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CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) and VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking)

Afzal Badshah, PhD
5 min readOct 2, 2024

In the domain of networking, two pivotal concepts revolutionized the way we allocate and manage IP addresses: CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) and VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking). CIDR emerged as a response to the limitations of traditional IP addressing, introducing a more flexible and efficient approach to representing IP address ranges. On the other hand, VLSM, a crucial extension of CIDR, empowers network administrators with the ability to optimize subnetting by allowing variable-length subnet masks. Together, CIDR and VLSM have become indispensable tools in modern networking, enabling streamlined IP address allocation, efficient routing, and scalability in diverse network architectures. This tutorial will guide you through the intricacies of CIDR and VLSM, providing a comprehensive understanding and practical insights into their applications. You can also visit here the a detailed tutorial on networking. You can also visit the detailed tutorial on computer networks here.

CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing)

Traditional IP addressing faced limitations with class-based systems. CIDR, or Classless Inter-Domain Routing, emerged as a solution to overcome these limitations, allowing for more efficient allocation of IP addresses. CIDR addresses the…

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Afzal Badshah, PhD
Afzal Badshah, PhD

Written by Afzal Badshah, PhD

Dr Afzal Badshah focuses on academic skills, pedagogy (teaching skills) and life skills.

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