
48 Part One • Theory
3.6 Subnetting Class A Networks
With the deprecation of classful internetworking and the gradual return of
sizable chunks of network address space in the form of recycled Class A net-
works, CIDR, and subnetting provide an excellent and efficient approach
to reusing this formerly wasted resource.
In April 1995, experimental RFC 1797, “Class A Subnet Experiment,” doc-
umented the experimental use of network 39/8 for subnetting. As reported
in RFC 1879, “Class A Subnet Experiment: Results and Recommenda-
tions,” during trials the approach proved successful, and in 1996, the
IANA recommended that Class A addresses be used in this way ...