What is VLSM?

VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking) is a subnetting technique that allows network administrators to divide an IP address space into subnets of different sizes. This is more efficient than traditional subnetting with fixed-size subnet masks, as it enables better allocation of IP addresses based on the needs of each subnet, minimizing wasted addresses. VLSM is commonly used to create subnets tailored to the specific number of hosts required in different parts of a network, such as for point-to-point links with only two hosts or larger subnets for departments with many users.