The explosion of IP-enabled mobile devices has made today’s enterprise networks more complex and dynamic than ever before. To effectively manage and control these networks, IT organizations need a comprehensive, automated, and consolidated IP address management solution. Learn why we think SolarWinds IP Address Manager is a better solution than Microsoft Windows Server 2012 when it comes to IP space management in today’s enterprise networks.`

1. SolarWinds IP Address Manager
Vs.
Microsoft® Windows Server® 2012
What You Need to Know
© 2012, SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
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2. IP Address Management Overview
The explosion of IP-enabled mobile devices has made today’s enterprise
networks more complex and dynamic than ever before. To effectively manage
and control these networks, IT organizations need a comprehensive,
automated, and consolidated IP address management solution.
Learn why we think SolarWinds IP Address Manager is a better solution than
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 when it comes to IP space management in
today’s enterprise networks.`
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3. IPAM Solutions – Things to Consider
When looking for the right IPAM solution, it’s important to consider some key
aspects and features.
Here’s what IT organizations may want to consider:
 Multi-Vendor DHCP & DNS Server Support
 Simple & User-Friendly Interface
 Tool to Easily Import IP Addresses & Subnets from Spreadsheets
 User Access & Permission Restriction in Multi-Admin Environment
 Quick Deployment & Easy Setup
 Extensibility & Integration with other Network Management Systems (NMS)
 Easy Backup, Restore and Failover
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4. Multi-Vendor DHCP & DNS Server Support #1
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
» SolarWinds IPAM has multi-vendor DHCP management support
» Support is limited only
» SolarWinds IPAM can be used on Windows Server 2003 and 2008 R2
to Microsoft DHCP and
DNS servers
SolarWinds Windows Server
IPAM Functionality
IPAM 2012 IPAM » Support is limited only
Manage Microsoft DHCP Services   to operating systems
Windows Server ® 2008
Manage Cisco DHCP Services  X and above
Manage Cisco ASA DHCP Services  X
» Supports only DHCP,
Manage Microsoft DNS Servers   DNS, NPS servers &
domain controllers
Deployment & Support for Windows
X running Win Server
Server® 2003

2008 & above. These
Deployment & Support for Windows must also be domain-
Server® 2008 R2
  joined in the same AD
forest
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5. Simple & User Friendly Interface #2
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
 Single Web interface provides centralized,  No Web interface; uses the proprietary Microsoft
management for all IP addresses, DNS servers and Management Console or multiple RDP sessions to
DHCP services from any browser and location manage multiple DHCP and DNS servers
 Manage and configure all DHCP reservations, as well  Common tasks, such as DHCP reservation for
as DNS zones and records from the same, multiple IP addresses needs to be done in multiple
consolidated point-&-click window windows and context menus
 User-defined grouping with simple, drag-&-drop  No way to easily drag & drop subnets or IPs in the
interface to quickly and easily organize IP space into subnet infrastructure
groups of subnets, supernets, or individual IP  No IP hierarchy tree view
addresses
 Real-time, graphical Top 10 lists for at-a-glance  To find information, you need to drill down into
visibility into key management indicators, such as your IP ranges, blocks, and IP addresses to see
DHCP scope utilization, subnet usage, and IP address details – which takes time and is equivalent to
availability using inefficient spreadsheets
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6. Tool to Import IP Addresses & Subnets #3
(No More Spreadsheets Required!)
SolarWinds IP Address Manager
» Includes an import wizard that will guide you
through the process of importing IP address and
subnets from .xlsx, .xls, and .csv spreadsheets.
» Allows you to select which data you want to import,
including end-point information like MAC address,
description, as well as custom fields, and helps you
to map the imported content.
» Just follow the onscreen instructions and the wizard
will assist with all the required steps.
Windows Server 2012 IPAM
» Only imports/exports data in .csv format without
the ability to import IP address structures (like
folders, groups, etc.).
» Cannot import spreadsheets (.xls, .xlsx) directly into
IPAM server.
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7. User Access & Permission Restriction #4
in Multi-User Environment
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
 SolarWinds IPAM has a specific User Delegation  Windows Server 2012 IPAM relies only on
feature that allows different IPAM users to have Active Directory™ groups for access limitation.
varying levels of access controls for managing IP Also, DHCP and DNS servers must be in the
addresses and subnets. same AD forest.
 You can define access roles per subnet, group,
supernet, DHCP scope or even individual IP  You need AD permissions to create
addresses. groups/users specifically for IPAM.
 You can also  There is no way to create non-AD users that
leverage your existing Microsoft Active Directory user accounts IPAM for read-only or management
can access
to allow users to log into SolarWinds IPAM. purposes.
 Supports both AD and non-AD users.
» Using SolarWinds IPAM, you can restrict the subnet or DHCP scope to only the required
user login.
 Power User – Read/Write and Initiate Scans
 Operator – Read/Write Access
 Read Only – Read Only Access
 Hide Access – Restrict All Access
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8. Quick Deployment & Easy Setup #5
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
» SolarWinds IPAM can be downloaded, installed, and » Getting Microsoft’s IPAM
configured in just a few steps for quick and easy functionality up and
deployment in under an hour. running can be a complex
» Runs as a standalone product or as an integrated and time-consuming task.
module with other SolarWinds products. » Windows Server 2012
» Deploys in a virtual or physical environment. IPAM Requirements
• Healthy Active Directory
(IPAM Server must be part of
the domain )
• Access to domain controller
for automatic discovery
• “Account logon” event
logging must be on for
Address Tracking feature
• IPAM should not collocate
with other roles
• IPAM cannot collocate with
Active Directory role
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9. Extensibility & Integration with other NMS #6
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
» Being both a modular and standalone solution, you can expand
SolarWinds IPAM’s capabilities across: » Big Enterprise NMS
 Network Performance Monitoring
products required for
 Network Traffic Analyzer
 Network Configuration Management
further integration with
 VoIP & WAN Performance Monitoring Windows Server 2012
 Application Monitoring & more IPAM directly on server
instance.
» IPAM seamlessly integrates with other network management modules
from SolarWinds to offer complete and holistic monitoring utilizing a
simple, single, integrated web interface. » Integration is only
through enterprise-level
NMS solution from
Microsoft, which may be
a limitation especially for
SMBs.
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10. Backup & Failover Solution #7
SolarWinds IP Address Manager Windows Server 2012 IPAM
 SolarWinds uses the MS SQL 2008 or 2012 database  Microsoft Windows Server 2012 uses
engine to store IPAM data (can also use the free SQL the proprietary Windows Internal
Express version). Database for storing IPAM data.
 SolarWinds IPAM database can also be installed on a  Cannot be hosted on dedicated DB
separate machine to optimize performance. engine or facilitate convenient
backup/restore of database data.
 Microsoft Windows Server 2012 offers
a DHCP Failover mode, but the said
 SolarWinds offers Failover Engine as an additional mode does not back up the entire
license for scalability extension, which backs up the application stack.
entire application stack and can automatically switch
to a backup/shadow IPAM server in order to
prevent data loss if main server is down.
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11. Solarwinds IPAM
Key Features & Benefits
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12. Steady Stream of Product Updates and
24x7 Technical Support
» SolarWinds strives to quickly meet the changing needs of our customers
and the market by providing frequent, feature-packed updates that
include:
 New features
 Bug fixes
 Customer feature requests
Plus, upgrades are fast and easy, typically taking no more than 30 minutes.
And, users under active maintenance can upgrade to the new version for
free.
» 24x7 Technical Support
 SolarWinds offers 24x7 technical support and also provides help with product
configuration queries & feature requests
 For customer issues requiring urgent attention, SolarWinds may release a hot fix
almost immediately, or implement a service release just for IPAM.
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13. Built by Network Engineers, for Network Engineers
» SolarWinds thwack community is where tens of thousands of IT pros
get together, share and contribute ideas and best practices on IT
management.
» You can post your doubts, queries, issues on any IT management area
and leverage the knowledge of the global IT community for suggestions
and solutions.
» Hear from industry-leading experts, read blogs written by MVPs,
vExperts and IT admin geeks.
» Get to know what we are developing on upcoming versions, and
get a chance to vote on your preferred ones.
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14. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
» Centralized, simplified DHCP, DNS and IP address management (DDI)
» Automated IP scanning to eliminate manual errors and avoid IP conflicts
» Intuitive, web interface for easy-to-use, click-of-a-button management
» Consolidated “at-a-glance” dashboard for quick troubleshooting
» Preventative alerting to ensure subnets and DHCP scopes don’t fill up
» Real-time, graphical top 10 lists to easily view IP space allocation and utilization
» Role-based access control to limit permissions and coordinate team access
» Detailed event recording and activity logs to track who made what change
» Customizable, out-of-the-box templates for fast and flexible reporting
» Historical IP address tracking for trend analysis and IP capacity planning
» Global search feature to track down any IP address in seconds
» Built-in node performance monitoring to ensure DHCP/DNS server health
» Do-it-yourself deployment to be up and running in under an hour!
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15. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
Centralized IP Address Management
Historical IP Address Tracking
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16. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
Automated Subnet Scanning
IP Address Preventative Alerting
Why Microsoft® Windows Server® 2012 IPAM is NOT
enough to be a Professional IPAM Solution?
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17. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
IPv6
Migration
Planning
IP Address
Reporting
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18. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
Top 10 Views Graphical Dashboard
Hierarchical Tree View and IP Address Drag-&-Drop Interface
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19. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
» SolarWinds IPAM provides the ability to use role definitions to restrict user
access, grant varying privilege levels, and define custom roles
» Create and edit role definitions down to the subnet level
» Grant varying privilege levels to streamline team access
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20. Key Features & Benefits of SolarWinds IPAM
(contd.)
» SolarWinds IPAM offers centralized and integrated management of all your
Microsoft and Cisco DHCP services
» You can add new or edit existing Microsoft DHCP servers and scopes
» You can set, update or delete reservations, reservation status and DHCP properties,
including IP ranges and exclusions
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21. Helpful Resources
We invite you to learn more about SolarWinds IP Address Manager
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22. Thank You!
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