IP address management (IPAM)

Internet Protocol address management (IPAM) is a method of tracking and modifying the information associated with a network's Internet Protocol address (IP address) space. With IPAM, administrators can ensure that the inventory of assignable IP addresses remains current and sufficient.

Network administrators use IPAM to ascertain and update various details about their networks, such as:

• How much free IP address space exists.
• What subnets are in use, how large they are, and who uses them.
• Permanent versus temporary status for each IP address.
• Default routers that the various network devices use.
• The host name associated with each IP address.
• The specific hardware associated with each IP address.