Phrases like “networks are the backbone of a business” are now ubiquitous, finding their way into many network-related blogs. We are not here to say the same thing again. Instead, we’re here to discuss managing your IP address space within OpManager. This blog explains how adding the IP address manager (IPAM) and switch port mapper (SPM) module within OpManager will enhance your monitoring game.
Keep reading and we will tell you how to enable the add-on for free.
Challenges network admins face without IPAM solutions
ManageEngine OpManager is a holistic, highly integrated network monitoring software that helps you monitor and manage network devices, track performance, and detect faults within your network environment. However, to add more value to the integrated approach that defines OpManager, OpUtils is now accessible as a plugin for seamless integration.
But before knowing how OpUtils enhances the efficiency of OpManager, here are a few challenges your organizations might be facing without a versatile IPAM and SPM solution.
- Complexity: Modern network architectures involve a myriad of devices. Although OpManager provides efficient management for these devices, without a robust IPAM solution, monitoring IP addresses, subnets, switch ports, VLANs, and associated network components can become a laborious task.
- Scalability: Networks continually change, and it is important to keep the network updated with the latest information. Manually adding and provisioning new devices and allocating IP addresses dynamically, every now and then, is difficult without a proper IPAM solution.
- Visibility: Troubleshooting IP related issues without a IPAM solution is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Manually sifting through an extensive list of IPs in a spreadsheet consumes a significant amount of time and limits overall efficiency.
- Security: The greater the reliance on manual handling, the broader the scope of tasks involved in managing the IP address space. However, security is non-negotiable. Manually managing the IP address space can potentially expose network vulnerabilities, making it easy for attackers to gain access to your network.
These are some of the challenges your organizations might face without a proper IPAM solution. Here’s how tackling these challenges is made easy with OpUtils add-on.
Tackling IPAM and SPM hurdles
Integrating OpUtils with OpManager streamlines network management practices by simplifying IP and switch port management within the network monitoring console. Here is how the IPAM and SPM module extends the capability of OpManager.
- Reduced complexity: With the IP address manager module, eliminate the hassle of managing your IP address space through spreadsheets. Automate IP address assignments, track used and unused IPs, understand IP utilization, and achieve a conflict-free network without the inconvenience of manual errors. Also, the SPM module helps you manage everything about switch ports, understand port provisioning, and gain end-to-end visibility into switch ports.
- Real-time visibility: Along with OpManager’s visualization techniques, gain in-depth visibility into the switch port. Automate real-time network scanning where you will constantly be updated on the network’s latest data. Historical data offers insights into the association between MAC addresses and IP addresses, facilitating root cause analysis. Efficiently manage network devices and IP address space through a unified console, with the tree view and donut view categorizing IP addresses according to network attributes.
- Enhanced security: Enabling OpUtils within OpManager helps manage network connectivity, detecting and blocking rogue devices from accessing your network, and receiving notifications for any unidentified devices detected in your network. The real-time alert engine within OpManager helps enhance security by proactively alerting the administrators of the network issues, and empowering them to take corrective actions. Also, the role-based access control defines specific user roles and prevents everyone from accessing the network.
Scalability involves more than just adding additional devices; it encompasses preserving agility, control, and efficiency as your network evolves. However, apart from addressing just the IP address management challenges, here is what OpManager can additionally do in managing your IP address space.
It enables remote booting for powered-off machines using the Wake-on-LAN feature. This feature allows sending WoL packets to specific systems or broadcasts them to entire subnets, automatically updating the status and last wake-up time.
It offers a suite of over 30 tools, including ping, SNMP tools, MAC address and DNS resolver, Cisco tools, DHCP scope monitor, and more. This facilitates the quick correlation of issues and aids faster network troubleshooting.
Now, here comes the most awaited part.
How to enable the IPAM and SPM module within OpManager for free?
It is as simple as enabling the IP Management (OpUtils) module by going to Global Settings > Displayed Modules within the OpManager console.
This way, you can access the free, 30-day trial of the add-on and take OpManager’s monitoring capabilities to the next level.
