NetBox on AWS
An AMI on AWS Marketplace, launched into your own AWS account with a CloudFormation stack.
- Deploys with
- CloudFormation
- Recommended size
- t3a.medium
- Ready in
- 5-10 minutes
Setup guides
Launch on AWS Open-source network source of truth
Self-hosted NetBox on AWS and Google Cloud
Run NetBox, the open-source IPAM and DCIM platform, from a pre-configured image in your own AWS account or Google Cloud project. Document your sites, racks, devices, prefixes, IP addresses and VLANs in one place, and give your automation an API to read them from.
- Ready in 5-10 minutes
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- Apache 2.0 licence
What is NetBox?
NetBox is an open-source source of truth for network infrastructure, licensed under Apache 2.0. It brings IP address management (IPAM) and data center infrastructure management (DCIM) into one data model built for network engineers. It suits teams that have outgrown spreadsheets and want their automation to read from the same records people keep up to date.
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IP address management
Prefixes, IP ranges, IP addresses, VRFs and VLANs in one place.
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Data center infrastructure
Regions, sites, locations, racks and the devices installed in them.
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REST and GraphQL APIs
Read and write over REST, query over a read-only GraphQL API.
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Custom fields and plugins
Extend the data model with custom fields, tags and plugins.
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Change logging
Every create, change and delete is recorded automatically.
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Event rules
Trigger a custom script or an outbound webhook when data changes.
What's in the Meetrix NetBox image
Running NetBox properly needs PostgreSQL, Redis, a reverse proxy and SSL. The image arrives with them set up.
- NetBox with PostgreSQL and Redis (Valkey on Google Cloud), running in Docker on Ubuntu
- A reverse proxy in front of it
- Let's Encrypt SSL, set up automatically or with one script
- Database backups to your S3 bucket on AWS, or daily to the VM and your Cloud Storage bucket on Google Cloud
- A CloudFormation template on AWS or a deployment form on Google Cloud, in your own account or project
- Email support from Meetrix at aws@meetrix.io or support@meetrix.io
How to set up a self-hosted NetBox server
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Launch it
Launch the CloudFormation stack from AWS Marketplace, or fill in the Google Cloud Marketplace deployment form, with your domain, an admin password and a bucket for backups.
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Point your domain at it
After 5-10 minutes, create a DNS A record for the server's public IP. SSL is set up automatically when it can be, and a certificate script on the server covers the rest.
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Sign in
Open your domain, or the URL from the stack or deployment outputs, and log in as admin with the password you chose.
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Model your network
Add your first site and prefix, then create an API token for your scripts and Ansible playbooks.
Choose your cloud
Launch on AWS 
NetBox on Google Cloud
A Google Cloud Marketplace image, deployed on a VM in your own GCP project, with a daily database backup that can upload to your Cloud Storage bucket.
- Deploys with
- Marketplace deployment form
- Recommended size
- e2-medium
- Free trial
- 5 days, up to USD 50 licence credit
Setup guides
Launch on Google Cloud NetBox vs SolarWinds IP Address Manager
| NetBox | SolarWinds IPAM | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Apache 2.0, open source | Proprietary |
| Pricing model | Free software, pay only for hosting | Custom quote from sales |
| Where it runs | Your own AWS account or GCP project | Your own servers, behind your firewall |
| Racks, devices and cables | Built in (DCIM) | Not part of IPAM |
| DHCP and DNS server management | Not built in | Cisco, Infoblox, ISC, Kea and Microsoft |
NetBox FAQ
What is NetBox?
An open-source source of truth for network infrastructure. It combines IPAM and DCIM, so your IP addresses, prefixes, VLANs, sites, racks and devices are documented in one place.
Is NetBox free?
Yes. NetBox Community is open source under the Apache 2.0 licence. On AWS or Google Cloud you pay for the server and the Meetrix software fee shown on the listing. Google Cloud adds a 5-day free trial of that fee.
Which instance size should I choose?
On AWS, t3a.medium is the recommended baseline. On Google Cloud, e2-medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) is the default and the minimum. Choose a larger size if many users or automation jobs use NetBox at the same time.
How do I sign in?
Log in with the username admin and the password you set when creating the CloudFormation stack on AWS, or on the deployment form on Google Cloud.
Does it set up SSL?
Yes. On AWS it is automatic when your domain is hosted on Route 53, and on Google Cloud when your domain already points at the VM on first boot. Otherwise, run the certificate script on the server as the developer guides show.
Can Ansible and other tools use NetBox?
Yes. Create an API token in NetBox and call its REST API, or query the read-only GraphQL API. The netbox.netbox Ansible collection can use NetBox as a dynamic inventory.
How do I upgrade?
Back up your data, launch the new version from AWS Marketplace or Google Cloud Marketplace, and remove the old deployment. On Google Cloud you can also update NetBox in place, as the developer guide shows.
How is NetBox different from SolarWinds IPAM?
NetBox is open source and documents racks, devices and cables as well as IP space, with APIs built for automation. SolarWinds IP Address Manager is proprietary, priced by quote, and adds DHCP and DNS server management.
Need a hand with NetBox?
We deploy and run self-hosted tools on AWS and Google Cloud every day, from SSL and backups to scaling. Tell us what network you want to document.
Contact us