Resolve IP Address Conflicts
Identify and troubleshoot IP conflicts
Perform streamlined IP address conflict troubleshooting
The first step to resolve IP address conflicts is to identify the affected systems. Intermittent conflicts can make it difficult to identify affected systems using ping and ARP utilities alone.
SolarWinds® IP Address Manager (IPAM) not only performs automatic IP scans to discover all the IP addresses within a certain range on your network but is built to actively identify IP conflicts and tell you when systems are contending for the same IP. These alerts, organized by subnet, can clearly identify all affected systems. This helps resolve IP address conflict issues more quickly.
Reconfigure settings for an IP address conflict fix
After discovering the IP address conflict, you can begin troubleshooting. IPAM is designed to take you to IP address conflict details in one click. The event information displays the IP address, conflict type, subnet, and MAC addresses in conflict. Additionally, IPAM can help you resolve IP conflicts by displaying recommended actions. You can also check other available actions by clicking the “see more” option.
Reconfigure settings for an IP address conflict fix
The final step is to reconfigure the IP settings on the system causing the IP address conflict. Once you understand the system type and location based on your troubleshooting procedure using IPAM, it can be easier to make any necessary changes. Simply find an available IP address and make the needed DNS and DHCP configuration entries. Then, you can update the server configuration.
Automate your IP address conflict finding and fixing
SolarWinds IPAM delivers IP address tracking through automatic IP address scanning, monitoring, and subnet discovery. Conflict reporting and alerts are automated as well, which can allow you to easily and proactively fix conflicts.
With IPAM, you can automate your IP record creation and management for IPv4 and IPv6 environments. As soon as any IP conflict is detected, an event will be triggered in the IP Address Conflicts widget and IPAM will alert you and direct you to the exact address having the issue. From there, all you need to do to resolve IP address conflict issues is go to the already identified asset, determine the specific issue, and resolve it.
IPAM also helps you prevent IP conflicts in the first place by eliminating human error from the IP address scanning process. In addition, it lets you eliminate duplicate issues by letting you create hierarchy groups for subnets to help ensure each device on the network only ever has one IP address.
Integrate with UDT to ensure proactive IP address conflict prevention
Extend the IP conflict finding and fixing functionality in IPAM even further by integrating it with SolarWinds User Device Tracker (UDT). UDT is built to allow you to quickly find out which user or device is accessing an IP address, show port and user information related to an IP address or host DNS assignment, and shut down a port through its web interface.
When you combine IPAM and UDT with the IP Control Bundle, you’ll get IP conflict detection software built to automatically alert you as soon as an IP address conflict arises. You can then go to your centralized dashboard and investigate essential details like conflicting devices, subnet information, and the connected switch port. You can analyze the issue and take steps to troubleshoot it right away, like remotely shutting down the connected switch port to cut off network connectivity to the device having issues.
Get More on IP Address Conflicts
Do you find yourself asking…
To understand what an IP address conflict is, it’s important to first understand what exactly an IP address is. Short for “Internet Protocol address,” an IP address is an identification number given to a specific device on a network. It allows your devices to communicate across the network, allowing for the proper flow of information. Each IP address consists of 32 numbers connected with periods, and each address must be unique within a network to function.
The problem occurs when devices on the same network or subnet are assigned the same static IP address. If this happens, it results in two devices trying to access the same IP address, with neither one able to gain access. Though this access prevention is done to avoid messages going to the wrong host and causing increased confusion, it also hampers network efficiency and temporarily disables operations until the duplicate IP address issue is resolved. This situation is known as an IP address conflict and can be prevented with the appropriate tools.
To understand what an IP address conflict is, it’s important to first understand what exactly an IP address is. Short for “Internet Protocol address,” an IP address is an identification number given to a specific device on a network. It allows your devices to communicate across the network, allowing for the proper flow of information. Each IP address consists of 32 numbers connected with periods, and each address must be unique within a network to function.
The problem occurs when devices on the same network or subnet are assigned the same static IP address. If this happens, it results in two devices trying to access the same IP address, with neither one able to gain access. Though this access prevention is done to avoid messages going to the wrong host and causing increased confusion, it also hampers network efficiency and temporarily disables operations until the duplicate IP address issue is resolved. This situation is known as an IP address conflict and can be prevented with the appropriate tools.
Find and fix IP address conflict quickly to prevent issues
Automate IP address conflict alerting by using an IP conflict scanner.
Run in-depth analysis of IP conflict details.
Create, update, or remove DNS and DHCP configurations.