ALSO CALLED: Internet Protocol Addresses, Internet Addresses, and IP Numbers DEFINITION: A subnet mask is a screen of numbers used for routing traffic within a subnet. Once a packet has arrived at an organization's gateway or connection point with its unique network number, it can be routed to its destination within the organization's internal gateways using the
Definition continues below.
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IP ADDRESSES DEFINITION (continued): subnet number. The subnet mask consists of a screen of numbers indicating to the router which numbers it should look at underneath. In a binary mask, for example, a "1" over a number says "Look at the number underneath;" a "0" says "Don't look." Using a mask saves the router having to handle the entire 32 bit address; it can simply look at the bits selected by the mask.
Using the previous example (which is a very typical case), the combined network number and subnet IP Addresses definition sponsored by SearchNetworking.com, powered by WhatIs.com an online computer dictionary
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