Managing IP address spaces efficiently is crucial for network administrators and developers working with large-scale infrastructures. While commercial solutions exist, many teams prefer open-source or free alternatives that offer core functionality without licensing costs.

When evaluating IPAM tools, consider these essential capabilities:

• Comprehensive subnet visualization
• Detailed IP address tracking with custom fields
• Multi-user access control
• Search and filtering capabilities
• IPv6 support (increasingly important)

1. IPPlan

This mature solution offers:

// Sample API call to check subnet availability
GET /api/v1/subnets/10.0.0.0/24/availability

Pros: Beta IPv6 support, web-based interface

2. SolarWinds IP Address Tracker

Windows-based tool with:

• Automatic network discovery
• Customizable reporting

3. The NOC Project

A comprehensive network operations center solution including IP management:

# Python example to extract IP data
import noc.api.ipam as ipam
subnets = ipam.get_subnets(include_ips=True)

4. phpIP

Lightweight PHP-based solution ideal for smaller networks:

// Adding a new IP record
INSERT INTO ip_addresses 
(ip_address, hostname, owner, description)
VALUES ('192.168.1.100', 'webserver01', 'IT Dept', 'Primary web server');

5. RackTables IP Management

Integrated with asset management features:

• Physical rack visualization
• IP address allocation tracking

When deploying an IPAM solution:

// Sample configuration for automated IP assignments
{
  "subnet": "10.1.0.0/16",
  "reserved_ranges": [
    "10.1.0.1-10.1.0.10",
    "10.1.255.240-10.1.255.255"
  ],
  "auto_assign": true,
  "default_lease_time": "7d"
}

For teams transitioning from spreadsheets:

1. Export existing data to CSV
2. Use the IPAM tool's import functionality
3. Validate all entries
4. Decommission old tracking methods

Most modern IPAM tools offer REST APIs:

// JavaScript example for IP reservation
const reserveIP = async (subnet, purpose) => {
  const response = await fetch('/api/ip/reserve', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({ subnet, purpose })
  });
  return response.json();
};

Consider these emerging requirements:

• Cloud IP address management
• Container networking integration
• IPv6 migration support

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When evaluating IPAM solutions, network engineers should prioritize these technical requirements:

// Sample requirements checklist in JSON format
{
  "core_features": {
    "ipv6_support": true,
    "subnet_visualization": "hierarchical",
    "custom_fields": ["owner", "contact", "device_type"],
    "api_access": "RESTful",
    "audit_logging": true
  },
  "scalability": {
    "max_subnets": ">1000",
    "concurrent_users": ">20"
  }
}

Here's an expanded list of modern IPAM solutions with technical specifications:

Tool	IPv6 Support	Database Backend	API	Last Update
PHPIPAM	Full	MySQL	REST	2023
NetBox	Full	PostgreSQL	GraphQL	2023
GestioIP	Partial	SQLite/MySQL	None	2022

For developers considering custom integration, here's how to interact with PHPIPAM's API:

# Python example for PHPIPAM API interaction
import requests

class PHPIPAMClient:
    def __init__(self, url, app_id, username, password):
        self.base_url = f"{url}/api/{app_id}"
        self.auth = (username, password)
        self.token = self._get_token()
        
    def _get_token(self):
        endpoint = f"{self.base_url}/user/"
        response = requests.post(endpoint, auth=self.auth)
        return response.json()['data']['token']
    
    def get_subnets(self):
        endpoint = f"{self.base_url}/subnets/"
        headers = {"token": self.token}
        return requests.get(endpoint, headers=headers).json()

# Usage example
client = PHPIPAMClient(
    url="https://ipam.example.com",
    app_id="network",
    username="api_user",
    password="secure_password"
)
subnets = client.get_subnets()

Newer projects showing promise in IPAM space:

• NIPAP (Next-generation IP Address Planner) - PostgreSQL backend with CLI and Web UI
• NetDisco - Perl-based with SNMP discovery capabilities
• IP Fabric - Commercial solution with free tier for small networks