IP address management challenges for cable service providers and large enterprises

The growth of and dependence on IP networks have presented Cable Service Providers with new subscribers and revenue opportunities. However, this increase in demand also comes with a greater emphasis on the proper management of IP addresses, a pivotal piece of the network communication puzzle. The complexity of IP address management often requires multiple teams to maintain and manage this resource. Thus, IP Address Management solutions not only streamline the IP management process but also positively impact a Cable Service Provider’s bottom-line by freeing up IT personnel for other projects.

The Consequences of Ineffectively Managed IP Networks
Most network downtime are a result of manual errors in IP addresses and Domain Name System (DNS) records, which are used by every computer, modem, server, printer, VoIP phone, router, and other device to communicate over a network. IP addresses provide network and device identifiers, and DNS records correlate IP addresses to domain names. Much like incorrect addresses or phone numbers, customers without accurate names and numbers will not have access to network services.

Along with the complexity of accurately managing IP addresses, network administrators also have to deal with the daunting task of gathering IP infrastructure data in order to acquire additional IP addresses.  

The Shortage and Acquisition of Addresses
Without proper planning and documentation, an acquisition of additional IP addresses is comparable to an elaborate scavenger hunt. Data on dynamic IP address utilization must first be collected from various DHCP servers and aggregated with any static IP address data before any utilization numbers or reports can be generated. One can imagine how time-consuming, inefficient and error-prone the preparation of a comprehensive RIR report can be. Without sufficient proof showing how existing resources have been efficiently utilized, the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) will not allocate additional addresses to an organization, thereby delaying the launch of any projects that will require this critical resource. 

Due to the depletion of IPv4 address blocks and the many benefits posed by IPv6 addressing, many Cable Service Providers are looking to advance their networks from an IPv4 only scheme to one that can accommodate both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, while stretching their existing IPv4 resources to meet consumer demands. This may provide immediate relief for those tasked with the acquisition of additional IP blocks, but the hurdles posed by the high demand for IP addresses and the complexity of managing both IPv4 and IPv6 still need to be addressed. 

The Implications of IPv6
Though there are many benefits associated with the deployment of IPv6, there are also many management complications as well. Unlike IPv4 addresses, IPv6 addresses are very long and cumbersome. A 32 bit IPv4 address may resemble 213.86.83.116, while a 128 bit IPv6 address come closer to 3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf. These addresses are not as comprehensible as their predecessors nor are they as easily memorized. Even just displaying these 128 bit addresses in the GUI of an in-house solution will be a problem. Hence, a proper IPAM system that readily displays these IP addresses in a meaningful manner will ease the management of these complex databases.

DNS and DHCP Integration
It is also imperative that an IPAM solution integrates tightly with DNS and DHCP services so that each system is aware of changes in any of the others. 

For example, when certain subnets are allocated for a particular use in the IPAM system, the DHCP service will only assign IP addresses from the allocated subnets. The DNS system is then alerted of the changes and will automatically generate hostnames that are tied to those IP addresses. When such proper integration is in place, the system will be able to detect problematic configurations and notify administrators of the problem.

Inefficient Management
Manual methods of handling network IP management activities are often ineffective and susceptible to error, impacting employees and customers. Furthermore, tasking more staff and multiple business units with address planning and management result in operational confusion and duplicate assignments of IP addresses, thereby causing connectivity problems and raising significant network security concerns.

Working with inflexible tools, network administrators end up working with only a single view of the address space as opposed to having access to a diverse set of options. They cannot alter the tools to provide the project relevant data they need nor can they customize the tools to meet the unique needs of their network. These rigid tools create a barrier prohibiting network administrators from easily finding the answers required to move a project forward.

In addition, when an IPAM and an operational support system are not truly integrated, each of the individual systems ends up working disjointedly, instead of properly coordinating, with each other. All the essential components may be in place, but they work in isolation.  Information is not easily shared, and any changes made in a system will have to be manually entered into all other systems – an exceptionally inefficient process.

Yet, some Cable Service Providers are still employing makeshift solutions to manage the particularly tedious task of tracking of these critical resources. Here, a robust carrier-grade IPAM solution is needed. With the steady growth in demand for IP addresses, the accurate process of planning, tracking, managing and documenting of all these IP addresses and domain names have mutated into an overwhelming task for network administrators.  

What is Needed
To reduce network administrative costs and increase IT staff productivity, a carrier-class IP Address Management (IPAM) solution is needed. The solution will provide Cable Service Providers with the ability to plan, manage, administer, deploy and make forecasts for geographically-dispersed networks consisting of both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Once deployed, the solution will lower the cost and time required to implement converged IP services, as well as automate and consolidate network planning.

To tackle the unique challenges faced by Cable Service Providers, an ideal IPAM solution will not only cover the basics of IPAM but will also go above and beyond to alleviate the problems faced by their network administrators. The attributes of said solution include:

• Comprehensive web-based GUI that allows geographically dispersed users to concurrently access and manage the IP infrastructure;
• Problematic configuration detection and threshold alerts;
• Multi-tier access levels to prevent duplicate assignments and operational confusion;
• Customizable user access controls which allow authorized high level administrators to assign controlled access to lower level staff and administrators;
• High system redundancy to ensure highly available services;
• Transparent workflows to manage and monitor IP requests from various business units and regions, cutting the time needed to execute requests around registering IP addresses;
• User-definable attributes to cater the organization of data to the network
• Customizable reports to provide Cable Service Providers the most relevant view of their IP address space
• Close integration with DNS and DHCP services, as well as business services such as LDAP

Find the Right Solution
Many commercial IPAM solutions are readily available in the marketplace. However, only Incognito’s Address Commander IPAM solution satisfies all of the aforementioned requirements and positively impacts a Cable Service Provider’s bottom-line. With its diverse feature set, this carrier-class solution has helped Cable Service Providers solve numerous IP infrastructure problems. As a result, productivity has gone up and network administrators no longer have to manage complex databases disjointedly.

For more information on Address Commander, please visit www.incognito.com.