Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up IPAM on Windows Server

Setting up IP Address Management (IPAM) on a Windows Server makes overseeing and managing your network’s IP address structure straightforward. IPAM facilitates tasks such as monitoring IP address utilization, managing DHCP and DNS servers, and ensuring adherence to network policies. In this guide, we’ll provide a detailed, step-by-step tutorial on installing and configuring IPAM on a Windows Server, covering everything from installation to server discovery and configuration settings.

What is IPAM in Windows Server?

IP Address Management, or IPAM, is a feature in Windows Server that streamlines and automates the handling of IP address resources. It empowers administrators to efficiently monitor, administer, and audit both DHCP and DNS servers, while also tracking the assignment of IP addresses throughout the network.

Steps to Set Up IPAM on Windows Server

To effectively install IPAM on a Windows Server, carefully follow these steps:

1. Check Prerequisites
2. Install IPAM
3. Configure IPAM Settings
4. Set Up Server Discovery
5. Manage Servers and Settings

Let’s dive into each step in detail.

1] Check Prerequisites

Before starting the IPAM setup, it’s important to ensure that essential prerequisites are verified. First, confirm that your server is running a compatible version of Windows Server and is part of a functioning Active Directory domain. Additionally, ensure that both DHCP and DNS roles are properly installed and operational. Once you have confirmed these requirements, you can proceed to the next step.

2] Install IPAM

Next, proceed with installing IPAM on your Windows Server after confirming that all prerequisites are in place. Follow the outlined steps below:

1. Open the Server Manager Console on Windows Server and navigate to the Local Server section.
2. From the Manage tab, choose Add Roles and Features, and click Next when the wizard appears.
3. Select Role-based or feature-based installation, click Next, then choose a server from the server pool in the Server selection screen.
4. Pick the server on which you want to install IPAM and click Next twice.
5. On the Features page, find and select the IP Address Management (IPAM) feature. A new window will appear; click Add Features, then select Next, and finally click Install.

Alternatively, users can install IPAM using the command prompt by executing the following command:

Install-WindowsFeature IPAM -IncludeManagementTools

Wait for the installation process to complete, then click Close. The next phase involves configuring IPAM on the server.

3] Configure IPAM on Windows Server

Once IPAM is installed, the subsequent task is to configure it to enable file sharing and access management settings. Follow these steps:

1. In Server Manager, select IPAM from the left pane and click on its Provision button.
2. Click Next, choose a database for IPAM server data storage (select WID, for instance), and hit Next. If an alternate option is chosen, ensure to check the Create a new Schema box.
3. Choose Group-based Policy, enter a GPO prefix in the GPO name prefix field, and click Next.
4. Review all settings, then hit Apply to implement the changes.

A confirmation message stating that the IPAM provisioning completed successfully will appear on your screen.

4] Set Up Server Discovery and Settings

The next move is to configure server discovery and related settings.

• From the IPAM Overview page, select the Configure server discovery option, then in the wizard, click the Get Forests button. After a short wait, click OK.
• Utilize the drop-down menu to select all domains that the IPAM server should manage, then click Apply.
• Go back to the Overview page, select Start Server discovery to initiate the discovery of servers within the chosen domain, and wait until the process is finished.

Now, let’s head to the next step.

5] Manage Servers and Settings

Once the server list is compiled, the next step is to add them to IPAM for management and check their access status. This step is crucial for ensuring IPAM’s oversight over the networks, DNS, and DHCP settings.

• Click on Select or Add servers to manage, then check the IPAM access link to incorporate specific servers into the IPAM inventory. If IPAM access is blocked, indicating that necessary Group Policy Objects haven’t been set up, open PowerShell as an administrator and run this command:

Invoke-IpamGpoProvisioning –Domain mylab.local –GpoPrefixName MYLAB_IPAM –IpamServerFqdn WS2K19-SRV02.mylab.local -DelegatedGpoUser Administrator@mylab.local

• Next, open Group Policy Management and ensure the presence of the IPAM GPO within your domain.
• On the domain controller, launch Command Prompt as an administrator and issue the command gpupdate /force.
• Once that’s complete, right-click on the server, choose Edit Server, navigate to the Manageability status drop-down, and select Managed > OK. Right-click the server once more and select Retrieve server access status to refresh and check the access status of the server.
• Finally, verify that the IPAM access status has changed to unblocked, indicating successful integration with IPAM.
• Right-click on the server again and select Retrieve All Server Data to pull DHCP, DNS, and other network data from the managed servers into IPAM for administration and monitoring.

Now, you’re fully prepared to utilize the IPAM console for effective management of your network’s IP address framework.

How can I add an IP address to IPAM?

To include an IP address in IPAM on Windows, open the IPAM console, go to the IP Address Space section, and select the relevant IP Address block. Click on Add IP address, then provide necessary details such as the IP address, its status, any associated devices or clients, and additional custom fields. Save your changes to successfully add the new IP address to the IPAM database.