Managing IP Addresses

Just as telephone area codes can no longer hold the growing volume of numbers needed, networks are becoming too crowded with IP addresses. This has now become one of the top five strategic issues for systems administratators who have to renumber IP addresses as networks grow and change. Administrators responsible for network design need to anticipate periodic renumbering and constantly re-evaluate the network's abilitity to be changed easily. There are many reasons to renumber including: internal reorganisation, mergers and spin-offs, major technical change in a network, and users and ISPs changing service provider. This text tells how, when and why to renumber a network and provides the tips and techniques needed to get through the project. Following these guidelines, the project can be easier, more cost effective, and transparent to the end-user. Among the topics covered are: planning and designing the network; practical advice on creating IP addresses (numbering); coping techniques for network growth and reorganisation, including Network Address Translation (NAT); and model case studies.