What is the formula to calculate the maximum number of hosts in a network?

The formula to calculate the maximum number of hosts in a network is given by (2^n) - 2, where "n" represents the number of bits available for host addresses in the subnet. This formula accounts for the need to reserve some addresses within a subnet for special purposes.

In any subnet, one address is reserved for the network address, which identifies the subnet itself, and another address is reserved for the broadcast address, which is used to send data to all hosts within that subnet. Therefore, the formula subtracts these two addresses from the total number of possible addresses (2^n).

For example, if you have a subnet with 4 bits for host addresses, you would calculate the maximum number of hosts as follows:

(2^4) - 2 = 16 - 2 = 14 hosts.

This means in a subnet defined by 4 host bits, you can have a maximum of 14 usable host IP addresses. Understanding this formula is crucial for effective IP address management and efficient network design.