Subnet mask - ping

I tried to simulate a network with only two hosts on a simulator.

pc1: IP address - 192.168.0.1
subnet mask - 255.255.255.0

pc2: IP address - 192.168.0.35
subnet mask - 255.255.255.224

Both are connected to ethernet0. When I tried to ping pc2 using pc1, it was successful. However, when I tried to ping pc1 from pc2, it did not work out. Does this mean that the subnet mask that is used to arrive at the network address is the subnet mask from the source device?

Hi mike_mad,

The Reason PC1 doesnt ping form PC2 is because it is on a its parent subnet.

PC1 = 192.168.0.01/24
PC2 = 192.168.0.35/27

in a /24 subnet mask First 24 bits belong to same network
nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.hhhhhhhh and
in a /27 subnet mask First 27 bits belong to same network
nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.nnnnnnnn.nnnhhhhh


so PC2 belongs to the Parent subnet of PC1.

Try Changing the IP of PC2 to something like 192.168.1.35 and also you would require a router between PC1 and PC2 since they are diffrent networks.

Cheers,
-VINOD M

Thanks VINODM... That explains a lot...

I am sorry to disagree with vinod on this...

Coz the 2 hosts even if they are in 2 differrent subnets which have parent-child relationship should not be able to communicate with each other in any case.

Infact if a ping is working from one host to another there is no reason it should not work in the opposite direction except for the case when the ICMP packets are being blocked by some access-list in the reverse direction.

So as far as i understand in mike's case the ping should have not worked at all because the 2 hosts are in differrent subnets.

Guys plz correct me if i am wrong...

Ooops , Silly me :!:

I am really sorry for Posting wrong reply.

I didnt read the question properly it is my fault, and I appriciate Tarun for correcting me.

subnet shouldnt really affect the ping. :roll:

mike please dont consider my previous post.

Ok the solution.

The Reason PC1 doesnt ping form PC2 is because of two Issues I can think of now.

1. There is no routing Enabled or the it could be a Return Trip Traffic issue with static route.

How ?
If you have a static route you need to either set the gateway of last resort or add static routes to all networks on all the routers.

I recommend add a gateway of last resort if you have a stub network.

to add static route
ip route x.x.x.x y.y.y.y z.z.z.z
x=ip
y=subnet mask
z=next hop ip / gateway

to add gateway of last resort
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 z.z.z.z
z=next hop ip


2. As Tarun said, there could a access list / firewall blocking the ICMP traffic.

Also try doing a advanced ping and trace to find where the problem is.

Cheers,
-VINOD M

1. The is no routing Enabled or the it could be a Return Trip Traffic issue with static route.

How ?
If you have a static route you need to either set the gateway of last resort or add static routes to all networks on all the routers.

This might be the issue that you are facing...

Are you using static routes or a dynamic routing protocol ?