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Netdisco

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hostedWeb

What Netdisco is

Netdisco is a free, web-based network management tool for administrators working with networks of many sizes. It gathers IP and MAC address information from network devices through SNMP, command-line interfaces, or device APIs, and stores that data in PostgreSQL. Administrators can search for a machine by its IP or MAC address to find the switch port it uses. From there, they can turn the port off or change its VLAN or PoE status.

Netdisco also maintains hardware inventories covering model, vendor, software, and operating system, and can retain historical information about system IP addresses and locations. It displays network diagrams and provides an API for searching or retrieving data. The software includes a web interface, a backend daemon, and a command-line interface. Its maker describes it as running on Linux or Unix and provides Docker images. Installation requires Perl 5.10 or later and PostgreSQL 9.6 or later, and the first setup involves manually discovering at least one network device. Plugins can extend the web interface and backend daemon, including by adding commands or actions. The distribution is under a BSD license, and community support is available through IRC and an email list.

Who it suits

Netdisco suits network administrators who need to locate devices, manage switch ports, inventory hardware, or view network diagrams. Its API, command-line interface, backend daemon, and plugin mechanisms also suit teams that want to search network data programmatically or customize the tool.

What it does well

Find a device's switch port using its IP or MAC address.
Turn off switch ports or change VLAN and PoE status.
Inventory hardware by model, vendor, software, and operating system.
View network diagrams and search data through an API.
Extend the interface or backend with plugins, commands, and actions.
Free to use under a BSD license.

What to know first

Installation requires Perl 5.10 or later and PostgreSQL 9.6 or later.
Initial setup requires manually discovering at least one network device.
The maker describes Linux or Unix operation; other platform support is not established by these facts.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Netdisco	Open source software · self-hosted	Free

As netdisco.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Netdisco website at https://netdisco.org/.
Choose a Linux or Unix deployment, or use a Docker image.
Prepare Perl 5.10 or later and PostgreSQL 9.6 or later.
Install the web interface, backend daemon, and command-line interface.
Manually discover at least one network device; the documentation suggests one supporting CDP, FDP, or LLDP and aware of its neighbors.

Verdict

Choose Netdisco if you need free network management with device location, port control, hardware inventory, and network diagrams. It is especially suited to administrators comfortable with Linux or Unix and the stated Perl and PostgreSQL requirements. Look elsewhere if your environment cannot meet those requirements or you need a first setup that does not involve manually discovering a network device.

Questions

Is Netdisco free?

Yes. Its pricing model is free, and a free plan is listed.

Which platforms does Netdisco support?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, self-hosted, and web. The maker says it runs on Linux or Unix and offers Docker images.

What does installation require?

The installation documentation requires Perl 5.10 or later and PostgreSQL 9.6 or later.

What license does Netdisco use?

The distribution is listed under a BSD license.

Who makes Netdisco?

The facts identify Netdisco's website as https://netdisco.org/ but do not name its maker.

How can users get help?

The maker directs users to a Libera IRC channel and a community email list.

Facts from Netdisco's own pages

API and customization: It provides an API for searching and retrieving data, plus a plugin subsystem for customizing the web interface and backend daemon. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Architecture: The application includes a lightweight web server, a backend daemon for gathering network data, and a command-line interface for troubleshooting. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Customization: Netdisco has plugin mechanisms for customizing the web interface and backend daemon, and plugins can add commands or actions. · metacpan.org, 4 Oct 2026
Data collection: It collects IP and MAC address data into PostgreSQL using SNMP, CLI, or device APIs. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Deployment: Netdisco runs on Linux or Unix systems, is self-contained apart from PostgreSQL, and provides container images. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Device lookup: It can locate a machine by MAC or IP and show the switch port where it is connected. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
History and visualization: It keeps historic data about system IPs and locations and can show network diagrams. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Initial discovery: A first-time installation requires manually discovering one device that speaks CDP, FDP, or LLDP and knows its neighbors. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Initial setup: A first installation requires manually discovering at least one network device; the documentation suggests choosing one that supports CDP, FDP, or LLDP and knows its neighbors. · metacpan.org, 4 Oct 2026
Intended scale: The project describes Netdisco as suitable for networks ranging from small to very large. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Inventory: It can inventory network hardware by model, vendor, software, and operating system. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Inventory and history: It inventories network hardware by model, vendor, software, and operating system, and can keep historic data on system IPs and locations. · netdisco.org, 4 Oct 2026
License: App::Netdisco is open source software under a BSD license. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Locate devices: It can locate a machine by MAC address or IP address and show the switch port where it is connected. · metacpan.org, 4 Oct 2026
Port actions: It can turn off a switch port or change a port’s VLAN or PoE status. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Port control: It can turn off a switch port or change a port’s VLAN or PoE status. · metacpan.org, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Netdisco is a web-based network management tool designed for network administrators. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Requirements: Netdisco requires Perl 5.10 or later and PostgreSQL 9.6 or later. · metacpan.org, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The project points users to its Libera IRC channel and community email list for questions. · netdisco.org, 9 Oct 2026
Topology and API: It can display network diagrams and search or retrieve data through an API. · netdisco.org, 4 Oct 2026

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