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General Information
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May 26, 2006
• Vol.28 Issue 21
Page(s) 17 in print issue
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Simplify IP Address Management
BlueCat Proteus Enterprise Offers Web-based IP Address Management & Inventory Control
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BlueCat Proteus Enterprise IPAM Appliance
Starts at $60,000 for the Proteus 5000 Enterprise IPAM Appliance
Dedicated appliance simplifies tracking of IP inventory and manages domain name services
www.bluecatnetworks.com |
With the explosion of IP-based devices in the enterprise, such as network printers, dedicated intruder-detection devices, and boarder devices, as well as the proliferation of VoIP and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, the need for IP address management and IP inventory control is essential. It is especially necessary for efficient network management and reconfiguration, which has always been a challenge to manage in a dynamic environment. To accommodate this growing need, BlueCat has introduced the Proteus Enterprise IPAM (IP address management) appliance.
The Proteus Enterprise IPAM is a dedicated appliance that simplifies tracking of IP inventory, incorporates secure provisioning of dynamic IP addressing, and manages domain name services. Proteus also handles integrated policy provisioning and provides auditing and reporting tools with the security and manageability of a dedicated appliance.
Proteus is currently the only Web-based IPAM appliance of its kind and is built around a multicore hardened firewall-grade Linux OS and system kernel. Proteus Enterprise includes secure DNS, DHCP, and IP inventory management features and provides the ability to remotely control those inventories. Proteus also includes advanced IP modeling, which enables organizations to model the IP network space by dividing it into IP blocks, networks, views, zones, devices, users, and other objects. Once the modeling is accomplished, Proteus automatically translates the modeled environment into DNS and DHCP server configurations. Proteus Enterprise IPAM also provides real-time error checking and reconfiguration tools for reallocation of IP addresses into multiple networks or configurations for geographically dispersed IP networks.
Other features include lateral tagging technology, which enables network administrators to control the environment by defining attributes for devices, subnets, containers, and alerts. Incorrectly configured DNS/DHCP services or misallocated IP inventories are eliminated, and administrators are able to resolve issues in minutes. Proteus also includes a pre-admission NAC (Network Access Control) mechanism for greater security. The Proteus 5000 Enterprise IPAM can manage thousands of DNS and DHCP appliances and millions of IP addresses.
Although the Proteus Enterprise device claims to be the only one of its kind with a Web-based interface, there are other dedicated devices that provide similar IP provisioning and manageability. Infoblox (www.infoblox.com), teams with Lucent Technologies to incorporate Lucent’s VitalQIP Software with its IPAM network identity services appliance, which also includes Infoblox’s DNSone and Keystone modules. Infoblox provides an enterprise-class IPAM that provides similar IP provisioning, DNS/DHCP management, and reporting capabilities. Cisco Networks (www.cisco.com) also has an IP address management device, the Registrar 6.2, which automates IP address assignment and management. Cisco’s device also provides day-to-day server maintenance to simplify and streamline IP network configuration and administration. There are several other built-in features as well that make this product competitive with the Proteus Enterprise IPAM such as high-availability DNS and DHCP load-balancing failover. 
by Cynthia Lazzaro
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