Why every nerd requires a IPAM system at home

Why every nerd requires a IPAM system at home

phpIPAM

What would a Nerd replay

NERD> Every system is hand picked and self installed. I know ever system in deep, including OS, IP MAC ...

Reality check

But think on your own home, you run more then two network connected devices. And it gets even much more when you run also a home lab.

Take my home IT as an example

  • 4 Wifi Access points
  • 1 Firewall
  • 1 Printer
  • 2 Smart TV
  • 1 FireTV
  • 1 BlueRay player
  • 2 Switches
  • 3 Rasperry Pi
  • 3 esp8244
  • 1 esp32
  • 4 Smartphones
  • 3 Laptops
  • 3 homelab servers
  • 1 NAS
  • 2 tablets
  • up to 10 Guest-devices

So i end up in the between 33 – 43 devices connected to my home network. About 20 static IP and the rest DHCP.

But I run also my home lab with about 10 running and up to 40 offline VMs. And for most of them i require static IP’s with DNS registration.

To segregate and secure my environment is need 3 VLANs for my regular environment (regular WIFI LAN, IoT, Guest WIFI/LAN). And for my test lab 3 phy. VLAN’s and 2-20 IP segments for my SDN and SDDC lab.

Raise your Hand if you know all IP’s, GW, hostnames… out of you mind.

What you get with a IPAM system at home

  • You get back personal time –  no need to search and check for a free IP
  • You get more relaxed – just check the IPAM if you forgot the IP of a device
  • GW, routing, DNS-server information – all there

I use at home phpIPAM, because is OpenSource and easy to use. The only drawback is, that phpIPAM is not very well documentet. To close this gap will post here a view blog posts, covering a working installation guide, basic config, and much more.

So stay tuned.