What is the main purpose of a subnet mask in an IP network?

Options

  • A. To identify the network and host portions of an IP address
  • B. To encrypt network communication
  • C. To assign MAC addresses to devices
  • D. More than one of the above
  • E. None of the above

Correct Answer (Detailed Explanation is Below)

A. To identify the network and host portions of an IP address

Detailed Explanation

Explanation: A subnet mask identifies which bits of an IP address represent the network portion and which bits represent the host portion. For example, 255.255.255.0 is a commonly used subnet mask.