IP Address Management System for Network Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing IP addresses across large networks is complex, leading to latency, conflicts, and resource connectivity issues due to the need for organizations to track and allocate unique, non-overlapping addresses, especially with the growth of network-connected devices and IoT devices, which can result in IP address mismanagement and application downtime.
Innovation Solution
An IP address management (IPAM) system that monitors IP address usage across regions, allocates addresses based on defined policies, and reconciles actual usage with inventory data to prevent conflicts and optimize address allocation, using a distributed, asynchronous architecture to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual tracking and allocation of IP addresses is used, then organizations can manage IP address inventory, but this leads to latency in allocating IP addresses, IP address conflicts, and resource connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service IP address allocation through the IPAM service that can automatically allocate, track, and manage IP addresses without manual intervention. The asynchronous processing allows the system to autonomously handle allocation requests, reconcile usage data, and update inventory records without human involvement, thereby eliminating allocation latency and reducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking processes with an automated electronic IPAM system that uses asynchronous processing mechanisms. The system substitutes human-operated spreadsheet tracking and manual allocation procedures with automated services that continuously monitor IP address usage, reconcile data across regions, and allocate addresses through programmed logic, significantly improving speed and accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If organizations track information associated with hundreds of thousands of IP addresses manually, then they can maintain IP address inventory, but this task is complex and leads to IP address mismanagement and application downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the complex task of global IP address management into segmented regional operations. Each region independently collects and processes its own IP address usage data through local asynchronous operations, then the IPAM service reconciles these segmented regional datasets. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by breaking down the monolithic tracking task into manageable regional units that can be processed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The IPAM service acts as an intermediary that mediates between multiple regional IP address management systems. It collects usage data from various regions, reconciles differences between actual usage and inventory records, and maintains a unified global view of IP address allocation. This intermediary layer simplifies complexity by providing a centralized coordination point that handles the intricate reconciliation process automatically.
3Reliability
If unique, non-overlapping IP addresses are assigned to all devices, then data routing to correct devices is ensured, but managing these addresses at large scales becomes difficult and leads to resource connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The IPAM service provides universal multi-functional capabilities that handle multiple aspects of IP address management simultaneously. It performs allocation, tracking, reconciliation, and validation functions across all regions through a single unified system. This universality maintains reliable unique IP address assignment for accurate routing while simplifying operations by consolidating multiple management tasks into one automated service that handles everything from allocation to conflict detection.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and technologies for an IP address management (IPAM) system to monitor the usage of IP addresses across regions in one or more networks of resources. The IPAM system may be used to allocate IP addresses to resources in networks and track what IP addresses are being used by resources or available for allocation. The IPAM system may periodically obtain usage information that indicates actual, current IP address usage by the resources in the networks, identify differences between the current IP address usage and an inventory maintained by the IPAM service, and reconcile the differences. Additionally, the IPAM system may further respond to network administrator queries about their resource and IP address usage. Further, the IPAM system may emit various utilization metrics to the network administrators which may be tied to alarms or alerts around non-compliant resources or IP addresses.