Internet addresses using zeros

When a C class Internet address contains a 0 as the host address portion, (for example, 192.9.200.0), TCP/IP sends a wildcard address on the network.

All machines with a Class C address of 192.9.200.X (where X represents a value between 0 and 254) should respond to the request. This results in a network flooded with requests to nonexistent machines.

Similarly, problems occur for Class B addresses such as 129.5.0.0. All machines with a Class B address of 129.5.X.X. (where X represents a value between 0 and 254) are obliged to respond to the request. In this case, because Class B addresses account for bigger networks than Class C addresses, the network is flooded with significantly more requests to nonexistent machines than for a Class C network.