AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Deploy and Integrate IPAM with DHCP and DNS

IP Address Management (IPAM) is a centralized framework in Windows Server that helps administrators manage IP addresses, DHCP, and DNS services in one place. It provides simplified tracking of address assignments and makes auditing easier. By collecting data from DHCP and DNS servers, IPAM gives a clear view of network usage. This centralized control reduces errors and improves network reliability.

To start, you need to provision IPAM servers on Windows Server. This involves installing the IPAM feature and configuring authentication methods, such as Windows credentials or group-managed service accounts. Next, set up role-based access control so that different teams can manage specific tasks without overstepping permissions. Finally, enable server discovery so IPAM can find and register your DHCP and DNS servers automatically.

Integrating DHCP and DNS with IPAM lets you automate many routine tasks and maintain accurate records. Once connected, IPAM can register new IP addresses and DNS records on behalf of your servers. It also gathers data needed for auditing and compliance reports. Common benefits include:

• Automatic IP Registration: Newly leased addresses get logged instantly.
• Auditing: Change history for leases and DNS records is tracked.
• Record Tracking: You can see which devices hold each address at any time.
  These integrations reduce manual work and help maintain accuracy across the network.

Monitoring address utilization is simple with the IPAM console or PowerShell scripts. The console gives you real-time charts of used, free, and reserved addresses in each scope. You can also run PowerShell commands to generate custom reports or trigger alerts for underutilized or conflicting addresses. By reviewing these insights regularly, you can optimize address ranges and avoid outages.

Overall, deploying and integrating IPAM with DHCP and DNS streamlines IP management in both on-premises and hybrid environments. You save time by automating registrations and audits, while strong authentication and role-based access keep your data secure. With built-in monitoring tools, you stay proactive in spotting issues and planning for growth.

Conclusion

In this section, we explored how IPAM centralizes the management of IP addresses, DHCP, and DNS services to reduce errors and improve network visibility. We covered provisioning IPAM servers with proper authentication, role-based access control, and automatic discovery. You learned how integrating DHCP and DNS with IPAM automates address registration, auditing, and record tracking. Finally, the use of the IPAM console and PowerShell provides real-time monitoring and reporting, ensuring efficient and secure IP address management across hybrid infrastructures.