Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

phpIPAM VS NetBox

Compare phpIPAM VS NetBox and see what are their differences

phpIPAM logo phpIPAM

phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).

NetBox logo 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.
  • phpIPAM Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-28
  • NetBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15

It encompasses the following aspects of network management:

IP address management (IPAM) - IP networks and addresses, VRFs, and VLANs Equipment racks - Organized by group and site Devices - Types of devices and where they are installed Connections - Network, console, and power connections among devices Virtualization - Virtual machines and clusters Data circuits - Long-haul communications circuits and providers Secrets - Encrypted storage of sensitive credentials

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.

NetBox features and specs

  • Open Source
    NetBox is open-source software, which means you can use and modify it freely without having to pay for a license. This can significantly reduce costs and allows for customization according to specific needs.
  • Comprehensive IPAM and DCIM
    NetBox includes both IP Address Management (IPAM) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) functionalities, offering a single platform to manage diverse aspects of network infrastructure.
  • Extensible via API
    NetBox provides a robust API that allows integration with other tools and systems, enabling automation and enhanced functionality through scripting and third-party applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The web-based user interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for those who may not have extensive experience with network management tools.
  • Active Community and Support
    NetBox has an active community of users and contributors, which helps in quickly addressing issues, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the software.

Possible disadvantages of NetBox

  • Initial Setup Complexity
    The initial installation and configuration of NetBox can be complex and time-consuming, potentially requiring a good understanding of Python, PostgreSQL, and other dependencies.
  • Resource Intensive
    As a web-based application, NetBox can be resource-intensive, requiring a capable server environment to run efficiently, which might not be suitable for very small-scale deployments.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Despite its intuitive interface, the broad set of features and functionalities might overwhelm new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Limited Built-in Reporting
    NetBox has limited built-in reporting capabilities, which might necessitate additional tools or custom reports to meet specific reporting needs.
  • No Built-in Alerting
    NetBox does not have built-in alerting mechanisms for tracking changes or unusual activities, so additional monitoring and alerting systems may be required.

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

Analysis of NetBox

Overall verdict

  • Yes, NetBox is considered a good tool for managing complex networks and data centers. Its strong community support and continuous development contribute to its robustness and reliability in production environments.

Why this product is good

  • NetBox is a popular open-source tool for network automation and management, favored for its comprehensive features such as IP address management (IPAM), data center infrastructure management (DCIM), and its extensibility through plugins and a REST API. It provides a user-friendly web interface and is highly customizable, making it suitable for various network configurations and workflows.

Recommended for

    NetBox is recommended for network engineers, system administrators, data center managers, and IT professionals who need an effective solution for managing IP addresses, network devices, and cabling infrastructure in medium to large-scale operations. It is particularly advantageous for those looking for an open-source option with a strong community backing.

phpIPAM videos

IPAM Server mit phpIPAM - IP adress management

More videos:

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

NetBox videos

Accessing NAPALM via the NetBox API

More videos:

  • Review - Network to Code NetBox with Jeremy Stretch and John Anderson
  • Tutorial - Netbox Global Review- How To Earn Money Browsing The Internet

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to phpIPAM and NetBox)
Monitoring Tools
35 35%
65% 65
Log Management
36 36%
64% 64
Network & Admin
55 55%
45% 45
DCIM Software
25 25%
75% 75

User comments

Share your experience with using phpIPAM and NetBox. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

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

NetBox Reviews

11 NetBox Alternatives
NetBox is a resource modeling application that is specially designed to automate networks and empower network engineering as well. It manages all the needs of networks and works under the license of Apache 2.
The 10 Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
NetBox is certainly one of the best open-source IPAM solutions reviewed by our editors. It comes with a simple but elegant user interface that packs a serious punch in terms of functionalities. NetBox was initially developed by the network engineering team at DigitalOCean and has since evolved into a full-fledged IP management application. It is very popular among...
12 Open Source/Commercial Software for Data Center Infrastructure Management
NetBox is an open-source IP address management and data center infrastructure management platform, which was created by the network team at DigitalOcean to store the information about your networks, virtual machines, inventories, and many more.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
NetBox is an open-source web based IP address management and data center infrastructure management application. It was developed more particulary to address the requirements of network and infrastructure engineers.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

NetBox might be a bit more popular than phpIPAM. We know about 21 links to it since March 2021 and only 19 links to phpIPAM. 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.

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

NetBox mentions (21)

  • Share your greatest free tools
    Netbox. https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/ Your “Source of Truth” for your network. NetBox is an infrastructure resource modeling (IRM) application designed to empower network automation. Initially conceived by the network engineering team at DigitalOcean, NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers. NetBox is made available as open source under the Apache... Source: about 3 years ago
  • What do you use to track disks and other hardware?
    Currently we are using [SnipeIT](https://snipeitapp.com/) to track our disks, hardware and machines, and [Netbox](https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) to track physical layout and locations. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What does a longer career related to computing infrastructure look like?
    You might find it educational/interesting to have a look at Netbox. It's a fairly well respected piece of software that manages network hardware and configuration. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How does proper documentation look like?
    You could take a look at netbox . It’s a little hard to set up at first but worth it in the end IMO. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Web Application That Shows Switch Ports Mapping
    However I'd suggest that Netbox is the more modern and functional solution to this problem. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing phpIPAM and NetBox, you can also consider the following products

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).

RackTables - Racktables is a nifty and robust solution for datacenter and server room asset management.

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.

DCImanager - DCImanager is a platform for managing physical equipment. Connect any physical equipment to a single platform. Use the platform to manage your servers, switches, PDU as well as physical and virtual networks.

BlueCat DDI - Unify your DDI (DNS, DHCP and IPAM) solutions to make DDI data an engine for innovation and growth.

Opendcim - a free, web based Data Center Infrastructure Management application.