NIPAP
spritelink.github.io
What it is
NIPAP is a self-hosted IP address management system for large address inventories. It offers a web interface and a feature-complete command-line tool, and can allocate the next available address automatically. Search supports IP prefix operators and regular expressions. IPv6 has feature parity with IPv4, and VRFs are supported natively. The system also includes subnet planning, integrated statistics, and audit history. Address data is stored and indexed in PostgreSQL with the ip4r module. The backend communicates through an XML-RPC API, and the project lists Python and Java client libraries. NIPAP is open source under the MIT license and is free. Debian and Debian derivatives are officially supported; the maker says other Unix-like systems may run it with manual dependency installation. Installation involves configuring authentication accounts for both the backend and web interface. The maker describes user documentation as rather limited and directs users to GitHub issues for bugs, feature requests, and other issues.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- NIPAP is an IP address management system built to handle large amounts of IP addresses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Product
- NIPAP is an IP address management system built to handle large amounts of IP addresses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Audience
- The maker describes NIPAP as built by network engineers for network engineers.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Platforms
- The installation guide says NIPAP is officially supported on Debian and Debian derivatives and should run on Unix-like systems with manual dependency installation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Deployment
- The maker officially supports Debian and Debian derivatives; it says NIPAP should also run on Unix-like systems with manual dependency installation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Integrations
- The maker lists Python and Java client libraries and a web interface that communicates with the backend through an XML-RPC API.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Security
- The installation guide describes configuring authentication accounts for the backend and web interface.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Support
- The maker directs users to GitHub issues for bugs, feature requests, and other issues.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- License
- NIPAP is open source under the MIT license.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Address allocation
- NIPAP can automatically allocate the next available address.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Command line
- NIPAP includes a feature-complete CLI.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Database
- NIPAP stores data in PostgreSQL and uses the ip4r module for ternary lookups.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Documentation
- The maker describes its user documentation as rather limited and links to separate user and developer documentation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Documentation limit
- The maker describes its user documentation as rather limited.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- IPv6
- NIPAP supports IPv6 with feature parity with IPv4.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Libraries
- The maker lists a Python library called pynipap and a Java client library.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Search
- Its search supports IP prefix operators and regular expressions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Statistics
- NIPAP includes integrated statistics.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Storage
- NIPAP uses PostgreSQL and the ip4r module to store and index IP addresses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- VRF
- NIPAP supports VRFs and is designed for them from the ground up.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- VRFs
- NIPAP is designed to support VRFs natively.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
- Web interface
- NIPAP provides a web interface for managing IP addresses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · spritelink.github.io
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Automatically allocates the next available address
- Supports IPv6 with IPv4 feature parity
- Designed to support VRFs natively
- Includes web interface, CLI, and XML-RPC API
- Free and open source under the MIT license
Limits
- Deployment is self-hosted
- Official support is limited to Debian and derivatives
- User documentation is described as limited
Who it suits
NIPAP suits network engineers managing substantial IP address inventories, including IPv6 and VRFs. It is a fit for teams prepared to self-host and configure its dependencies and authentication.
Verdict
NIPAP offers address allocation, search, IPv6, and VRF tools in a self-hosted package. Its documentation is limited, and installations outside supported Debian systems may require manual dependency work.
Where Specifiction places it
- IP Address Management Software#9 of 438.3
- Ipam Tool#7 of 188.3