BlueCat Integrity is a centralized DDI solution that provides network administrators with visibility and control of their network from a single pane of glass. Before jumping into the Integrity platform, it is important to understand the meaning of DDI.
DDI stands for DNS, DHCP, and IP address management (IPAM) and describes the integration of these core networking components into one management solution.
DNS
The Domain Name System (DNS) maps human-readable domain names, such as bluecatnetworks.com, to IP addresses, such as 104.239.197.100. DNS allows computers, servers, and other networked devices, each with their unique IP addresses, to communicate with each other.
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the standard mechanism to dynamically assign IP addresses within a network. When a device such as a laptop or a smartphone joins a network, it typically asks for an IP address from a DHCP server. Next, the server will quickly and automatically assign an IP address and some related parameters. Subsequently, once the device has accepted the assignment, it can communicate with both the internal network and the public internet.
IPAM
IP address management (IPAM) is a method for planning, tracking, and managing IPv4 and IPv6 address space on a network. IPAM software tools can give network admins a real-time inventory of both used and unassigned IP addresses, including details like their subnets, status, hostname, and associated hardware.