The Infoblox product line is based on the vendor's Infoblox Network Services appliances, which are offered in several configurations targeted to small enterprise/branch office through data center core or service provider deployments. The appliances, in turn, are themselves all based on the vendor's NIOS operating system software.

NIOS is a security-hardened RTOS that includes a built-in DB and can be extended by multiple software modules; providing capabilities including DNS services, DHCP services, IP address management (IPAM), Network Access Control, RADIUS authentication, TFTP and HTTP file transports, NTP, and logging (via Syslog). These software modules are themselves grouped and sold as specific software packages by the vendor (more below). Other key modules provide extended capabilities for a base Infoblox appliance, including the the Grid module, which enables multiple appliances to be linked together (with SSL protected communications between them) such that they can be centrally managed and share a common distributed DB; and high availability services, which are based on VRRP and provide DB synchronization and failover features. The software itself can be accessed by external applications via an included API that allows for the importation/exportation of data, and the reading and modification of data in the Infoblox DB. Toolkits are provided by the vendor specifically for interacting with the Infoblox API.

New features in the latest NIOS release are focused on security and IP address management capabilities. Specifically, the boxes monitor DNS protocol traffic for potential attacks (i.e., looking for such items as mis-matched UDP ports and DNS Query IDs in combination with traffic patterns indicative of an attack), and include alerting (E-mail, SNMP trap) and reporting functions once an attack is detected. Additionally, the software now supports auto-mitigation in that it includes a command to throttle or deny connections from a specific DNS server. For IPAM, the vendor lists network discovery, role-based administration, and support for overlapping networks as the key new features.

As mentioned, several software packages are offered by the vendor that combine the available modules for the Infoblox appliances into groupings targeted to specific tasks. Some of these software packages include:

- DNSone: Includes the DNS, DHCP, IPAM, and base services modules (base services include TFTP, HTTP, NTP, Syslog, and RADIUS proxy). A DNSone package is also available with Grid capabilities.

- Network Services for Authentication: Includes the full RADIUS module, as well as the Grid component, the base services, and an Active Directory agent.

- Network Services for VitalQIP, which includes the base services and Grid component as well as a VitalQIP module that integrates the Infoblox's core services with Alcatel-Lucent's VitalQIP IP address management software.

- Network Services for VoIP, which include the DHCP, IPAM, Grid, and base service modules.

- Network Services Suite, which includes all of the above modules with the exception of the VitalQIP integration module.

- IPAM WinConnect, which includes an IPAM module specifically targeted to the management of IP addresses in Microsoft DNS and DHCP environments.

Most of the packages are available on all of the Infoblox appliances; though some are restricted to a subset.

The Infoblox product line is available now; pricing starts at $2,495 for the Infoblox-250. Upgrades to the new OS are free for all customers with a maintenance contract.

Visit the Infoblox Web site for further details.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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