Supernet

In Internet networking terminology, a supernet is a block of contiguous Subnetworks addressed as a single subnet.

Supernetting is a networking technique which allows the use of multiple IP networks on the same network interface. It is the inverse of subnetting, which allows the use of a single IP network on multiple interfaces. Supernetting is typically used to extend legacy Class C networks.

For supernetting to work, you must be using static Routing everywhere or be using a routing protocol which supports classless routing, such as RIPv2 (or Open Shortest Path First) which can carry subnet mask information with the routing update. Older Routing Information Protocol protocol only know classful addressing, and hence cannot transmit subnet mask information.

= See also =

*Classless Inter-Domain Routing *IPv4 subnetting reference *Classful network