I'm currently learning about IP and Routers, and have recently learned about Subnet Masks and their purposes. When I checked my own IPs (with ipconfig), I noticed an oddity:
My Ethernet Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, which I suppose is rather normal (although it leaves space for surprisingly many devices), but much more concerning is my Wireless LAN Subnet Mask, standing at 255.255.0.0, which would be a ridiculous amount of possible devices in my network - which is just a FritzBox in my family home.
Is there any explanation to the size of this Subnet Mask, could it may be that I am misunderstanding the concept of Subnet Masks with WiFi or is this something I should change?
Any information is greatly appreciated :)
Ok so 255.255.0.0 is the maximum amount of devices that can be used so probably the first two octets of all devices must be the same on the network for it to configuire itself as this. Alas your network does not believe itself to be running at full capacity but believes it has the ability to run at full capacity which is true right? (hopefully as it is new) Therefore you certainly have a set up calibration problem which is no worry and really an unnecessary issue that really at the end of the day has no problem unless you wanted to run some thing of the sort of a mass AI learning system of independent integrated workstations on your home LAN (which again, i wouldnt expect)
A bit of extra clarification (perhaps unnecessary)but because you asked you asked for as much information :) ... the AI would only be a problem because it would always want to reach the max device number you have allocated when running and incrementing learning. The AI always overspills the max you have set but of course as it is set as the largest possible max on your system (at 255) it has no overspill capabilities at all and would cause a queue.