Fixed IP address vs Host

Ehsan
Ehsan
in DNS, DHCP, IPAM (DDI)

Hi everyone,


I have a question regarding Infoblox DNS/DHCP.
What is the difference between a fixed IP address and a host in Infoblox?
What I’m trying to understand is when we decide to fix an IP address and when we configure it as a host.
And when an IP is set as a host, does it behave like a fixed address and will not change?

Or when we create a host record, we’re not concerned with the MAC address at all, and the main goal is simply to assign an IP address to an FQDN?

I appreciate any guidance you can provide.

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Answers

  • RossGibson
    RossGibson Infoblox Technical Expert

    A host record is a construct that allows the consolidated management of both DNS records (A, AAAA, PTR, and host aliases) and DHCP fixed addresses (FAs). The biggest difference between a FA and a Host from the DHCP perspective is that with a FA you can set more specific DHCP parameters (e.g., different DHCP option values) than you can within a host record. If your only concern is mapping a specific MAC address (or DUID) to an IP address, the host record is capable of doing that, just make sure the DHCP box is checked in the host IP address configuration.

  • dora745nevels
    dora745nevels

    In Infoblox, the choice comes down to whether you want to manage DNS and DHCP separately or as a single unit.

    A Fixed Address is a pure DHCP object; it binds an IP to a MAC address to ensure a device always gets the same IP, but it doesn't automatically create DNS records. You use this for devices like printers or cameras where the "name" matters less than the "reservation."

    A Host Record, however, is a "smart" container that links the IP, MAC address, and FQDN together. When you use a Host Record with an associated MAC, it does behave like a fixed address (the IP won't change), but it also automatically syncs the DNS A and PTR records. Use a Host Record whenever you need both a reserved IP and a consistent DNS name; use a Fixed Address if you only care about the IP reservation or if the device doesn't need to be reachable by a specific domain name.

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