Which of the following class of IP address has the last address as 223.255.255.255?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding IP Address Classes and Ranges

IP addresses are divided into different classes to manage the allocation of network addresses and host addresses efficiently. These classes are defined by the range of values in the first octet (the first 8 bits) of the IP address.

Common IP Address Classes and Their Ranges

Let's look at the main IP address classes, their typical first octet values, and the range of IP addresses they cover.

Class	First Octet Range (Decimal)	First Few Bits	IP Address Range
Class A	1 - 126	0xxxxxxx	1.0.0.0 to 126.255.255.255
Class B	128 - 191	10xxxxxx	128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255
Class C	192 - 223	110xxxxx	192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255
Class D (Multicast)	224 - 239	1110xxxx	224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255
Class E (Experimental)	240 - 255	11110xxx	240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255

Note: The ranges 0.0.0.0 to 0.255.255.255 and 127.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255 are typically reserved for specific purposes (default route and loopback, respectively) and fall outside the standard Class A usable range.

Analyzing the Given IP Address Range End

The question asks which class of IP address has the last address as 223.255.255.255. Let's compare this address to the upper limits of the ranges for the common IP address classes:

Class A ends at 126.255.255.255.
Class B ends at 191.255.255.255.
Class C ends at 223.255.255.255.
Class D ends at 239.255.255.255.

Comparing the address 223.255.255.255 with the class ranges, we see that this address is the highest address within the range designated for Class C IP addresses.

Conclusion on IP Address Class

Based on the standard definition of IP address classes and their corresponding ranges, the class that ends with the address 223.255.255.255 is Class C.

Revision Table: Key IP Class Details

Class	Purpose	Number of Network Bits	Number of Host Bits	Typical First Octet Range
Class A	Large networks	8	24	1-126
Class B	Medium networks	16	16	128-191
Class C	Small networks	24	8	192-223
Class D	Multicast	N/A	N/A	224-239
Class E	Experimental	N/A	N/A	240-255

Additional Information on IP Addressing

Understanding IP address classes is fundamental to network design and management. While classful addressing is the historical basis, modern networks primarily use Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR). CIDR allows for more flexible subnetting than classful addressing by using a network prefix length (indicated by a '/' followed by a number, e.g., 192.168.1.0/24) rather than being restricted to the fixed bit boundaries of classful networks (8, 16, or 24 bits).

Key concepts related to IP addressing include:

Network Address: The first address in a network range, where all host bits are 0. It identifies the network itself.
Broadcast Address: The last address in a network range, where all host bits are 1. Used to send data to all devices on that network.
Usable IP Addresses: The addresses between the network address and the broadcast address, which can be assigned to devices.
Subnetting: The process of dividing a larger network into smaller subnets.

While classful addressing simplified initial IP allocation, it led to inefficient use of the IPv4 address space. CIDR was introduced to address this limitation.