8 Best NetBox Alternatives for Network Management

NetBox is a powerful open-source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. Developed by the network engineering team at DigitalOcean, it excels in IP address management (IPAM), equipment racks, device tracking, connections, and data circuits. However, depending on your specific needs, budget, or preferred feature set, you might be looking for a NetBox alternative. This article explores some of the top contenders that offer similar, or complementary, functionalities for efficient network and infrastructure management.

Top NetBox Alternatives

While NetBox offers a comprehensive suite of tools, the world of network management software is vast. Here are some excellent alternatives, ranging from dedicated IPAM solutions to broader IT service management platforms, that might be a better fit for your organization.

GLPI

GLPI is a versatile ITSM tool, offering capabilities for managing changes, problems, and budgeting for your company's IT stack. As a free, open-source solution available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, and Self-Hosted platforms, it provides helpdesk ticketing, incident management, and robust inventory management, making it a strong NetBox alternative for organizations needing broader IT management beyond just network documentation.

RackTables

RackTables is a robust and nifty solution specifically designed for datacenter and server room asset management. This free and open-source tool, available for Linux and BSD, helps document hardware assets, network addresses, and space within racks. While it doesn't boast a long list of features like NetBox, its focused approach makes it an excellent NetBox alternative for those primarily concerned with physical asset tracking in a data center environment.

phpIPAM

phpIPAM is an open-source web IP address management (IPAM) application that aims to provide a light, modern, and useful solution. Built on PHP, it's a dedicated IPAM tool available for Linux and Self-Hosted environments. For users whose primary need is comprehensive IP address management, phpIPAM serves as a focused and effective NetBox alternative.

Ralph

Ralph is a full-featured Asset Management, DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management), and CMDB (Configuration Management Database) system for data centers and back offices. This free and open-source platform, available on Linux, Web, and Self-Hosted, offers features like auto-discovery of existing hardware, asset tracking, customizable options, IT asset management, network monitoring, and a REST API. Ralph is a powerful NetBox alternative for organizations seeking a more holistic asset and configuration management solution.

SolarWinds IP Address Manager

SolarWinds IP Address Manager (IPAM) offers a simplified and powerful solution to monitor IP addresses, DHCP services, and DNS servers. While it's a freemium product available on Windows, it provides a comprehensive and user-friendly experience for IP address management. For those who prefer a commercial, feature-rich solution with dedicated support, SolarWinds IPAM stands as a strong NetBox alternative.

Simple IP Config

Simple IP Config is a small, portable, and free open-source IP changer utility designed for Windows. It allows users to quickly and easily change common Windows network settings without navigating through endless system menus. While significantly less comprehensive than NetBox, it serves as a useful and straightforward NetBox alternative for individuals or small teams needing only basic IP address configuration changes on Windows systems.

MAAS

MAAS (Metal as a Service) is a free, open-source physical cloud solution for Linux that includes IPAM and bare-metal server provisioning. It offers features like IPAM, IPMI, networking, PXE booting, and is built with Python. For organizations looking to manage bare-metal servers and integrate IP address management into a physical cloud infrastructure, MAAS presents a robust and specialized NetBox alternative.

Gestioip

GestióIP is an automated, web-based IP address management (IPAM) software. It features powerful network discovery functions and offers search and filter capabilities. As a free and open-source web application, Gestioip provides dedicated IPAM functionalities. For users prioritizing automated network discovery and robust IP address management in a web-based interface, Gestioip is a noteworthy NetBox alternative.

Choosing the right network management solution depends heavily on your organization's specific needs, existing infrastructure, and budget. Whether you require a full-fledged IT service management platform, a dedicated IPAM tool, or a specialized data center asset manager, these NetBox alternatives offer a range of powerful features to help you efficiently manage your network.