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ipcalc

networkingLinux/Unix

The ipcalc command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. ipcalc Calculate IP address information

See Examples View Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

ipcalc

Category:

networking

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

ipcalc [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

Syntax

ipcalc [options] [ip_address[/prefix]]

Options

Option	Description
`-b, --broadcast`	Display the broadcast address
`-h, --hostname`	Display the hostname
`-m, --netmask`	Display the netmask
`-n, --network`	Display the network address
`-p, --prefix`	Display the prefix
`-r, --range`	Display the network address range
`-s, --silent`	Don't display any information, just return the exitcode
`-c, --class`	Display the address class (A, B, C, etc.)
`--all-info`	Display all available information
`-d, --deaggregate`	Display the deaggregated IP addresses
`-i, --info`	Display information about the given network
`-6, --ipv6`	IPv6 calculation (some implementations only)
`-S, --split`	Split the network into smaller subnets (some implementations only)
`--help`	Display help information
`--version`	Display version information

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the ipcalc command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

# Basic Examples Basic

ipcalc 192.168.1.5/24

Display information about the specified IP address and network.

ipcalc -b 10.10.0.5/16

Display broadcast address for the specified network.

# Advanced Examples Advanced

ipcalc -m 172.16.1.1/20 Display the netmask in dotted decimal format. ipcalc -p 192.168.0.1/255.255.255.0 Display the prefix for the specified IP and netmask. ipcalc -n 10.0.0.5/23 Display the network address for the given IP and prefix. ipcalc -h 172.16.5.5/22 Display the host address for the given IP and prefix. ipcalc --all-info 192.168.0.1/24 Display all available information for the IP address. ipcalc -d 10.0.0.5/8 Display the information in a human-readable format. ipcalc -r 192.168.1.0/24 Display the address range for the given network.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

The ipcalc command is a handy utility for calculating and displaying information about IP addresses and networks. It's particularly useful for network administrators, system engineers, and anyone working with IP networking who needs to quickly determine network properties. Key features of ipcalc: 1. Network Calculations: ipcalc provides essential information about IP addresses, including network address, broadcast address, netmask, and prefix length, making it easy to understand network boundaries. 2. Multiple Output Formats: Depending on the options used, ipcalc can display information in various formats, including traditional dotted decimal notation or CIDR notation. 3. Address Range Determination: With the -r option, ipcalc can calculate and display the range of usable IP addresses within a network, which is valuable when planning address allocation. 4. Subnet Analysis: The tool helps in analyzing subnets, showing how a network is divided and what addresses belong to which subnet. 5. Validation Tool: ipcalc can be used to validate IP addresses and network configurations, ensuring they follow proper networking rules. 6. CIDR Notation Support: The tool fully supports Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) notation, which is the standard in modern networking. 7. Simple Interface: ipcalc presents complex network information in a straightforward, easy-to-read format, making it accessible even for those with limited networking experience. Common use cases for ipcalc include: - Quickly determining network parameters during configuration - Verifying IP address assignments - Planning subnet divisions - Troubleshooting network connectivity issues - Documenting network layouts - Educational purposes for learning IP addressing concepts It's worth noting that there are different implementations of ipcalc across various Linux distributions, with slight variations in features and options. Some versions support IPv6 calculations, while others are limited to IPv4. The core functionality, however, remains consistent across implementations. ipcalc is a lightweight tool that doesn't require installation of complex dependencies, making it a valuable addition to any network administrator's toolkit.

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside ipcalc or serve similar purposes:

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Use Cases

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the ipcalc command works in different scenarios.

See Examples Try Lab Exercises

$ ipcalc

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