer to 500, I'd suggest the 255.255.252.0 which gives
1024-2 available addresses.

A class B 255.255.0.0 subnet is very much overkill, but is likely the
only valid answer given in a multiple choice test.

Rather than using the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask just use 255.255.0.0
subnet mask on the machines in the network, that will allow your
network to grow to 65000 or so computers without needing to use a
router. At that number of computers though you are going run into
issues of packet storms unles you are using switches (switches are
much better than hubs).

Good Luck