Which subnet mask would allow for the largest number of hosts per subnet?

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The subnet mask that allows for the largest number of hosts per subnet is 255.255.0.0. This subnet mask belongs to a Class B network, which has a default of 16 bits for the network portion and 16 bits for the host portion. With 16 bits available for hosts, the formula for calculating the maximum number of hosts in a subnet is 2^n - 2, where n is the number of host bits. In this case, 2^16 - 2 equals 65,534 usable hosts for each subnet.

This capacity is significantly higher than the host allowances of the other options. For instance, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, typical of Class C networks, only supports up to 254 hosts since it has 8 bits for host addresses. Similarly, 255.224.0.0 has fewer host bits compared to 255.255.0.0, limiting the number of available hosts. The subnet mask of 255.255.255.128 splits a Class C subnet into two smaller sections, which reduces the number of hosts to just 126.

Therefore, among the options presented, 255.255.0.0 stands out as

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