Infoblox NIOS software provides a set of base services that are valuable in all distributed networks including TFTP, HTTP, NTP, Syslog NG Proxy, and RADIUS Proxy. For applications such as IP telephony, the value of these services alone can provide a fast return-on-investment for an Infoblox solution. Reliable Configuration Services via TFTP and HTTP: IP phones and other devices require periodic updates of their firmware and configuration files. The traditional way of supporting this requirement—using standard file servers—is difficult to secure and requires extensive effort to ensure that all sites contain the right files. The Infoblox file distribution service provides a secure, reliable, manageable solution. For appliances deployed in an Infoblox grid, firmware and configuration images are uploaded only once and are then distributed automatically to all appliances in the grid, saving time and ensuring that devices have access to critical files. The files can then be delivered to the local devices using TFTP or HTTP.

Time Synchronization Services via Network Time Protocol: Providing accurate time service to devices on a network is not just a convenience to the user but is critical for security and logging services. The Infoblox NTP service supports NTP authentication for environments that need to verify that network time is being supplied by a trusted source.

Distributed Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Services via RADIUS Proxy: RADIUS proxy is used to consolidate the authentication requests at a remote location and send the requests to a central RADIUS service. This simplifies the deployment of wire¬less access points, RFID readers, IP phones, and other devices that require 802.1X authentication using RADIUS. The Infoblox RADIUS proxy service is compatible with all industry-standard RADIUS servers.

Consolidated, Reliable Logging via Syslog NG Proxy: Syslog NG proxy allows multiple devices to send logging messages to an Infoblox appliance which will then forward the messages to a central logging server. This simplifies the configuration of logging services for network devices such as firewalls, switches, routers, and wireless access points. The centralized logging server and intervening firewalls and routers with access control lists can be configured once to accept logging messages from the Infoblox appliance and the individual networking devices can be configured to send logging messages to the Infoblox appliance.

Base services are included in all Infoblox software packages as illustrated in the following chart: