phpIPAM is an open-source IP address management (IPAM) application designed to help network administrators efficiently manage and organize IP address space. It offers a modern, web-based interface that simplifies complex network tasks such as subnet management, IP allocation, and DNS integration — all from a centralized platform.
Built using PHP, MySQL, AJAX, and jQuery, phpIPAM provides a lightweight yet powerful solution suitable for both small networks and large enterprise environments. With support for IPv4 and IPv6, role-based access, and a full-featured REST API, phpIPAM delivers flexibility, scalability, and reliability — all while remaining completely free to use and supported by a dedicated open-source community.
Core Purpose of phpIPAM
What is IP Address Management (IPAM)?
IP Address Management (IPAM) is the process of planning, tracking, and managing IP address spaces in a network. It ensures that IP addresses are properly assigned, organized, and monitored, helping prevent conflicts, reduce downtime, and maintain overall network stability. As networks grow in complexity, manual tracking becomes inefficient and error-prone, making IPAM solutions essential for both small and large infrastructures.
Why IPAM Matters
Without a centralized IPAM system, managing IP addresses across multiple devices, VLANs, and subnets can become chaotic and risky. Errors in IP allocation can lead to service disruptions, security vulnerabilities, and unnecessary administrative overhead.
How phpIPAM Solves Real-World Challenges
IP Conflict Prevention
phpIPAM automatically tracks and manages all assigned and available IP addresses, significantly reducing the risk of duplicate address assignments and network disruptions.
Efficient Subnet Tracking
The platform enables users to organize subnets logically by sections, VLANs, or locations. Visual subnet hierarchies and real-time usage statistics make monitoring large IP pools clear and efficient.
Network Planning and Documentation
phpIPAM provides robust tools for documenting subnets, devices, and network structures. It supports custom fields, tagging, and historical data logging, making it easier for IT teams to plan changes, audit usage, and collaborate effectively.
Technology Stack
PHP – Backend Functionality
phpIPAM is built using PHP, a widely adopted server-side scripting language known for its flexibility and efficiency. PHP handles all backend operations, including data processing, session handling, and system logic, ensuring smooth communication between the user interface and the database.
MySQL – Database Management
The application uses MySQL as its database engine to securely store and organize IP address data, subnet details, VLANs, and user accounts. MySQL’s scalability and reliability make it well-suited for both small-scale and enterprise-level networks.
AJAX and jQuery – Real-Time Interactivity
To provide a dynamic and seamless user experience, phpIPAM integrates AJAX and jQuery. These technologies allow real-time updates and background data retrieval without reloading pages, resulting in faster interactions and improved responsiveness.
HTML5 and CSS3 – Modern UI Design
The front-end interface of phpIPAM is built with HTML5 and CSS3, delivering a clean, responsive, and user-friendly design. This ensures that the application works consistently across all modern web browsers, adapting smoothly to different screen sizes and devices.
Optimized for Modern Browsers
By leveraging modern web technologies, phpIPAM ensures broad compatibility, fast load times, and reliable performance across all major web browsers. This makes it a dependable choice for administrators who require both functionality and usability.
Key Features Overview
IPv4 & IPv6 Support
phpIPAM provides comprehensive support for both IPv4 and IPv6 address management. This ensures compatibility with modern network standards, allowing administrators to manage dual-stack environments with ease.
VLAN & VRF Management
Organize and segment your network infrastructure using VLANs (Virtual LANs) and VRFs (Virtual Routing and Forwarding). phpIPAM allows you to group and associate subnets efficiently, improving structure and visibility in complex environments.
DNS Integration
phpIPAM includes built-in support for DNS management, allowing seamless integration with external DNS servers. This feature ensures accurate mapping between IP addresses and hostnames, reducing manual overhead and potential errors.
REST API Access
A full-featured REST API is available for automation, third-party integrations, and custom tool development. This makes it easy to connect phpIPAM with external systems, scripts, or monitoring tools.
Role-Based User Management
With flexible role-based access control, administrators can define custom user roles and permissions. This ensures that only authorized users can view or modify specific parts of the IP address space.
Audit Logging & History
phpIPAM maintains detailed logs of all changes made within the system. This provides transparency, helps with troubleshooting, and supports compliance by tracking who did what and when.
Real-Time Subnet Scanning
The application supports real-time subnet discovery and scanning to automatically detect active hosts. This feature keeps IP address data up to date, reduces manual work, and helps maintain network accuracy.
Use Cases
Environments Where phpIPAM Delivers Real Value
phpIPAM is designed to meet the IP address management needs of a wide range of organizations, regardless of size or complexity. Its flexibility, scalability, and open-source nature make it a practical solution across many industries and environments.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
ISPs manage extensive networks and large volumes of IP addresses. phpIPAM helps streamline subnet allocation, track usage, and reduce IP conflicts in dynamic infrastructures.
Data Centers
Data centers rely on efficient IP management to ensure uptime and security. phpIPAM enables precise IP tracking, VLAN management, and documentation across thousands of devices.
Universities and Educational Institutions
Academic institutions typically maintain multiple campuses and diverse networks. phpIPAM supports centralized management, making it easier to handle complex subnet structures and user permissions.
Corporate IT Departments
Enterprises need reliable tools to manage internal IP address spaces. phpIPAM offers a cost-effective, secure platform for maintaining detailed IP address records, subnet hierarchies, and access controls.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
MSPs handle infrastructure for multiple clients. phpIPAM’s role-based access and multi-tenant capabilities allow MSPs to segment and manage client networks efficiently from a single interface.
Community & Open-Source Model
phpIPAM is developed and maintained through a community-driven model, where passionate contributors from around the world collaborate to improve and enhance the platform. This open approach ensures continuous innovation, transparency, and a high level of reliability.
The software is completely free to use under the GNU General Public License (GPL), giving users the freedom to install, modify, and distribute it as needed. Community members actively contribute by reporting bugs, suggesting features, submitting code improvements, and helping others through forums and issue trackers. With its active presence on collaborative platforms, phpIPAM thrives as a reliable and evolving open-source project.
Why Choose phpIPAM?
phpIPAM stands out as a trusted solution for IP address management due to its simplicity, performance, and community-driven approach. Designed with modern network requirements in mind, it offers a balance of powerful features and ease of use, making it suitable for IT professionals at any scale.
Lightweight and Fast
phpIPAM is built to be efficient and responsive. Its clean codebase and AJAX-powered interface ensure quick load times and smooth navigation, even when managing large volumes of IP data.
Easy to Deploy
Installation and configuration are straightforward, thanks to its PHP-based architecture and minimal system requirements. It integrates seamlessly with most standard server environments.
Regularly Updated
The project is actively maintained with frequent updates that include new features, security enhancements, and performance improvements, ensuring it remains reliable and up to date.
Community-Driven Development
phpIPAM is backed by a global community of contributors and users who share feedback, report bugs, and contribute code. This collaborative ecosystem helps keep the software evolving and aligned with real-world network management needs.
Take the Next Step with phpIPAM
Ready to streamline your IP address management? Start by downloading phpIPAM and explore its full capabilities through the comprehensive documentation. Join our growing open-source community to share ideas, ask questions, and contribute to the project’s future. If phpIPAM adds value to your organization, we encourage you to support its ongoing development by considering a donation. Your involvement helps keep this project free, secure, and constantly improving.
Conclusion
phpIPAM stands as a powerful, open-source solution for modern IP address management, combining ease of use with advanced features designed for today’s complex networks. Whether you’re managing a small office setup or a large enterprise infrastructure, phpIPAM offers the flexibility, performance, and reliability needed to stay organized and efficient. Backed by a passionate community and built with a robust technology stack, it continues to evolve through user support and contributions. By choosing phpIPAM, you’re not only adopting a proven IPAM tool — you’re also joining a mission to keep high-quality network management freely accessible to everyone.