as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
system
describe the purpose of subnet masks.
user
subnet masks are used to divide larger networks into smaller, more manageable subnets. they help identify which portions of the ip address represent the network and which portions represent the host. by using subnet masks, network administrators can increase security, conserve ip address space, and better manage traffic flows on their networks.
assistant