Case Study: Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe University achieves simplified, automated DNS, DHCP and IPAM management with BlueCat Networks

Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe University Simplifies and Automates Network Management with BlueCat6

Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (HS‑OWL), a German university with three campuses serving about 6,000 students and 600 staff, faced a fragmented network stack—BIND, Windows DNS, ISC DHCP and an open‑source IPAM—plus limited IPv4 space. Managing roughly 10,000 active IPs across routing, switching and wireless was time‑consuming, error‑prone and increased outage risk; the university therefore needed a scalable IPAM with a flexible API to integrate with its custom tools.

HS‑OWL chose BlueCat Address Manager and BlueCat DNS/DHCP Server for centralized IPAM, separated management from core services, and used the Web GUI and API to automate workflows. With BlueCat Professional Services, migration completed in three days; the integrated solution replaced disparate systems, cut administration time and costs by enabling one‑step changes that update DNS/DHCP, added Layer‑2/3 discovery, improved redundancy and patching, and positioned the university for IPv6.

Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe University

Martin Hierling

Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe University