Blog
News, guides, and product updates from Obelinf.
Patch Panel and Structured Cabling Documentation
A practical guide to patch panel and structured cabling documentation, covering TIA-606 labeling, what to record for every port and cable, and how to keep records accurate.
Read moreSite to Site Circuit Redundancy: MPLS, DIA, and Broadband Backup Design
Designing site to site circuit redundancy that survives real failures: diversity requirements, MPLS, DIA, and broadband pairing patterns, failover mechanics, backup sizing, and cost.
Read moreColocation Data Center Checklist: What to Verify Before You Move In
A practical colocation data center checklist covering power and redundancy, cooling guarantees, carrier connectivity, physical security, SLA terms, and site inspection so you verify everything before move in day
Read moreNetwork Topology Diagrams: Best Practices for Drawing and Keeping Them Current
Best practices for drawing network topology diagrams that stay accurate, covering physical and logical views, notation standards, change workflows, and automation.
Read moreHomelab VLANs: A Beginner's Segmentation Guide
New to VLANs? Learn what VLAN segmentation is, why your homelab needs it, how to plan your first layout, and how to keep it documented as your lab grows.
Read moreServer Rack Units Explained: Sizes, Heights, and Capacity (U Guide)
Everything you need to know about rack units (U): what a rack unit is, standard server rack heights and sizes, 1U to 4U server form factors, and how to calculate usable rack capacity.
Read moreAI Infrastructure Documentation: How to Automate It in 2026
Learn how to automate AI infrastructure documentation in 2026: connecting AI assistants to your source of truth over MCP, setting the right guardrails, and knowing when the REST API is the better fit.
Read moreDevice42 Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to Device42 in 2026? We compare NetBox, Nautobot, phpIPAM, and Obelinf across deployment complexity, discovery, pricing, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreInfrahub Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to Infrahub in 2026? We compare Nautobot, NetBox, Device42, and Obelinf across deployment complexity, data modeling, automation features, and when each platform makes sense for your team.
Read moreNautobot Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to Nautobot in 2026? We compare NetBox, Infrahub, Device42, and Obelinf across deployment complexity, extensibility, automation, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read morephpIPAM Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to phpIPAM in 2026? We compare NetBox, TeemIP, SolarWinds IPAM, and Obelinf across deployment complexity, feature depth, pricing, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreRackTables Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to RackTables in 2026? We compare NetBox, Ralph, phpIPAM, and Obelinf across asset tracking, DCIM coverage, API capabilities, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreRalph Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to Ralph in 2026? We compare NetBox, RackTables, Device42, and Obelinf across asset lifecycle, DCIM coverage, deployment complexity, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreSolarWinds IPAM Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to SolarWinds IPAM in 2026? We compare Infoblox, phpIPAM, NetBox, and Obelinf across deployment, DHCP and DNS integration, pricing, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreTeemIP Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to TeemIP in 2026? We compare phpIPAM, NetBox, SolarWinds IPAM, and Obelinf across IPAM depth, DCIM coverage, deployment complexity, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read moreWhat Is MCP (Model Context Protocol)? A Guide for Network Engineers
Model Context Protocol explained for network engineers: architecture, tools, transports, security, and practical uses.
Read moreMAC Address Tracking: Why You Need a Registry
Most teams track IP addresses but let MAC addresses scatter across ARP caches and DHCP leases. Learn why a persistent MAC registry matters for security, troubleshooting, and device lifecycle.
Read moreThe Complete Server Decommissioning Checklist
A step by step server decommissioning checklist covering approval, backups, application deregistration, secure drive erasure, physical removal, and the documentation updates that keep your infrastructure records accurate
Read moreIPv6 Address Management: A Practical Guide to Subnetting, Planning, and Dual-Stack Migration
A practical guide to IPv6 address management: /64 subnetting, /48 site planning, ULA, dual stack migration, and pitfalls that catch teams moving from IPv4.
Read moreVM Inventory and Virtual Machine Tracking Best Practices
Learn how to build a VM inventory that stays accurate: what fields to track, why ownership matters, lifecycle management, and how to reconcile automated discovery with documentation.
Read moreRack Capacity Planning: A Practical Guide to Power, Space, and Resource Forecasting
A practical guide to rack capacity planning covering power budgeting, space utilization, cooling constraints, and how to forecast physical resources before deployments create crises.
Read moreData Center Rack Layout Best Practices: Power, Cooling, and Space Planning
A practical guide to data center rack layout covering rack selection, power distribution, cooling strategies, space planning, cable management, and common mistakes to avoid.
Read moreSubnetting Guide for Network Engineers
A practical subnetting guide for network engineers covering CIDR notation, subnet plan design, VLAN and VRF mapping, common pitfalls, and tools for keeping your IP space organized at scale.
Read moreData Center Capacity Planning with IPAM
A practical guide to integrating IP address management into data center capacity planning, covering subnet tracking, utilization monitoring, IP reservation, and common pitfalls.
Read moreBest Infrastructure Documentation Tools for Homelabs
NetBox, Obsidian, BookStack, and Obelinf. We compare four infrastructure documentation tools for homelab enthusiasts, covering deployment complexity, use cases, and when each tool makes sense for your setup.
Read moreBest Network Documentation Tools for Startups
Choosing the right network documentation tool for your startup. We compare spreadsheets, NetBox, Device42, and Obelinf across deployment, pricing, and ease of use for early stage teams.
Read moreHow AI Is Changing Infrastructure Documentation in 2026
AI coding tools like Cursor, Copilot, and OpenCode are transforming how infrastructure teams document their networks, servers, and data centers. Here is what is changing, what is staying the same, and how to navigate the shift.
Read moreNetBox Alternatives in 2026: 5 Tools Compared
Looking for alternatives to NetBox in 2026? We compare Nautobot, Device42, Infoblox, SolarWinds IPAM, and Obelinf across deployment complexity, feature depth, pricing, and when each tool makes sense for your team.
Read more5 Best IPAM Tools in 2026: SaaS, Open Source & Enterprise
We reviewed five IPAM tools across deployment, features, pricing, and operational overhead to help you choose the right one for your network in 2026.
Read moreVRF Management: A Practical Guide to Virtual Routing and Best Practices
Learn practical VRF management strategies for virtual routing and forwarding, including RD and RT planning, avoiding VRF sprawl, and integrating VRFs into your IPAM workflow across multivendor environments.
Read moreNetwork Topology Mapping Tools: A Guide for 2026
Compare network topology mapping tools from auto-discovery platforms to manual diagramming tools.
Read moreThe Ultimate Data Center Migration Checklist
A comprehensive data center migration checklist covering discovery, dependency mapping, IP and VLAN planning, runbook creation, validation testing, and rollback strategy for a smooth migration
Read moreIP Planning: The Complete Guide, Tools, and Best Practices
Your network grows every week, and so does the number of IP addresses you need to track. This guide covers IP planning best practices, core concepts, and how to choose the right approach for your team.
Read moreCircuit and WAN Management Guide: Tracking MPLS, DIA, and Broadband Circuits
Managing MPLS, DIA, and broadband circuits across multiple sites requires a structured approach to circuit inventory, contract tracking, carrier management, and operational documentation.
Read moreVLAN Management Best Practices: From Small Office to Multi-Site Enterprise
VLAN management scales from small offices to multi site enterprises. Learn practical strategies for design, naming, trunking, security isolation, and keeping VLAN sprawl under control as your network grows.
Read moreWhat Is IPAM? A Guide to IP Address Management for Cloud and Hybrid Networks
IP address management (IPAM) is the practice of planning, tracking, and automating IP address allocation across your network.
Read moreIP Address Management Best Practices in 2026
IP address management has evolved beyond simple spreadsheets. Learn the key practices, tooling decisions, and operational patterns that define modern IPAM in 2026.
Read more6 Ways Teams Track Cloud Server IPs (Ranked Worst to Best)
From sticky notes to proper IPAM, here is how teams actually track cloud server IPs and why most approaches fail at scale.
Read moreWhy Your Cloud Console Is Useless When You Have 50 Servers Across Multiple Providers
AWS Console, Azure Portal, and GCP Console are each excellent in isolation, but they break down the moment your infrastructure spans providers.
Read moreStop Googling Your Own Network: How to Never Forget a Server IP Again
Stop digging through browser history and stale spreadsheets every time you need a server IP. Here is how to build an infrastructure source of truth that actually works.
Read moreAutomating Infrastructure Documentation with Obelinf
Learn how to automate infrastructure documentation using Obelinf. Step by step guide to creating, securing, and using API keys for programmatic infrastructure management.
Read moreThe Hidden Costs of Using Excel for Network Management in 2026
Excel is everywhere in network management, but the real cost of using it goes far beyond the Microsoft 365 subscription. Here is what you are actually paying.
Read moreUsing Obelinf to Plan Your Homelab Disaster Recovery
Your homelab needs a disaster recovery plan. Here is how to build one using proper infrastructure documentation, site tracking, and topology mapping.
Read moreThe Hidden Security Risks of Poor Infrastructure Documentation
When your infrastructure documentation is incomplete or outdated, the security implications go far beyond operational headaches. Here is what is actually at stake.
Read moreThe Real Cost of Running Netbox with Docker Compose versus Managed Solutions
Self hosting Netbox with Docker Compose looks simple on paper, but the hidden costs tell a different story. Here is what you are actually signing up for, and what modern alternatives look like.
Read moreHow to Document Your Homelab Network from Scratch
Your homelab deserves better than memory and sticky notes. Here's how to build documentation that actually works, even if you're starting with nothing.
Read moreCommon Mistakes When Documenting Data Centers
Data center documentation fails for predictable reasons. Here are the most common mistakes teams make and how to avoid them.
Read moreWhy Manual Infrastructure Documentation Is Killing Your DevOps Productivity
Your team spends more time hunting for documentation than actually shipping. Here's how manual infrastructure docs drain your DevOps velocity and what to replace them with.
Read moreWhy Spreadsheets Are Killing Your Network Efficiency (And How to Fix It in 2026)
Your spreadsheet was never meant to manage a network. Here's what it's actually costing your team, and what you can do about it.
Read more