Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Azure Network Watcher VS phpIPAM

Compare Azure Network Watcher VS phpIPAM and see what are their differences

Azure Network Watcher logo Azure Network Watcher

Azure Network Watcher provides multiple features to help you visualize key parameters, track, troubleshoot, and activate or deactivate logs for resources in an Azure virtual network.

phpIPAM logo phpIPAM

phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).
  • Azure Network Watcher Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18
  • phpIPAM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-28

Azure Network Watcher features and specs

  • Comprehensive Network Monitoring
    Azure Network Watcher provides end-to-end monitoring capabilities across all your Azure resources, allowing you to maintain high visibility on the network performance and health.
  • Diagnostic Tools
    Offers a suite of diagnostic tools such as packet capture, VPN diagnostics, and NSG flow logs, which help in troubleshooting network issues efficiently.
  • Topology Viewer
    Visualizes the network topology, providing insights into how resources are connected, making it easier to understand the network architecture and identify bottlenecks or misconfigurations.
  • Integration with Other Azure Services
    Seamlessly integrates with other Azure services like Azure Monitor, providing a unified platform for monitoring and alerting on your network infrastructure.
  • Security Insights
    Helps enhance security by monitoring NSG flow logs and identifying potential threats or unusual traffic patterns.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Network Watcher

  • Complexity
    Due to its comprehensive range of features and capabilities, it may require a steep learning curve for new users to fully leverage its potential.
  • Cost
    While some of the features are free, others, especially those involving data processing or storage, may incur additional costs which can increase rapidly with scale.
  • Performance Overhead
    Enabling extensive logging and diagnostics can introduce performance overhead, potentially impacting the performance of monitored applications or resources.
  • Data Privacy Concerns
    As with any monitoring tool, there may be concerns about data privacy as sensitive information could be logged or captured during network monitoring.
  • Limited to Azure
    Azure Network Watcher is limited to Azure infrastructure, so it may not be suitable for organizations using a multi-cloud approach or hybrid environments not fully residing within Azure.

phpIPAM features and specs

  • Open Source
    phpIPAM is an open source IP address management (IPAM) software, which means that it's freely available and can be modified to suit specific needs without any licensing fees.
  • Web-Based Interface
    The tool provides a user-friendly, web-based interface that enables easy access and management of IP addresses from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Feature-Rich
    phpIPAM comes with a comprehensive set of features, including VLAN management, subnet management, and device tracking, which are essential for effective network management.
  • Integrations
    phpIPAM supports various integrations with other systems, such as DNS servers and DHCP servers, to provide a more cohesive and automated network management experience.
  • Active Community Support
    There is an active community around phpIPAM that contributes to its development and provides support, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.
  • Scalability
    The software is designed to scale well, making it suitable for both small and large networks without significant performance degradation.

Possible disadvantages of phpIPAM

  • Complex Installation
    Setting up phpIPAM may require some technical know-how, particularly in configuring web servers, databases, and ensuring all dependencies are met.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    As an open source project, phpIPAM might not offer the same level of professional support and documentation as some commercial IPAM solutions.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface of phpIPAM may not be as polished or intuitive as some other commercial alternatives, which can affect user experience.
  • Update Management
    Managing updates and ensuring compatibility with existing systems can require careful planning and can sometimes lead to disruptions.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those without a background in network management, may find the learning curve steep, requiring time to fully grasp all the available features.

Analysis of phpIPAM

Overall verdict

  • phpIPAM is generally considered a good solution for IP address management, especially for organizations looking for an open-source and cost-effective tool. It effectively balances functionality, usability, and flexibility, making it suitable for a variety of network environments.

Why this product is good

  • Features
    It offers a comprehensive set of features such as IP address management, VLAN management, devices, racks, and circuit management, which are essential for network administrators.
  • Usability
    phpIPAM provides a user-friendly interface for managing and tracking IP addresses. Its web-based interface makes it accessible across different platforms.
  • Integration
    phpIPAM can integrate with other tools and services, such as DHCP servers, DNS servers, and cloud platforms, enhancing its functionality within a network environment.
  • Open source
    As an open-source project, phpIPAM allows for customization and extension by users, ensuring it can be tailored to specific organizational needs.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators in small to medium-sized enterprises
  • Organizations that need a cost-effective IP address management solution
  • IT professionals seeking an open-source tool with customization capabilities
  • Teams requiring a web-based IPAM solution that integrates with existing network infrastructure

Azure Network Watcher videos

Complete Azure Network Watcher DEMO and Overview

phpIPAM videos

IPAM Server mit phpIPAM - IP adress management

More videos:

  • Review - Foreman Integration with phpIPAM
  • Review - Apresentação PHPiPAM para provedores!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Azure Network Watcher and phpIPAM)
Monitoring Tools
23 23%
77% 77
Network & Admin
39 39%
61% 61
Log Management
9 9%
91% 91
Online Services
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Azure Network Watcher and phpIPAM. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Azure Network Watcher and phpIPAM

Azure Network Watcher Reviews

Best network monitoring tools of 2020: remote monitoring and management (RMM)
Best network monitoring tools - at a glance(Image credit: WebTitan)1. WebTitanAdaptable web access policiesStrong range of analytics toolsMulti-faceted approach to handling security(Image credit: Pulseway)2. PulsewayLots of third party integrationsFlexible packagesDisaster recovery capabilities3. AteraFlexible deployment optionsEasy to useRange of features could be more...

phpIPAM Reviews

The 10 Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
phpIPAM is a free and open-source IPAM solution with an effective feature set. It is written using PHP, as implied by its name, and aims at providing a modern but lightweight alternative to paid IPAM solutions. phpIPAM also leverages the MySQL database, jQuery, and HTML5/CSS3 for its user interface. The developers provide a nice introductory demo to help admins get a better...
Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
phpIPAM is an open-source IP address management application, whose main motive is to offer light, modern and easy IP address management. It is based on PHP and uses MySQL database as a backend, it also uses jQuery libraries, Ajax and some HTML5/CSS3 features.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, phpIPAM seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 19 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Azure Network Watcher mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Azure Network Watcher yet. Tracking of Azure Network Watcher recommendations started around Apr 2022.

phpIPAM mentions (19)

  • Recommended free on-prem IPAM with integrated DNS solution?
    PHPIPAM does that, plus hardware inventory and racks (you assign the IP to a pice of hardware then put it on a rack and get rack diagram). It does also vLANs, VRF, circuits... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Looking for IPAM tools
    Given he info you provided, I would say phpipam. It is web base and very light on resources. I don't know if this counts in your portability requirement. https://phpipam.net/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What is everyone using for IPAM (IP Management) for their home networks/labs ?
    Other than that, we use PHP IPAM at work. https://phpipam.net It’s fine. Source: about 2 years ago
  • looking for a method of managing Static IP addresses
    Because the IP address are part of the programming for our room control systems(Crestron mainly) if the address changes then we lose control of that piece of equipment. Can phpipam.net be run locally or does it need it's own server? I don't know how much our networking team will be willing to get involved. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How do you remember all your local ips?
    PhpIPAM IP Address Managemenent. Scans your network(s) automatically and tags IP addresses as used or unused. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Azure Network Watcher and phpIPAM, you can also consider the following products

Obkio - Simple Network Monitoring and Network Troubleshooting software to empower users to identify and troubleshoot network & application slowdown from the end-user perspective.

NetBox - NetBox is an open source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers.

SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer - Download a 30-day free trial of Network Bandwidth Analyzer Pack, easy-to-use software that delivers real-time monitoring, alerting, and reporting for routers, switches, and other SNMP-enabled devices.

SolarWinds IPAM - Find out about getting started with IP Address Manager, including the latest release notes and documentation as well as training and helpful articles on how to best run SolarWinds IP Address Manager (IPAM).

Flowmon - Clever Network Monitoring and Security Solution based on NetFlow, IPFIX and Network Behavior Analysis

ManageEngine OpUtils - ManageEngine OpUtils is an IP address and Switch port management software that includes a comprehensive set of 30+ tools that helps network engineers monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot their IT resources.