Q & A on IP Address Prefixes and Suffixes

Q: Our class had a question about table 16.13 on page 245 (2nd edition).

The headers in the table are "prefix" and "suffix", implying that these address the bits AFTER the bits identifying the address class.

A: When I use the term ``prefix'', I include the bits that identify the class as well as bits that identify network.

Q: We had a question about the entries for "this computer" and "limited broadcast". Is this really referring to the prefix (where self-identifying bits for address class are still used), or are all octets in the address 0's or 1's.

A: The address labeled ``this computer'' consists of all 32 zero bits, and the address for ``limited broadcast'' consists of all 32 one bits. The class bits are not interpreted in these special addresses.