CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) helps mitigate the problem of IP address exhaustion by enabling more efficient allocation of IP addresses. Unlike the traditional classful addressing system, CIDR allows for the creation of subnets of varying sizes, which means that IP addresses can be assigned in a more granular and flexible manner.
For example, under the classful system, a Class C network would allocate 256 IP addresses, regardless of the actual needs of the organization. With CIDR, a network administrator can allocate a /26 subnet, which provides 64 IP addresses, or a /29 subnet, which provides 8 IP addresses, allowing for a more precise fit for the organization's requirements.
This flexibility reduces the waste of IP addresses and extends the lifespan of the IPv4 address space. It also enables the aggregation of multiple smaller networks into a larger network, which simplifies routing tables and improves the efficiency of Internet routing.
In the context of cloud services, platforms like Tencent Cloud leverage CIDR to optimize IP address allocation for their customers, ensuring efficient use of resources and supporting scalable network configurations.