Definition of IP Address Conflict, types of IP Address conflict. How SolarWinds IPAM can help to resolve this problem.

1. IP Address Conflict
IPAM 4.0

2. What IP Address conflict is?
• Two or more devices in your network have the same IP Address
configured. All affected network interfaces gets disabled. All machines
loosing their connectivity until the conflict is resolved
• This is an issue that could arise on devices across any operating
system that connect to a local area network (LAN) via cable or
wireless.

3. What problems may IP address conflict cause?
• Primarily network connectivity issues. Impacted machines are loosing
internet access or general network connectivity.
• It can impact laptop, VoIP phone or whole server. Imagine the
situation & business impacts when your source control server is down
or when important DB seems to be offline... -> $

4. What may cause the IP address conflicts?
1. BYOD phenomenon
• Two systems are using an identical static (manually assigned address). Typically happen when you bring
your laptop or tablet from home to work and you still have „home“ IP address assigned which can cause
collision within corporate network. It‘s also typical for business trips and when you got assigned
statically IP in the hotel and then you come back to work.
2. DHCP servers & their configuration.
• Two DHCP servers are managing the same IP subnet/segment with overlapping IP addresses and DHCP
server doesn't check the network IP status (used or not). IP address conflict happens when one
machine already has a DHCP address assigned from first DHCP server and another device is given the
same IP address form second DHCP server. This could be a problem of „load balancing“ configurations.
3. Human mistakes during IP address assignments
• Typically happen when there is no IP address management tool that can provide MAC to IP address
assignment.

5. Problems that people need to solve
• Solve connectivity problems of device that is in IP address conflict –
quick troubleshooting.
• Who caused the conflict, what user (if connected) and what device type
caused the IP address conflict?
• What area is impacted. Is that server, service, user?
• Device port information
• Active directory/user information
• SNMP polling information
• How to quickly disconnect user with a duplicate IP?
• (not an IPAM area – it‘s more NCM, cross-sel)

6. How SolarWinds IPAM can solve the problem here?
1. IPAM is able to detect the IP address conflict. It can detect duplicate
static assignments and also conflict caused by DHCP environments. IPAM
can send you an alert immediatelly when conflict is detect so admin may
take appropriate action and solve the conflict.
2. IPAM can prevent the network from IP Address conflict. If you use IPAM
for static IP address assignments, it‘s impossible to do a human mistake
and assign one IP address twice.
3. IPAM can help admin to resolve the IP address conflict. IPAM can identify
MAC addresses of machines in conflict, their connection history, HW
details or OS installed. And also identify users & ports on switches – in
case of UDT is installed too.