ManageEngine DDI Central - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

ManageEngine DDI Central is a software-based DNS, DHCP, and IP Address Management (DDI) solution that provides enterprises with a unified platform to configure, monitor, and secure core network services. It belongs to the category of network infrastructure management tools and is designed for IT administrators, network engineers, and security teams managing hybrid, distributed, or multi-tenant environments.

The product integrates DNS, DHCP, and IP address management into a centralized system that reduces silos, enhances visibility, and enforces security across on-premises and cloud networks. It manages both Linux- and Windows-based DNS and DHCP servers, offering consistent control in heterogeneous infrastructures.

Typical use cases include:

Coordinating DNS, DHCP, and IP address lifecycles across hybrid environments.

Strengthening security by blocking malicious DNS traffic and enforcing query-level policies.

Gaining centralized visibility into multicloud assets and DNS zones.

Enabling isolated management for distributed or multi-tenant networks.

Automating repetitive policy-driven configurations and reducing operational risks.

Key capabilities of ManageEngine DDI Central include:

DNS Management: Centralized record control with support for dynamic DNS updates (DDNS), DNS scavenging, DNSSEC validation, ACLs, DNS Views, Zone Scopes, and custom query resolution policies.

DNS Security Management: Response Policy Zones (RPZ), Response Rate Limiting (RRL), and integration with threat intelligence feeds to detect and block malicious DNS activity in real time.

DHCP Management: Scope creation and monitoring, DHCP filtering by MAC address, rogue DHCP server detection, and failover policies for high availability.

IP Address Management (IPAM): Automated discovery and reconciliation of subnets, VLANs, and devices with dashboards, heatmaps, and utilization tracking.

Cloud Observability: Centralized visibility and management of domains across AWS, Azure, GCP, and Cloudflare with bidirectional sync, unified DNS record control, and visualizations that correlate assets such as EC2, ECS, RDS, VPCs, and subnets.

Multi-Tenant Architecture: Cluster-based modular design with logical isolation for distributed environments. Supports overlapping IP address spaces and function- or location-based clusters with dedicated DNS, DHCP, and IPAM modules.

Policy-Based Automation: DHCP fingerprinting, Dynamic DNS with TSIG, DNS scavenging, and automated enforcement of configuration policies.

API Support: RESTful APIs for integration with third-party ITSM, monitoring, and orchestration tools to extend automation and interoperability.

High Availability and Scalability: Modular clusters that can scale horizontally, ensuring resilience and operational continuity without reliance on proprietary appliances.

By combining these functions, DDI Central offers a single control point for managing resilient, secure, and scalable DNS, DHCP, and IPAM services across hybrid and multi-tenant enterprise networks.