Managing IP addresses and names

Working in IPAM

Most administrators will spend all of their time in the IPAM tool.

Select IPAM in the menu bar to expand it, and then select Networks. The network list will be populated with all of the network resources that are attached to the permission group of the logged-in user. The default view shows all networks expanded and the collapse button can be used to toggle expansion on and off. Click the subnet in the Address + prefix column, or the name in the Name column, to open the network to the All addresses view.

In the All addresses view, each IPAM record is displayed. Large numbers of consecutive unused addresses might be collapsed. Press the blue + to expand them.

Add a host

There are three ways to add a host in the All addresses view:

  • If you know the address you want to use, and wish to type it in manually, click the +.

  • If you want IPAM to display a few of the next available addresses for you, click the + with the magnifying glass, then select an address from the list and press next.

  • If you see a record in the list view and would like to use it, left-click the address. Press OK when prompted.

Next, the Add an IPv4 Address wizard is displayed. The required fields are marked with a star, and improperly formatted fields are marked with an exclamation point. The other spherical icons represent object inheritance properties. The Administrator guide can be reviewed for additional icons and their behaviour.

 

Add a host to IPAM and DNS with a DHCP reservation

Using DHCP for IP address configuration on a device is strongly recommended. By default, DHCP will be configured when an address is added. To disable the creation of a DHCP reservation, see step 9 below. Note that the phrase “DHCP static” refers to an address that is reserved for a given MAC address. In this context, “static” does not mean that the address is manually configured on the client device.

 

  1. As you fill out the wizard, the IP address name field will be automatically updated to display the FQDN of the record. It is not editable in this box. This is the name that will appear in DNS.

  2. The IP address box may be editable if you have used the + to add an address manually. If you used the +(magnifying glass) or clicked an address, the box will be filled and not editable.

  3. The MAC address field is required if you are configuring the address for DHCP.

  4. The DNS server field should not be modified from the inherited value.

  5. The DNS view field should not be modified from the inherited value.

  6. The Shortname field is the desired hostname of the record.

  7. The Domain field is the suffix that will be appended to Shortname. The inheritance ball can be clicked to change the Domain. (see below.)

  8. The Update DNS checkbox should not be modified from the inherited value.

  9. The Add a DHCP static checkbox should be checked if you want to configure DHCP. If you do not want to configure the address for DHCP, the inheritance ball can be selected, and the Inheritance property can be set to Set. Then the checkbox can be cleared. (see below)

  10. When the Add a DHCP static checkbox is selected, the Use IPAM name instead of DHCP client name checkbox must also remain selected.

 

There are a number of required class attributes which need to be set before continuing. Jump to the section https://uwaterloo.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ISTNS/pages/43405475859/Managing+IP+addresses+and+names#Adding-class-attributes-(extensible-attributes)

Add a host to IPAM and DNS without a DHCP reservation

  1. As you fill out the wizard, the IP address name field will be automatically updated to display the FQDN of the record. It is not editable in this box. This is the name that will appear in DNS.

  2. The IP address box may be editable if you have used the + to add an address manually. If you used the +(magnifying glass) or clicked an address, the box will be filled and not editable.

  3. The MAC address field is optional if you are not configuring the address for DHCP.

  4. The DNS server field should not be modified from the inherited value.

  5. The DNS view field should not be modified from the inherited value.

  6. The Shortname field is the desired hostname of the record.

  7. The Domain field is the suffix that will be appended to Shortname. The inheritance ball can be clicked to change the Domain. (see below.)

  8. The Update DNS checkbox should not be modified from the inherited value.

  9. The Add a DHCP static checkbox is selected by default and should be cleared if DHCP is not required. To clear it, click the inheritance ball and change the inheritance property to Set and press OK, then uncheck the box. An example is shown below.

    1. The default selection for a subnet can be changed by request.

To change the Domain, click the inheritance ball. Change the inheritance property to Set, and press OK.

The Domain field will become editable. Select a new domain from the dropdown list.

Adding class attributes (extensible attributes)

The class attributes, previously known as extensible attributes, are displayed below the final horizontal rule in the wizard.

  1. The Add Technical Contact field is for entering a contact email address.

  2. The Add button must be clicked so that the input box contents are saved.

  3. The Comment field is optional.

  4. The Primary OU must be selected from the drop-down list.

  5. The Pol8 Classification must be selected from the drop-down list.

Press Next to continue to the uncommon attribute configuration. All attributes in this section of the wizard are optional.

Press Next to continue to the alias configuration.

Adding an alias

Creating an alias is optional. To proceed without adding a configuration, press OK to finish.

 

  1. The hostname of the alias is entered in the Name field.

  2. The domain suffix can be selected from the Domain drop-down list. It is important to remember that External and Internal zones should not be crossed. For example, test.private.uwaterloo.ca should not have an alias to test.uwaterloo.ca.

  3. The type of alias can be selected from the Type drop-down list. The options are CNAME and A record.

  4. Press Add to commit the desired configuration.

  5. Finally, press OK to finish.

Pools

In IPAM, a pool can also be referred to as a dynamic DHCP range. The purpose of a dynamic DHCP range is to allow any connected device to obtain an IP without having to register it in IPAM. Below are some examples of the types of IP entries discussed previously, as well as how to identify a pool and an invalid pool entry.

 

  1. The addresses indicated are examples of IP registrations which are not enabled for DHCP. They have a type of Regular.

  2. The addresses indicated are examples of IP registrations which are enabled for DHCP. They have a type of DHCP static, and the status can be Free or Reserved.

  3. Addresses which have a pool value of DHCP, belong to a dynamic DHCP range. In the old IPAM system, it was possible to create DHCP reservations inside a dynamic DHCP range, indicated by the combination of Pool: DHCP and Type: DHCP static. In the new system, DHCP statics should not be created within a pool.

  4. When a registration exists inside a pool, but there is no matching DHCP static, the status may be invalid. This configuration should be cleaned up, and the registration moved outside of the pool range. This work can be performed upon request.

*Note: Names appearing on addresses within a DHCP pool may have been reported to IPAM by the connected host. These names appear as a combination of the reported client hostname, and the domain delivered by DHCP. These names are not necessarily in DNS. IST has opened a request for enhancement with the vendor to clarify this point. To determine if the name is in DNS, use the Global Search as shown below.

Existing in DNS:

Existing only in IPAM:

 

Need help?

Contact the IST Service Desk online or 519-888-4567 ext. 44357.

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