The /29 prefix means the first 29 bits of the address identify the network and the remaining 3 identify the host. Written out, the mask is 255.255.255.248, in binary 11111111.11111111.11111111.11111000, and its Cisco wildcard or inverse form is 0.0.0.7. It covers 8 addresses, of which 6 can be given to hosts.
| CIDR prefix | /29 |
|---|---|
| Subnet mask | 255.255.255.248 |
| Mask in binary | 11111111.11111111.11111111.11111000 |
| Wildcard (inverse) mask | 0.0.0.7 |
| Host bits | 3 |
| Total addresses | 8 |
| Usable hosts | 6 |
| Block size (magic number) | 8 in octet 4 |
A 192.168.1.0/24 contains 32 subnets of /29. Here are the first 8, which is enough to see the pattern: each one starts 8 after the last in octet 4.
| Network | First host | Last host | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 192.168.1.0/29 | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.1.6 | 192.168.1.7 |
| 192.168.1.8/29 | 192.168.1.9 | 192.168.1.14 | 192.168.1.15 |
| 192.168.1.16/29 | 192.168.1.17 | 192.168.1.22 | 192.168.1.23 |
| 192.168.1.24/29 | 192.168.1.25 | 192.168.1.30 | 192.168.1.31 |
| 192.168.1.32/29 | 192.168.1.33 | 192.168.1.38 | 192.168.1.39 |
| 192.168.1.40/29 | 192.168.1.41 | 192.168.1.46 | 192.168.1.47 |
| 192.168.1.48/29 | 192.168.1.49 | 192.168.1.54 | 192.168.1.55 |
| 192.168.1.56/29 | 192.168.1.57 | 192.168.1.62 | 192.168.1.63 |
Take the interesting octet of the mask, the one that is neither 255 nor 0. For /29 that is 248 in octet 4. Subtract it from 256:
256 - 248 = 8
That is the block size. Every /29 network address is a multiple of 8 in octet 4, so you can list them by counting: 0, 8, 16, 24, and so on. No binary needed once you know the number.
A /29 gives 6 usable addresses and is the most common static allocation on a business broadband line: one for the router, a few for servers, and the provider keeps the rest of the maths to itself.
A /29 holds 8 addresses in total. After reserving the network and broadcast addresses, 6 are usable by hosts.
The /29 subnet mask is 255.255.255.248 in dotted-decimal notation.
The wildcard mask, also called the inverse mask, is 0.0.0.7. It is the bitwise inverse of 255.255.255.248 and is what Cisco access lists and OSPF network statements expect.
The /29 mask written out bit by bit is 11111111.11111111.11111111.11111000: 29 ones followed by 3 zeros.
A /24 splits into 32 subnets of /29.