Enterprise

Built-in Plugins in NetBox Enterprise

NetBox Enterprise includes a curated set of pre-integrated plugins that extend core capabilities without the complexity of manual installation. These plugins are tested, supported, and ready to enable with simple configuration changes.

Overview

Built-in plugins provide enterprise-ready features that would normally require manual wheelhouse management. By pre-integrating popular community plugins, NetBox Enterprise simplifies deployment while ensuring compatibility and support.

Key Benefits:

Zero Installation: No wheelhouse creation or dependency management required
Pre-tested Compatibility: All plugins verified against the NetBox Enterprise version
Official Support: Covered under NetBox Enterprise support agreements
Instant Availability: Enable/disable with configuration changes only
Automatic Updates: Plugins updated alongside NetBox Enterprise releases

Built-in vs Custom Plugins:

Feature	Built-in Plugins	Custom Plugins
Installation	Configuration only	Wheelhouse creation required
Compatibility	Pre-tested	Manual verification needed
Support	Official support included	Community or vendor support
Updates	Automatic with NBE	Manual wheelhouse rebuild
Availability	Instant	Requires upload process

Available Plugins (as of NBE 1.14.1):

The following plugins are included in the current release. Use the Config Name value in your PLUGINS list.

Plugin	Config Name	Version	Certified
netbox-acls	`netbox_acls`	1.9.1	☑︎
netbox-bgp	`netbox_bgp`	0.17.0	☑︎
netbox-documents	`netbox_documents`	0.7.4	☐
netbox-floorplan-plugin	`netbox_floorplan`	0.8.0	☑︎
netbox-interface-synchronization	`netbox_interface_synchronization`	4.1.7	☐
netbox-inventory	`netbox_inventory`	2.4.1	☐
netbox-lifecycle	`netbox_lifecycle`	1.1.6	☐
netbox-plugin-dns	`netbox_dns`	1.4.4	☑︎
netbox-qrcode	`netbox_qrcode`	0.0.19	☑︎
netbox-reorder-rack	`netbox_reorder_rack`	1.1.4	☑︎
netbox-secrets	`netbox_secrets`	2.4.2	☑︎
netbox-topology-views	`netbox_topology_views`	4.4.0	☑︎
netbox-validity	`validity`	3.4.0	☐
netboxlabs-diode-netbox-plugin	`netbox_diode_plugin`	1.7.0	☑︎
netboxlabs-netbox-assurance-plugin	`netbox_assurance_plugin`	1.3.0	☑︎
netboxlabs-netbox-branching	`netbox_branching`	0.8.1	☑︎
netboxlabs-netbox-changes	`netbox_changes`	0.4.2	☑︎
netboxlabs-netbox-custom-objects	`netbox_custom_objects`	0.4.4	☑︎
slurpit_netbox	`slurpit_netbox`	1.2.7	☑︎

Plugin versions are updated with each NetBox Enterprise release. For version history, see the NetBox Enterprise Release Notes.

Prerequisites

Before enabling built-in plugins, ensure you have:

Admin Access: Access to the NetBox Enterprise Admin Console
Configuration Permissions: Ability to modify NetBox Python Configuration Overrides
Plugin Documentation: Review the specific plugin's documentation for configuration requirements
Deployment Window: Time for NetBox pods to restart (typically 2-5 minutes)

No Installation Required

Unlike custom plugins, built-in plugins do not require wheelhouse creation, dependency management, or file uploads. They are already installed in the NetBox Enterprise container.

Enabling Built-in Plugins

Step 1: Access Admin Console

Navigate to the Config tab in the NetBox Enterprise Admin Console
Scroll down and enable Show Advanced Settings checkbox:

Step 2: Configure Plugins

In the NetBox Python Configuration Overrides field, add your plugin configuration:

Example: Enable multiple plugins

PLUGINS = ['netbox_topology_views', 'netbox_bgp', 'netbox_acls']

Example: Enable plugins with configuration

PLUGINS = ['netbox_topology_views', 'netbox_bgp']

PLUGINS_CONFIG = {
    'netbox_topology_views': {
        'allow_coordinates_saving': True,
        'always_save_coordinates': True
    },
    'netbox_bgp': {
        'device_ext_page': 'right'
    }
}

Configuration Reference

Each plugin has specific configuration options. Consult the plugin's documentation on GitHub for available settings:

NetBox Topology Views
NetBox BGP
See Release Notes for links to all built-in plugins

Step 3: Deploy Configuration

Scroll to the bottom of the Config page
Click Save config
When prompted, click Go to updated version
Click Deploy to apply the configuration changes

The deployment process will:

Create a new NetBox Enterprise configuration version
Restart NetBox pods with the updated plugin configuration
Apply any plugin-specific database migrations
Return to Ready state when complete (typically 2-5 minutes)

Step 4: Verify Plugin Activation

Once NetBox Enterprise returns to Ready state:

# Check plugin status in the UI
Log in to your NetBox instance
Navigate to /plugins/ to see the list of installed plugins
Verify your enabled plugins appear in the list

Expected Plugin Indicators:

Plugin appears in the Plugins list at /plugins/
Plugin navigation items appear in the NetBox UI navbar
Plugin-specific pages and features are accessible
No plugin loading errors in System > Background Jobs

Best Practices

Plugin Selection

Review Documentation: Always review a plugin's documentation before enabling
Understand Dependencies: Check if plugins require specific data models or configurations
Test in Development: Enable plugins in a development environment first
Start Minimal: Enable only plugins you actively need to reduce complexity

Configuration Management

Version Control: Track your PLUGINS and PLUGINS_CONFIG in version control
Document Choices: Document why specific plugins are enabled and their configurations
Review Regularly: Periodically review enabled plugins and disable unused ones
Configuration Validation: Test configuration changes in staging before production

Performance Considerations

Resource Usage: Some plugins add database queries or background jobs
Monitor Impact: Monitor system performance after enabling new plugins
Disable Unused: Disable plugins you're not actively using
Review Updates: Check release notes when upgrading NetBox Enterprise for plugin changes

Troubleshooting

Plugin Doesn't Appear After Deployment

Check:

Deployment completed successfully and shows Ready state
Plugin name is spelled correctly in PLUGINS list
Plugin name matches exactly (case-sensitive)
No errors in Background Jobs or system logs

Solutions:

# Check NetBox logs for plugin loading errors
kubectl logs -n <namespace> <netbox-pod-name> | grep -i plugin

# Verify configuration was applied
# Log in to NetBox and check Admin > System > Configuration

Plugin Configuration Not Applied

Check:

PLUGINS_CONFIG dictionary syntax is correct (proper Python formatting)
Plugin name in PLUGINS_CONFIG matches name in PLUGINS list
Configuration keys match plugin's documented options
Values use correct data types (strings, booleans, integers)

Solutions:

Review plugin's GitHub repository for correct configuration syntax
Check Python syntax (commas, quotes, brackets)
Verify configuration keys match plugin documentation exactly

Database Migration Errors

Problem: Deployment fails with database migration errors

Solutions:

Check that your NetBox Enterprise version supports the plugin version
Review Release Notes for known issues
Contact your NetBox Enterprise support representative if migrations fail

Plugin Causes Performance Issues

Solutions:

Review plugin documentation for performance tuning options
Check plugin configuration for settings that reduce query load
Disable the plugin temporarily to confirm it's the cause
Review plugin's GitHub issues for known performance problems
Consider alternative plugins or custom solutions

Additional Resources

NetBox Enterprise Release Notes - Current list of built-in plugins
Installing Custom Plugins - Add plugins not included by default
NetBox Plugin Configuration - General plugin configuration guide
NetBox Community Plugins - Browse available plugins

Disabling Plugins

To disable a plugin:

Remove the plugin name from the PLUGINS list
Remove any associated PLUGINS_CONFIG entries (optional but recommended)
Save and deploy the configuration
The plugin will be deactivated after NetBox restarts

Database Data Retention

Disabling a plugin does not remove its database tables or data. The data remains in the database and will be accessible again if you re-enable the plugin. To completely remove a plugin's data, you would need to manually drop its database tables (not recommended without backup).

Overview​

Prerequisites​

Enabling Built-in Plugins​

Step 1: Access Admin Console​

Step 2: Configure Plugins​

Step 3: Deploy Configuration​

Step 4: Verify Plugin Activation​

Best Practices​

Plugin Selection​

Configuration Management​

Performance Considerations​

Troubleshooting​

Plugin Doesn't Appear After Deployment​

Plugin Configuration Not Applied​

Database Migration Errors​

Plugin Causes Performance Issues​

Additional Resources​

Disabling Plugins​

Overview

Prerequisites

Enabling Built-in Plugins

Step 1: Access Admin Console

Step 2: Configure Plugins

Step 3: Deploy Configuration

Step 4: Verify Plugin Activation

Best Practices

Plugin Selection

Configuration Management

Performance Considerations

Troubleshooting

Plugin Doesn't Appear After Deployment

Plugin Configuration Not Applied

Database Migration Errors

Plugin Causes Performance Issues

Additional Resources

Disabling Plugins