Whatmask

 Name Example --------------------------------- CIDR /24 Netmask 255.255.255.0 Wilcard Bits 0.0.0.255

The above notations are all identical. CIDR notation commonly has a “/” in front of the number (representing the number of bits). Whatmask can accept these notations with or without a slash. This notation is used more and more recently. A lot of popular routers and software support this notation.
Netmask notation is pretty much the standard old-school way of doing it. It is supported by most systems (Un*x, Win, Mac, etc.).
Wilcard bits are similar to the netmask, but they are the logical not of the netmask. This notation is used by a number of popular routers (and nobody knows why…).
To use Whatmask in the original mode simply type “whatmask ” The notation can be in any of the three formats and Whatmask will automagically figure out what it is and display all three notations.
To find out more about subnets and netmasks see the References section below.
To use Whatmask in its second mode execute Whatmask with any ip address within the subnet, followed by a slash (‘/’), followed by the subnet mask in any format. (e.g. 192.168.0.23/255.255.255.224, or 192.168.0.23/27)
Whatmask will echo back the following:

• The netmask in the following formats: CIDR, Netmask, Wildcard Bits
• The Network Address
• The Broadcast Address
• The number of Usable IP Addresses
• The First Usable IP Address
• The Last Usable IP Address

(Whatnet assumes that the Broadcast address is the highest address in the subnet. This is the most common configuration.)