Comments on: Network documentation/Diagram

By: thongtarget21

thongtarget21 — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:35:53 +0000

Thanks for all the info!

By: jefferyliao

jefferyliao — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:47:40 +0000

I have been using a great tool NetBrain to automatically create the map and other network documentations. NetBrain allows you to create a map instantly from a set of configuration files, map the application path between two end points, create the map for a network site or you can map around an IP address. It supports both Layer 3 map and Layer 2 map. Besides mapping, it provides many amazing features to support the automatic documentation and troubleshooting with a surprising low prize. I love this product and you should try it out. They have free personal edition for mapping, the Operation Edition we are using now are really powerful and I cannot manage my network without it.

http://www.netbraintech.com

By: painpoint

painpoint — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:51:26 +0000

Try OPNET’s NetMapper – has price options for both large and medium networks. This is the only solution I know that actually automates the collection and creation, has fantastic layer 2, 3 and routing views, and outputs in Visio for futher manipulation (although you will unlikely not need it). It is also designed to keep these diagrams up to date as the network changes.

By: mitrum

mitrum — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:36:22 +0000

I use spiceworks

By: yasirirfan

yasirirfan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:19:16 +0000

I am using Visio to document my network, use CDP neighbors if you network consists Cisco devices. SMART draw is good tool as well, before there was an application called LAN surveyor which used to draw the network layout automatically, recently solar winds acquired LAN Surveyor.

By: jaideepkhanduja

jaideepkhanduja — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:14:04 +0000

So many options are there, check with your network vendor to guide you.

By: servicemanagementspecialist

servicemanagementspecialist — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:56:32 +0000

All great answers

Many Service Management Tools (Software) allow the above mentioned components to be stored as Configuration Items within a CMDB (Configuration Management Database). You may wish to check out what is available as there are plenty of options around. The benefit of managing these components as CI’s in a CMDB is allows easier overall management including management of changes, and many CMDB’s allow you to store related network designs etc. Good Luck!

By: chippy088

chippy088 — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:44:27 +0000

I use angryip to search the lan networks for all the info, and export it to excel. Then visio is used to provide the visual network drawing, with the imported data from excel to complete the device template.

It just depends on what you are comfortable using, really. i have to agree, it is time consuming, but it becomes second nature after a while. If the documentation is electronically stored, some form of import and manipulation is possible, to ease the work load.

By: juanete

juanete — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:00:18 +0000

As many posters responded here, it depends on the complexity of the network. For simple networks (a few dozen servers) Visio will do. It soon becomes a nightmare once you need to automate the process a step further as Visio is inherently a manual drawing tool.

For years I have used netViz, a Computer Associated product, which has the ability to import information from databases and automates the process further. Unfortunately the product is not available for purchasing anymore. There is a new product from Graphical Networks called netTerrain that maps out the topology of the Network as well as the physical and Data Center Infrastructure Management.

By: spiceworks to visio

spiceworks to visio — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:20:05 +0000

[...] I have recently reviewed a product from/called spiceworks that may at least take the place …http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/itanswers/network-documentationdiagram/Daily IT Matters DIM: November 2006Spiceworks 2.0. How to restore a file in a DFSroot with [...]