Network mapping and drawing software
Network maps support IT systems managers to understand the hardware and software services on a network and how they are interconnected. Network maps and diagrams are a component of network documentation. They are required artifacts to better manage IT systems' uptime, performance, security risks, plan network changes and upgrades.
A number of software tools exist to generate computer network diagrams. Broadly, there are three types of tools that help create network maps and diagrams:
- Hybrid tools
- Network Monitoring tools
- Drawing tools
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Hybrid Tools
These tools have capabilities in common with drawing tools and network monitoring tools. They are more specialized than general drawing tools and provide network engineers and IT systems administrators a higher level of automation and the ability to develop more detailed network topologies and diagrams. Typical capabilities include but not limited to :
- Displaying port / interface information on connections between devices on the maps
- Visualizing VLANS / subnets
- Visualizing virtual servers and storage
- Visualizing flow of network traffic across devices and networks
- Displaying WAN and LAN maps by location
- Importing network configuration files to generate topologies automatically
Network Monitoring Tools
Some network monitoring tools generate visual maps by automatically scanning the network using network discovery protocols. The maps are ideally suited for viewing network monitoring status and issues visually. Typical capabilities include but not limited to:
- Automatically scanning the network using SNMP, WMI, etc
- Scanning Windows and unix servers
- Scanning virtual hosts
- Scanning routing protocols
- Scanning connection speeds
- Performing scheduled scans
- Tracking changes to the network
Drawing Tools
These tools help users to create network topology diagrams by adding icons to a canvas and using lines and connectors to draw linkages between nodes. This category of tools is similar to general drawing and paint tools. Typical capabilities include but not limited to:
- Libraries of icons for devices
- Ability to add shapes and annotations to maps
- Ability to create free-form diagrams
List of hybrid tools
Some notable tools (may not be an exhaustive list):
List of network monitoring tools that generate network maps
Some notable tools (may not be an exhaustive list):
List of drawing tools
Some notable tools (may not be an exhaustive list):
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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