IP address management (IPAM)

An IPAM manages IP assignment, DHCP reservation, and DNS resolution for your estate. Connect one to Cloud Management Platform (CMP), map its networks to your resource handler networks, and servers built on those networks get their addresses from the IPAM instead of from CMP.

CMP includes four built-in IPAM integrations: BlueCat, Infoblox, phpIPAM, and SolarWinds IPAM. The workflow below is the same for all four; each vendor’s page covers its specifics.

To assign addresses without an external IPAM, give the network a range instead. See IP ranges.

Connect an IPAM

1. Go to Admin > IP Management.
2. Select Add and choose the technology.
3. Complete the form.
4. Select Create.

Import and map networks

Importing brings in the network CIDRs defined on the IPAM. Mapping hands address management over: a CMP network mapped to an IPAM network delegates hostname validation and IP allocation to that IPAM.

1. On the IPAM’s Networks tab, select Import IPAM Networks.
2. Select the networks you want and select Import selected networks. Existing entries are kept, so re-importing adds only new entries.
3. In the Resource Handler Networks column, select the pencil icon next to a CIDR.
4. Select one or more resource handler networks, then select Save.

One IPAM network can serve several resource handler networks.

Enable orchestration

Each integration ships with a sample orchestration hook that handles communication with the IPAM: validating a hostname, allocating an IP address for it, and releasing that IP address when the server is decommissioned. Infoblox adds DHCP steps to that set.

On the IPAM’s Orchestration tab, turn on the hook using the Enabled toggle. Nothing is delegated until you do. You can also edit the hook here if you need logic beyond the sample.

Manage a connection

The Overview tab carries the actions that apply to the connection itself: edit the stored credentials, verify that CMP can still reach the IPAM, or remove the connection.