Why are many IT shops automating the management of their networks?

Today's networks are growing in size and complexity. Not only PCs, but now also phones, control systems, sensors, surveillance cameras and machinery all use IP networks and require IP addresses.

Mobility, collaboration and the rise of the "virtual workplace" and telecommuting have also added to network complexity and the explosion of IP addresses, where a single device can have multiple addresses as it hops among networks. Multi-tiered and virtualized applications depend on distributed modules or virtual machines that communicate over IP, further adding to the demand for IP addresses.

Configuring and managing networks manually leads to errors and instability, especially as networks become more complex. With so many devices connected to the network, a simple configuration error can have widespread consequences.

Although basic tools for managing IP addresses and DNS or DHCP servers are included with most platforms, these are usually limited to a few hundred addresses and are unable to keep track of IP address registration, allocation and host association.

Because many organizations today must support large numbers of IP addresses and the mobile users that need them, they are deploying automated network service management tools. These tools eliminate manual configurations of network services that can cause instability.

Automated, holistic solutions approach IP address management not as "housekeeping," but as a way to attain better security, capacity planning, availability and growth management. Savvy IT groups are automating network services to accelerate business innovation, growth and agility as they expand their use of virtualization, cloud computing and mobility technologies.