Aliverkkoja

Aliverkkoja is the plural form of aliverkko, a term used in Finnish computer networking to describe a subnet or subnetwork—a logically segmented portion of an IP network. The concept is used to divide a larger network into smaller, more manageable parts to improve address allocation, routing efficiency, and security. An aliverkko typically has its own network prefix and a range of usable host addresses within that prefix.

The word derives from the Finnish components ali- meaning under or sub, and verkko meaning network. In English, the closest equivalent is subnet or subnetwork. Aliverkkoja are implemented in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks, with the specific boundary between subnets defined by a subnet mask in IPv4 or a prefix length in IPv6.

In IPv4, subnets are commonly represented using CIDR notation, such as 192.168.0.0/24, where the /24 indicates the first 24 bits form the network portion. In IPv6, subnets use prefix lengths like /64. Routers use routing tables to forward packets between aliverkkoja, enabling scalable and hierarchical network design. Subnetting helps reduce broadcast domains, improve security by containing traffic, and support efficient address management and hierarchical routing.

Practical considerations include planning address space, configuring DHCP for dynamic host assignment within subnets, and using VLANs or access control policies to enforce segmentation. Subnet design often aligns with organizational structure, technical requirements, and provider allocations. See also: subnet, CIDR, IPv4, IPv6, routing, VLAN.