Why are proxy subnets important and what does it mean?

Subnets improve the efficiency of Internet connections. But excellent things come with a price. Have you ever blocked multiple IP addresses at once? However, they probably came from the same subnet. Let's examine subnets and their causes in more detail. This article is all about Why are proxy subnets important and what does it mean.

Subnets: what are they?

The many networks that make up the Internet must communicate with each other. While some cover millions of addresses, others are limited to only a few hundred. Networks can be divided into smaller structures known as subnets or subnetworks to improve communication efficiency.

A computer's unique IP address is assigned when it is connected to a network, facilitating communication and device identification. Hardware that manages network traffic is called a router.

Subnets reduce the number of routers that network traffic passes through, which aids in more effective traffic organization. They essentially help in choosing the optimal network path. However, proxy subnets provide a challenge to site scrapers and sneakerheads. Why? Keep reading to learn.

How is a subnet identified?

The binary form of an IP address that a computer sees consists of 32 bits divided into 8 bits. Each component is known as an octant. Therefore, the IP is divided into four pieces (octets), thus: 212.65.112.87.

• The most recent subnet classification proposes grouping subnets into blocks ranging from /0 to /32. The number of digits that remain constant in a 32-bit IP address is indicated by these blocks. It also displays the total number of possible combinations of IP addresses. Now let's examine the /24 subnet example.

• Let's say you get IP addresses that look like 212.65.112.11 and 212.65.112.13. These IP addresses, which can contain up to 256 different IP addresses, are all part of the same subnet, 212.65.112.0/24. As you can see, the first three octets are the same. Thus, only the last component—zero—will change.

• However, sites often block IP addresses that share the first three octets (/24 subnet). Thus, up to 256 IP addresses can be blacklisted. Nevertheless, many proxy servers offer IP addresses originating from this subnet for sale.

Put differently, only the last octet changes if the IP address is part of the same subnet. Additionally, the IP addresses belong to separate subnets if any of the numbers provided in the first three sections differ. Thus, you should check to see if your proxy has high subnet diversity.

What is the importance of a subnet for a proxy server?

Most domains monitor their websites and restrict how many times an IP address can access them. If you cross the border, you risk having your IP blacklisted or spending some alone time with captchas.

Moreover, the issues do not stop here. A range of IP addresses from the same subnet can be blocked even by more sophisticated websites.

For example, some proxy services supply IP addresses originating from data centers. This indicates that they often use proxies from the same network. Therefore, if you use a datacenter proxy server to perform automatic data collection, all your IP addresses may be restricted. To cover what is prohibited in this scenario, you will need to make additional purchases. Also, keep in mind that there will be other users on the same subnet as you. Therefore, a person can snipe an entire subnet. And suddenly, your proxy will be of no use.

So low-proxy subnet diversity can be very painful. Remember, I mentioned that 256 IP addresses can be found in a single subnet? When you're experiencing those nightmares, imagine that all of them are being stopped.

How do I avoid subnet-related problems?

You can run into a lot of problems if you use the same subnet for things like web scraping, footwear copying, or managing different social media accounts. However, I do have some solutions for subnet-related problems.

1. Buy proxy IPs from different subnets

Some proxy providers attempt to deal with the problem of subnet restrictions by providing IPs from several different subnets. The more IP addresses you get from different subnets, the larger your package will be. This is largely related to ISPs and datacenter proxies.

But you may want to contact a potential supplier and request that they merge the IP. Having proxies from multiple subnets will allow you to continue using other addresses in case you are blacklisted.

2. Buy an individual subnet.

Capturing an entire subnet is an additional option. In this manner, you won't need to be concerned about your neighbors unintentionally breaking into your IP. You will have exclusive use of the subnet during the purchase period and will receive your own IP address (256) with a private subnet.

Sounds great? However, there is one disadvantage: they cost a lot. However, if you are still thinking about getting one, I suggest researching dedicated proxy services.

Read More: How can you benefit from an anonymous proxy and what is it?

3. Use a residential proxy.

If your top priority is strong subnet diversity, then good news! Residential proxy services often have huge proxy pools and rarely share subnets. Thus, forget about banning multiple IP addresses at once.

Unlike datacenter proxies, residential IPs are collected from a wide variety of individuals around the world and are generated in large quantities. So they are naturally very different.

Residential proxies without subnets are available from several vendors on the market, such as SmartProxy and Bright Data. Here are some wonderful possibilities for you.