|  | 11.4 | Routable Protocols
| 11.4.4 | Characteristics of a routable protocol
In order for a protocol to be routable, it must provide the ability to assign a network number, as well as a host number, to each individual device. Some protocols, such as IPX, only require that you assign a network number; they use a host's MAC address for the physical number. Other protocols, such as IP, require that you provide a complete address, as well as a subnet mask. The network address is obtained by ANDing the address with the subnet mask.