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Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical tag allocated to devices participating in a computer network which uses Internet Protocol for exchange of data packets. A unique IP address is allocated to every device on the network. It serves to identify the host or network and address the required location. IP addresses are assigned at the time of booting or are permanently fixed during configuration of the hardware or software. These fixed IP addresses are called static IP addresses and ones that are assigned ad hoc are known as dynamic IP addresses.
The planning, allocation and monitoring of IP address space with precision is termed as Internet Protocol Address Management, or more commonly, IPAM. Tools such as Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) are used in tandem to perform this task. The DNS is a directory that associates and translates domain names into IP addresses. It also acts as an auto-configuration protocol used to prevent two computers on the same network from accidentally being assigned the same IP address.
If DHCP is configured inaccurately then users may not be able to obtain IP addresses to access the network. And without proper DNS configuration, the name-to-address lookup process may fail. It is important that these DHCP and DNS configurations be based on a common IP address plan, which maps out the IP address hierarchy, subnets, address pools, and domains.
For every IP address, the IPAM module maintains individual records which include information like host names, MAC addresses, associated switch ports, device info, date and time of device assignment, etc. The IP address details are hierarchically arranged and some of them offer APIs that integrate with external applications to view its location.
Implementation of an IP Address Management System (IPAM) is essentially dependent on the database. Based on data storage methods IPAM products fit into several deployment models such as software, appliance, hybrid and hosted.
IP address management software checks for inconsistencies and overlap in IP address, thus identifying conflicts, which need to be rectified. They also identify and reclaim unused IP addresses in the network. When the IP address ranges are nearing their full utilization in any sub-network, the administrator is alerted. Then, he can partition, resize and reallocate the IP address space without worrying about any conflicts.
IP management tools have become essential for the networks of the modern business world. There are several companies offering different solutions which essentially perform the same function. Flexibility, functional simplicity, scalability, easy integration and affordable pricing are the parameters to look for in an ideal IPAM solution.
