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NIPAP
NIPAP, short for "Network IP Address Planner," is a platform developed specifically to handle and manage large numbers of IP addresses. Unlike traditional IPAM tools that can be overwhelming or unintuitive, NIPAP has a web interface that shows even complex network topologies are easy to visualize and manage. Beyond the browser-based control panel, NIPAP features a command-line interface, catering to professionals who favor keyboard-driven workflows and automation. NIPAP strikes a balance between ease-of-use and deep technical capability, making sure users can access all its functions with minimal friction.
Network managers no longer need to sift through long lists manually to find the next available address NIPAP does this instantly. The platform's search engine is also remarkably flexible, understanding both IP prefixes and sophisticated operator inputs, with support for regular expressions to match patterns that do not fit standard network queries. This engine is capable of handling IPv4 and IPv6 address spaces with full feature parity.
Licensing
A consideration for adopting any business-critical infrastructure management tool is its availability and licensing. NIPAP is fully open source and provided under the permissive MIT license. The MIT license enables organizations to use, modify, and integrate the software freely, with minimal obligation an ideal fit for companies wanting control, transparency, and no lock-in with their software infrastructure. Being open-source also means businesses can directly inspect the code, contribute improvements, and benefit from a global community of users and contributors. With its codebase openly available on GitHub, NIPAP encourages innovation and adapts quickly to evolving requirements in the world of IP address management
Architecture and Technology Stack
It leverages PostgreSQL, for storing IP addressing data. PostgreSQL's support for native storage of IP addresses and fast ternary lookups is enhanced by the ip4r module, making NIPAP both strong and performant, even in large-scale deployments. The choice of PostgreSQL ensures data integrity, reliability, and speed for mission-critical operations.
In addition to the web interface and CLI, NIPAP offers APIs and libraries for automation, including the 'pynipap' Python library and a Java client. These interfaces make it possible to build integrations with existing monitoring, configuration management, or orchestration systems. For developers and power users, the developer reference documentation supports customization and extension, while the source code’s readability makes onboarding and collaboration straightforward.
Features
The design stems from practical experience and a understanding of real-world networking needs. Its automagic address allocation make sure the next free address is always readily available, reducing the risk of conflicts and overlapping assignments that can plague manual IP address management processes. The cohesive data model in NIPAP guarantees that user input follows uniform standards, which is critical when multiple team members or departments interact with the system.
The platform supports VRF (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) context management, making it suitable for service providers or any organizations running complex, segmented networks. Both IPv4 and IPv6 are treated as first-class citizens, ensuring future-proofing as organizations continue to migrate to IPv6 for new deployments. NIPAP's integrated statistics monitor network usage, essential for optimizing infrastructure and for regulatory or reporting compliance in certain industries.
Why Small Businesses Should Consider NIPAP
For many small businesses, network management starts with simple spreadsheets or ad hoc documents. While these solutions might work for a handful of devices, they quickly become unsustainable as the business and its network—grows. NIPAP replaces manual efforts with structured, automated systems that save time, reduce error, and enhance visibility. Its intuitive user interface lowers the barrier to entry for non-specialists while providing advanced features for technical users.
The open source nature of NIPAP eliminates costly licensing fees, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious IT departments. Because the source code is open, businesses can audit the tool for security, adapt features to suit unique operational requirements, and avoid the risks of vendor lock-in. Additionally, NIPAP’s documentation and active developer community enable organizations to get support and share best practices, leading to faster problem resolution and continual improvement.
The search and allocation tools are especially appealing for organizations with frequent changes or provisioning needs. The system can easily scale as demands grow and supports modern network paradigms like virtualization, cloud IP management, and multi-tenant environments. As cybersecurity becomes a growing concern, having a reliable, auditable, and automatically synchronized record of network addressing is invaluable for incident response, auditing, and compliance. Unlike proprietary alternatives, NIPAP’s integration points—such as its Python API—allow businesses to plug IPAM into their existing DevOps and network automation workflows.
Getting Started with NIPAP
Deploying NIPAP is straightforward, with installation guides and user documentation available on their website. Installation is supported for various environments, and the documentation includes guides for both end users and developers. Whether companies are looking to replace legacy IPAM tools or introduce automation for the first time, NIPAP lowers the technical barrier, allowing for rapid adoption and improved operational consistency.
It s a tool that is worth looking at: https://spritelink.github.io/NIPAP/