NetBox is the dominant network source of truth in the market today, and it’s an increasingly pervasive tool in networks of all sizes. Over hundreds of conversations we’ve had with members of the NetBox community, there are many reasons networking pros have adopted NetBox. Let’s explore three of the most common.
Modernizing IPAM and DCIM
It might seem simple, but a major reason networking teams are swarming to NetBox is its modern capabilities for IP Address Management (IPAM) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM). Traditional methods, such as spreadsheets, are inefficient and prone to errors, making it difficult for teams to manage their growing networks effectively. And even established commercial IPAM offerings are often decoupled from DCIM, or treat automation and ecosystem integrations as an afterthought. NetBox provides a centralized, intuitive platform for managing IP addresses, prefixes, and data center assets. It enables teams to maintain an accurate source of truth for their network infrastructure, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors associated with manual processes. And it is built with automation as a first class citizen.
Accelerating Network Automation amid Rising Complexity
Speaking of automation… As networks become increasingly complex due to distributed infrastructure, team mobility, an explosion of connected devices and applications, and more stringent performance and reliability expectations, the pressure on networking teams is mounting. To meet their goals, they need the leverage that automation provides.
NetBox supports network automation by offering a single source of truth for network data that can be easily integrated with popular automation platforms such as Ansible, Terraform, and Nornir, along with tools for monitoring and visibility and other components of a modern network automation stack. NetBox’s well-documented REST API allows networking teams to streamline their workflows, scale operations, and ensure consistency across their network infrastructure.
A Thriving Community and Ecosystem
NetBox’s vast community of users, developers, and contributors is another driving force behind its adoption. The thriving NetBox ecosystem fuels the platform’s continuous development, including new features, plugins, and integrations, ensuring that NetBox remains at the forefront of network management and automation.
Networking teams adopting NetBox not only benefit from a powerful and flexible platform but also join a collaborative environment of professionals who share their knowledge, experiences, and solutions on GitHub, in Slack, at NetBox community meetups, and at industry events. This allows networkers to learn from their peers, discover best practices, and contribute to the platform’s ongoing improvement – great for all!
How to Get Going with NetBox
As networks continue to grow in complexity and criticality, NetBox’s modern IPAM and DCIM capabilities, its strong foundation for network automation, and its vibrant community make it an indispensable tool for managing modern network infrastructure. Thousands of networking teams are using NetBox in production today. If you aren’t one of them yet, here are some ways to learn more, get engaged, and get going!
Learn more about NetBox’s IPAM and DCIM capabilities:
- Join our thriving community by joining the NetDev Slack workspace
- Experience the power of NetBox firsthand with a free trial of NetBox Cloud – the easiest way to get up and running with NetBox
- Get up and running with NetBox Docker.
