A network administrator is adding a new LAN to a branch office. The new LAN must support 10 connected devices. What is the smallest network mask that the network administrator can use for the new network?
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Last Updated: May 3, 2026
IT Exam Items Repository › Category: CCNA 1 v7 › A network administrator is adding a new LAN to a branch office. The new LAN must support 10 connected devices. What is the smallest network mask that the network administrator can use for the new network?
A network administrator is adding a new LAN to a branch office. The new LAN must support 10 connected devices. What is the smallest network mask that the network administrator can use for the new network?
- 255.255.255.192
- 255.255.255.248
- 255.255.255.224
- 255.255.255.240
Explanation: To support 10 connected devices, you must calculate the number of host bits required using the formula 2n−2. A mask with 3 host bits (23−2=6) is insufficient, so 4 host bits are needed, providing 14 usable host addresses (24−2=14). A 32-bit IPv4 address with 4 host bits leaves 28 bits for the network portion (/28), which corresponds to the subnet mask 255.255.255.240.
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