With the release of IP Fabric 7.0, we’re excited to introduce extensions: a powerful new way to run custom applications directly within the IP Fabric user interface. Whether you need to automate workflows, enhance reporting, or integrate with third-party tools, extensions provide a simple, easy-to-deploy solution to unlock additional value with just a bit of custom code.

In this post, we’ll explore what extensions are, why they matter, and how they reveal new automation and integration possibilities for IP Fabric users.

What Are Extensions?

Instead of relying on external scripts or manual processes, extensions allow you to run custom applications directly inside the IP Fabric UI for seamless automation.

It’s never been easier to expand the capabilities of IP Fabric. You can start by:

• Automating compliance checks.
• Integrating with IT Service Management (ITSM) tools like ServiceNow.
• Running specialized analytics or reporting.

At their core, extensions are Docker-based applications that serve as deployment mechanisms for custom code. Each extension runs inside a container, exposes port 80, and is made accessible as a web-based solution through a dedicated URL provided by IP Fabric.

How Can You Use Extensions in IP Fabric 7.0?

Once deployed, extensions empower you to:

• Create custom workflows to automate tasks and streamline operations.
• Enhance integrations with third-party tools and services.
• Generate highly customized reports that go beyond IP Fabric’s built-in reporting capabilities.

Example

Lets take a look at an example using this sample repository, which allows you to combine data from IP Fabric or other sources to generate easy-to-consume reports.

Before installing this extension, ensure you have:

1. IP Fabric version 7.0 or later.
2. The extensions feature flag enabled in your IP Fabric instance.
3. A username/password or API token to access IP Fabric.
   • Follow the IP Fabric Software Development Kit guide to ensure this configured correctly
4. Basic knowledge of CLI and Git.

First, let’s clone the GitLab repo to a local folder:

git clone [email protected]:ip-fabric/integrations/scripts/ipfabric-reports.git

Or use https:

git clone https://gitlab.com/ip-fabric/integrations/scripts/ipfabric-reports.git

There are two options for installing the report generator. The first option is simpler, but the second is preferred.

Option 1: Via setup.py

Ensure you’re in the directory you cloned the repo into before you install the required dependencies:

pip install -Ur requirements.txt

Then we can install the python package itself:

python setup.py install

Option 2: Via Poetry

Assuming you have Poetry installed, navigate to the directory you cloned the repo into. Then install the required dependencies:

poetry install

There is an automatic installer built in to the repo. To install via this automatic installer, run the following command:

ipfabric-reports -i

Installing the report generator as an IP Fabric extension…
Installing extension
Extension installed
Extension is available in IP Fabric @ https://your.ipf.net/extensions-apps/ipfabric-reports

Alternatively, if you installed via Poetry, run:

poetry run ipfabric-reports -i

Installing the report generator as an IP Fabric extension…
Installing extension
Extension installed
Extension is available in IP Fabric @ https://your.ipf.net/extensions-apps/ipfabric-reports

Once installed, navigate to the IP Fabric UI and open the extension using the generated URL.

You should see a Streamlit-based interface like this:

This example covered:

• How easy it is to deploy an extension using a pre-built repository.
• How IP Fabric extensions can integrate with reporting tools like Streamlit.
• How extensions provide a seamless experience inside the IP Fabric UI.

But what if you want to build your own extension? Stay tuned for our next “Extensions 101” post, where we’ll show you how to create a simple extension from scratch using Docker and Python.