composed_of

class NetworkResource < ActiveRecord::Base
composed_of :cidr,
:class_name => 'NetAddr::CIDR',
:mapping => [ %w(network_address network), %w(cidr_range bits) ],
:allow_nil => true,
:constructor => Proc.new { |network_address, cidr_range| NetAddr::CIDR.create("#{network_address}/#{cidr_range}") },
:converter => Proc.new { |value| NetAddr::CIDR.create(value.is_a?(Array) ? value.join('/') : value) }
end

# This calls the :constructor
network_resource = NetworkResource.new(:network_address => '192.168.0.1', :cidr_range => 24)

# These assignments will both use the :converter
network_resource.cidr = [ '192.168.2.1', 8 ]
network_resource.cidr = '192.168.0.1/24'

# This assignment won't use the :converter as the value is already an instance of the value class
network_resource.cidr = NetAddr::CIDR.create('192.168.2.1/8')

# Saving and then reloading will use the :constructor on reload
network_resource.save
network_resource.reload