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Tidal LightMesh FAQs

Real Questions. Clear Answers.

Practical answers to how LightMesh works across deployment, automation, integrations, security, licensing, and everyday real-world use.

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Tidal LightMesh FAQs

Table of Contents

Who Uses LightMesh?

LightMesh is used by small teams moving off spreadsheets, organizations replacing legacy IPAM tools, and enterprises managing complex, distributed networks. Common users include network engineers, cloud teams, DevOps, telcos, ISPs, and regulated organizations operating across cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments.

Why Use LightMesh?

Teams use LightMesh to:

  • Centralize IP address management with a single source of truth for IPv4 and IPv6 across cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments.
  • Eliminate spreadsheet-driven IP tracking and reduce errors with structured data, conflict detection, and capacity awareness.
  • Plan and visualize subnet architecture using purpose-built tools for address space design and long-term growth.
  • Automate IP workflows via an API-first architecture that integrates with CI/CD pipelines, Terraform, and infrastructure tooling.
  • Detect conflicts and utilization risks early through automated discovery, monitoring, and alerting.
  • Scale without operational complexity, supporting everything from small teams to large, distributed enterprise networks.

Importing & Integration

Can LightMesh import existing network data from spreadsheets?

Yes, Subnets and address allocations can be imported from spreadsheets in .csv, .xls, and .xlsx formats, making it easy to migrate from spreadsheets or legacy IPAM tools. Learn more here.

Does LightMesh support discovery of hosts across existing networks?

Yes, additional IP discovery is supported using NMAP network scans integrated with LightMesh, allowing teams to discover active hosts and IP usage.

How does LightMesh integrate with existing DNS servers?

LightMesh isn’t a DNS or DHCP server but allows importing DNS records for IP address visibility. Most users focus on the IP address-centric view to see associated DNS entries, enriching security logs, audits, and IP planning.

How do customers bring in DNS and DHCP data from existing systems?

Customers typically use scripts to pull DNS/DHCP data from domain controllers or appliances and push it into LightMesh via the API or CLI tools.

How does LightMesh retrieve Azure network information?

LightMesh integrates through an Azure Service Principal (SPN) to read virtual network and subnet configurations via the Azure control plane.

How does LightMesh retrieve AWS network information?

LightMesh uses CloudFormation template to assume a read-only role on AWS accounts that you want to include.

Can LightMesh provision subnets in Azure or AWS?

No, LightMesh focuses on visibility and management, but does not handle subnet provisioning. That is managed within Azure or AWS.

Deployment Options

Does LightMesh offer a On-Premises (self-hosted) version?

Yes. On-premises deployments are available to our Enterprise customers. LightMesh can be deployed on-premises or in private cloud environments.

What deployment options are available for LightMesh?

LightMesh is available as:

  • SaaS at next.lightmesh.com.
  • Self-hosted deployments in your own cloud tenant or on-premises.
  • Self-hosted, On-premises via container-based deployments (Docker) with example scripts for fresh Ubuntu hosts.

Do customers deploy LightMesh in Kubernetes environments?

Most self-hosted customers use the provided docker-compose.yml deployment setup, often on dedicated VMs. However, the architecture fully supports Kubernetes for those capable of managing their own clusters.

How scalable is the on-premises deployment?

On-Premises deployements are highly scalable. The service layer is lightweight and stateless, while PostgreSQL supports scale-out and high availability (HA). Large environments, millions of IPs, thousands of locations, and hundreds of users, run efficiently with modest compute resources.

How is the Enterprise version licensed?

LightMesh Enterprise is licensed annually, with discounts for multi-year agreements. Licensing is based on:

  • Number of IPs in use
  • Number of users (including read-only)

API & Automation

How do customers use the API?

Customers primarily use the API for automation — for example, allocating subnets during CI/CD workflows. DevOps teams integrate with tools like Terraform and Ansible, while security teams enrich SIEM data by querying LightMesh for IP context. See LightMesh GraphQL API Documentation.

What role does the API play in automation?

The API enables teams to automate IP allocations, integrate with Terraform and GitHub, and eliminate manual steps during provisioning.

Does LightMesh integrate with ServiceNow?

There is no native ServiceNow integration today. However, customers frequently use the API to connect LightMesh with ServiceNow workflows.

Can LightMesh be used in a cloud vending machine-style automation workflows?

Yes. Teams have used the API to integrate with cloud provisioning processes via service accounts and key management.

Features & Capabilities

What customization options are available within LightMesh?

LightMesh supports custom schema fields, allowing teams to track custom attributes such as device models, ownership, or site-specific metadata.

Can schemas for subnets or IP assignments be customized?

Absolutely, especially at the IP assignment level, where flexible custom attributes are commonly used.

Is LightMesh used in large, distributed environments?

Yes. LightMesh excels at tracking overlapping and unique subnets across zones, supporting complex enterprise and telco environments.

How do customers manage IP allocations across multiple sites and VRFs or routing zones?

LightMesh provides visibility into sites and zones, ensuring unique address spaces within zones while supporting intentional overlapping subnets across different locations.

Can LightMesh reserve a continuous block of IPs?

Yes, by specifying a range like 10.100.0.0-20 when reserving IPs. Learn more about Reserving IP Addresses.

Can overlapping address spaces be handled?

Yes. LightMesh detects and flags conflicts, allowing users to accept, reject, or ignore them based on policy.

Security & Compliance

Does LightMesh support Single Sign-On (SSO)?

Yes. LightMesh supports SSO authentication through your existing identity provider.

How does LightMesh handle user permissions and access control?

The Enterprise edition offers role-based access control (RBAC), allowing administrators to assign different levels of access to various users and groups, ensuring security and compliance. See full feature list here.

Is LightMesh suitable for regulated or high-compliance environments?

Yes. LightMesh is used across regulated industries and government environments. SaaS or self-hosted options help meet specific compliance and security controls.

How does Tidal ensure ongoing security?

Tidal uses continuous monitoring, automated security checks, third-party penetration testing, and maintain SOC 2 Type II compliance. Learn more.

Comparisons & Use Cases

What types of organizations benefit most from LightMesh?

Teams modernizing IPAM, reducing spreadsheet chaos, migrating from legacy platforms, or needing improved network visibility. This includes small teams, enterprises, government customers, and multi-site organizations that need accurate IP visibility with low operational overhead. See pricing here.

Can LightMesh help with network migrations?

Yes, LightMesh supports network and IPAM migrations by providing clear visibility and tracking throughout the process.

What makes LightMesh different from competitors?

LightMesh is built for modern teams — simple to adopt, powerful to automate, and ready to scale.

  • Cloud-native and SaaS-first — no heavy installs required
  • API-first (GraphQL) — automation is built-in, not bolted on
  • Fast to start — sign up and track IPs immediately
  • Self-hosted options — containers and VMs for secure environments
  • Scales effortlessly — from small teams to millions of IPs
  • Built for DevOps — integrates cleanly into CI/CD workflows

Many customers move from legacy IPAM because other tools treat APIs as an afterthought — slow, limited, and hard to integrate. LightMesh takes the opposite approach: automation and integration are at the core of the product.

How does LightMesh compare to Device42?

LightMesh focuses on IP address management, offering simpler setup and a more intuitive interface, while Device42 is primarily focused on dependency mapping and CMDB use cases.

How easy is it to migrate from Infoblox or SolarWinds?

Migrating is straightforward. Many teams are surprised by how quickly they can move off legacy IPAM tools and be fully operational in LightMesh, often within days.

Our team has guided many Infoblox and SolarWinds customers through the process, and we provide a clear 5-step migration guide to simplify each stage.

Licensing & Pricing

What does the licensing model look like for LightMesh?

Licensing is based on:

  • Number IPs in use
  • Number of users (including read-only) Discounts are available for multi-year plans. View plans here.

How long does the free trial last?

The LightMesh free trial lasts 14 days, with extensions available upon request.

Delivery & Execution

How do customers get started with LightMesh?

  • Self-service SaaS: sign up and starting using LightMesh immediately at here
  • Annual & multi-year subscriptions with discounts. For custom pricing submit a request here.
  • Self-hosted deployments for customers who need full control

How do you ensure quality and consistency?

Updates are deployed frequently, with automated testing, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and annual SOC 2 audits. As a cloud-native company, Tidal applies best practices for cloud security across our platforms and operations.

Customer Adoption & History

How long has LightMesh been around?

LightMesh launched in 2012 and was modernized in 2025 with an API-first architecture.

How many customers use LightMesh today?

Hundreds of organizations rely on LightMesh, from small teams moving off spreadsheets to large enterprises and government agencies managing complex hybrid and multi-cloud networks.

What is your core mission and vision?

Tidal’s mission is to support enterprises in transitioning to cloud-native organizations who are agile and efficient. Our vision is to provide the software required to plan and proactively modernize their applications and networks, in order to take advantage of new technologies as they present themselves.

What outcomes do your clients typically achieve from your services?

  • Clear IPAM and network visibility across cloud and on-prem
  • Faster troubleshooting with accurate, searchable IP context
  • Improved security with enriched incident and audit logs
  • Automated provisioning integrated into CI/CD workflows
  • Easier migrations off legacy IPAM tools and spreadsheets

For more details, explore the full LightMesh documentation and guides.

LightMesh is a modern IPAM platform designed for cloud, hybrid, and on-prem networks — delivering scalable simplicity.