Variable Length Subnet Mask

This is a networking term and is often referred to as the VLSM in the networking world as the term Variable Length Subnet Mask is abbreviated as VLSM. In today’s world technology is advancing rapidly and more and more things are being introduced to the world which makes use of the IP address to communicate over the network as most of the networks today make use of this TCP/IP protocol for the communication process and for transferring the data. When the networking world was booming and nearly every day something new was being introduced to the world, hence, the IP address started to become short, that is, there came a time when these things could not be given or assigned any IP address as there was no address left for the network to assign to these new device.

It was at this time the concept of subletting was introduced, in which the IP can be broken in to the parts and then assigned to the new devices. It solved the problem for a while however, soon after that, this procedure soon failed to fulfill demands. Hence a new concept of variable length subnet mask was introduced to the networking world.

Variable Length Subnet Mask or VLSM is the means to specify a different subnet mask for the same network number on different subnets. In simpler terms this is a technique by which the IP address resources are allocated to the individuals according to their needs, and this helped in saving up IP addresses for other networking devices and other people, who needed to be assigned addresses so that they can communicate over the TCP/IP protocol. These VLSM are therefore, the ranges of IP address which can be used for free on the network as long as a person does not wishes to go online, as for that a proper IP address is needed.