Features and Benefits

The DNSone with Grid package is available on all Infoblox appliance platforms.

The DNSone with Grid package delivers reliable, manageable, scalable, and secure core network services at a lower cost and with higher security than server-software and with greater network availability than any competing solution. The services included in the DNSone with Grid package are:
 

• Naming services via Domain Name System (DNS);
• Addressing services via Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP);
• Network visibility and control via IP address management (IPAM);
• Authentication, authorization, and accounting services via RADIUS Proxy;
• File delivery services via Trivial File Transfer Protocol and other services (FTP, HTTP, TFTP);
• Time synchronization services via Network Time Protocol (NTP)

The DNSone with Grid package also includes the grid upgrade which provides patented Infoblox technology for linking distributed appliances into a unified Infoblox grid. The embedded databases in all Infoblox appliances within an Infoblox grid are intelligently interconnected so that they share a common, real-time view of host names, IP leases, and other network services data. The grid uses secure communication among appliances and also uses sophisticated database technology to maintain data integrity. This ensures that all appliances in the grid have the right data and that the grid continues to deliver services without data loss or corruption in the face of a wide range of device or WAN failures. Infoblox grid technology also supports intelligent data replication to minimize the use of bandwidth in the grid and to enable “rightsized” appliances to be deployed at each location.

Additional Benefits Include

High-availability Services
The DNSone with Grid package runs on the reliable Infoblox appliance platforms, which are designed for nonstop operation in high-performance networks. High-availability (HA) services are supported by bloxHA™ technology—which uses industry-standard Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) for sub 5-second network failover—and bloxSYNC™ technology to ensure real-time database synchronization with no loss or duplication of data.

Integrated, Zero-admin Database
The DNSone with Grid package stores all DNS and DHCP data in the integrated bloxSDB™ database, which is built into the Infoblox NIOS™ operating system software provided on all Infoblox appliances. The bloxSDB database is designed specifically to support integrated core network services and provides unmatched consistency between service and management views of IP-address-centric network services data without compromising performance.

Easy-to-use GUI
The DNSone with Grid package includes the Infoblox Grid Manager that can be run from a PC running Windows XP, Vista or Linux OSes. The abstracted, data-centric interface streamlines complex and repetitive management operations and enables administrators to focus on data and services rather than boxes and protocols. This reduces management time and eliminates many common data entry errors.

Integrated Management
The DNSone with Grid package provides practical operational efficiencies that lower total cost of ownership. For example, creating a DHCP range automatically creates an associated DNS record, reducing the number of tasks required of network administrators.

Granular Administration
Administrators can delegate the management of particular zones, networks, and devices to other administrators, and they can also create “read-only” profiles for delegated administrators. This allows companies to grant individuals, in different parts of an organization, management authority over only a portion of the network’s resources.

Hardened Security
The Infoblox NIOS software is hardened and consistently withstands security scans and attacks from the most demanding government and military organizations. DNS and DHCP services can be upgraded easily to support the latest versions of BIND and DHCP, ensuring minimum exposure to security threats. In the event that a new exploit is discovered, the underlying Infoblox NIOS software can be upgraded in minutes via a single, simple operation. This makes it much more difficult to penetrate than general-purpose operating systems with known vulnerabilities. Management communication is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)-encrypted VPNs for protection against management compromise.

Scalable, Integrated Managemant

The flexible Infoblox Grid Manager user interface provides the visibility and control needed to manage all core network services in dynamic IP networks. The Grid Manager consolidates the management of all appliances, services, and data—and provides summary and drill-down views with a simple click. Granular, role-based management capabilities enable administrators to delegate specific networks, ranges, hosts, and devices to junior or departmental personnel. The Infoblox Grid Manager makes it easy to cope with fast-changing networks, and because all data reside in the Infoblox appliance database, the status of devices and services within the Grid Manager always reflects the actual, real-time state of the network.

Nonstop Infrastructure for Critical Network Solutions

Infoblox network services appliances include a range of special capabilities that serve key network applications:

A Foundation for Network Access Control (NAC)
The Infoblox NAC Foundation module—included in the Infoblox NIOS software—provides intelligent, policy-based control over Infoblox’s DHCP services and, as such, provides a foundation for a wide variety of NAC solutions using components from multiple vendors. It also provides basic NAC functionality, such as guest access and network quarantine out of the box. The NAC Foundation module—which includes a captive Web portal for user and guest registration—interfaces with third-party authentication and endpoint policy assessment systems, and contains a built-in policy engine. It is fully integrated with the other Infoblox NIOS software modules as well as Infoblox grid technology, benefiting from the native grid benefits, including central administration and high-availability failover.
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Voice over IP
Users demand dial-tone reliability for voice communications. To deliver this level of reliability in an IP environment requires a nonstop DHCP service for assigning IP addresses to voice-over-IP handsets and IP soft phones, as well as file delivery services for providing updated phone firmware and configurations. The DNSone package delivers a combination of features that provides an easy-to-manage, high-availability solution for IP voice applications:

High-availability DHCP. Infoblox supports industry-standard DHCP failover that works across distributed WANs. In addition, pairs of Infoblox appliances can be easily configured in “HA mode” to provide fast failover and real-time data synchronization without requiring inefficient allocation of IP addresses.

Built-in TFTP, FTP and HTTP file transfer. Historically, TFTP, FTP and HTTP has been provided by stand-alone servers managed individually at each location with no centralized control and no high-availability capabilities. The DNSone package extends the benefits of network services appliances to managing IP telephony by providing a reliable, easy-to-manage TFTP, FTP and HTTP service. Firmware and configuration files are uploaded to the appliance and served to IP phones when they boot up. Added reliability, expected in a telephony environment, can be provided using an HA pair of appliances to provide reliable TFTP services.
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Reliable DNS Infrastructure for Microsoft Active Directory (AD)
Infoblox is a Microsoft Certified Partner and the Infoblox DNSone package includes special support for easy integration into Microsoft AD environments. This enables enterprises to ensure that the critical DNS services needed for their Microsoft and non-Microsoft applications are always available and secure.
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