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Why I use the 192.0.0.0/24 subnet for my home network.
Before we delve deeper, it's worth clarifying the notation used in IP subnetting. The "/24" following the IP address are subnet masks, denoting the number of bits set to 1 in the subnet's binary mask. A "/24" means that the first 24 bits of the IP address denote the network, leaving the last 8 bits (from a total of 32 bits in an IPv4 address) for specific host addresses within that network. This gives us a total of 254 usable addresses (2(32-24) = 28), from 1 to 254. Zero is "the" network address, and is not used for devices on purpose and 255 is used for broadcasts on the subnet.
Now, onto the specifics of why this subnet was chosen. The 192.0.0.0/24 IPv4 address block, as per RFC 6890, is assigned to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) for special-purpose protocols. IANA manages a registry that maintains information about each assigned address block.
The primary motivation for using this particular subnet in my home network originates from its integration with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for remote connections. The 192.0.0.0/24 block has no documented specific intended use to date. These addresses, designated for special-purpose protocols, could support innovative networking protocols or practices. Until such a use is defined, these addresses can be leveraged in unique network configurations, such as my own.
By using the 192.0.0.0/24 subnet, I can ensure my home network's IP address space does not conflict with the IP address spaces of other local networks. This is important when I use to connect to my VPN at home. If your current network and remote network have the same range, you cannot connect to servers in the remote network.
I did some digging and try to find more information. The intent was to use this block for "IETF protocol assignments". Whatever that may be. The actual documentation is sparse. Only PCP, ILNP and NAT64 may use a couple of address in this range. But I don't use these protocols, so I don't need to worry for conflicts.
However, this choice is not without potential risks. Should IANA assign a specific use to this address block in the future, I would need to revise my home network configuration to prevent possible conflicts. Such conflicts could arise due to my network utilizing these addresses differently, leading to routing issues when interacting with systems using the newly defined special-purpose protocol.
In addition to the functional reasons, the choice of the 192.0.0.0/24 subnet also has an aesthetic appeal. The sequential structure of the 192.0.0.0/24 subnet imparts a unique character to my network configuration and saves me a few milliseconds in typing.