IPv4 /31 Link Calculator
Apply point-to-point addressing rules.
IPv4 /31 Link Calculator: inputs and results
Enter an IP address, CIDR prefix, or range. Then check its first and last address below.
Calculated Boundaries & ParametersReady
Key Capabilities
- •100% Client-Side: Zero telemetry or server latency.
- •RFC Compliant: Exact 32-bit and 128-bit integer precision.
- •Quick Copy: Instant access to CIDR, mask, and range bounds.
- •Cross-Platform: Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers.
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First and Last Address Calculator
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Apply the selected subnet-use rules.
How IPv4 /31 Link Calculator Works?
This tool works by splitting an address block into pairs of 2 addresses and assigning one address to each end of a point-to-point link, as defined in RFC 3021.
Enter a parent block
Type a block reserved for links, such as
10.255.0.0/28.Divide into /31 pairs
Each /31 holds 2 addresses. A /28 (16 addresses) yields 8 links.
Assign both ends
The even address (
.0) goes to side A and the odd address (.1) goes to side B.Compare with /30
The calculator shows the addresses saved against /30 links, which use 4 addresses per link.
IPv4 /31 Link Calculator Formula
The formula is Links = 2^(31 − p) for a parent prefix p, with Side A = Network and Side B = Network + 1.
Links per parent
Links = 2^(31 − p)A /24 parent yields 2^7 = 128 links.
Side A address
A = N (even)The lowest bit is 0.
Side B address
B = N + 1 (odd)The lowest bit is 1.
Addresses saved vs /30
Saved = 2 × LinksEach /31 uses 2 addresses, and each /30 uses 4.
Worked example: 100 router links
/30 design = 100 × 4 = 400 addresses (a /23 is needed) /31 design = 100 × 2 = 200 addresses (a /24 holds them) Saved = 200 addresses (50 %) Link 1 = 10.255.0.0/31 → A 10.255.0.0, B 10.255.0.1
IPv4 /31 Link Calculator Conversion Table
The table splits 10.255.0.0/28 into 8 point-to-point links, with the side A and side B address of each link.
| Link | /31 Prefix | Side A | Side B | Same Link on /30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link 1 | 10.255.0.0/31 | 10.255.0.0 | 10.255.0.1 | 10.255.0.0/30 |
| Link 2 | 10.255.0.2/31 | 10.255.0.2 | 10.255.0.3 | 10.255.0.4/30 |
| Link 3 | 10.255.0.4/31 | 10.255.0.4 | 10.255.0.5 | 10.255.0.8/30 |
| Link 4 | 10.255.0.6/31 | 10.255.0.6 | 10.255.0.7 | 10.255.0.12/30 |
| Link 5 | 10.255.0.8/31 | 10.255.0.8 | 10.255.0.9 | 10.255.0.16/30 |
| Link 6 | 10.255.0.10/31 | 10.255.0.10 | 10.255.0.11 | 10.255.0.20/30 |
| Link 7 | 10.255.0.12/31 | 10.255.0.12 | 10.255.0.13 | 10.255.0.24/30 |
| Link 8 | 10.255.0.14/31 | 10.255.0.14 | 10.255.0.15 | 10.255.0.28/30 |
The /30 column shows where each link would sit in a /30 design. The /30 plan needs a /27 (32 addresses) for the same 8 links.
What is IPv4 /31 Link Calculator?
The IPv4 /31 Link Calculator is a tool that plans point-to-point links with 31-bit prefixes, where each link uses exactly 2 addresses and both are usable.
RFC 3021, published in December 2000, allows /31 prefixes on point-to-point links. A link between 2 routers needs no broadcast address, so the network and broadcast reservation is dropped. Cisco IOS, Juniper Junos, Arista EOS, and Linux all support /31 links.
A /31 design uses half the address space of a /30 design. Service provider backbones and data center leaf-spine fabrics with hundreds of links save entire /24 blocks this way.
What are the uses of IPv4 /31 Link Calculator?
There are 5 main uses of the IPv4 /31 Link Calculator, including backbone links, data center fabrics, and address conservation.
Numbering backbone links
Internet Service Provider (ISP) cores number every router-to-router link with a /31.
Building leaf-spine fabrics
A fabric with 4 spines and 32 leaves has 128 links. /31 numbering needs 256 addresses, which fits one /24.
Conserving public IPv4 space
Public IPv4 addresses are scarce. /31 links cut link address use by 50 %.
Configuring BGP peerings
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) sessions between 2 routers often run over a /31 transfer network.
Documenting link addressing
The A/B table gives a ready list of link addresses for configuration templates.