Drawing the Network Topology

Drawing a network topology is a process familiar to most system administrators of more or less large companies. In this article we will try to give a detailed answer to the question why it is so important for a sysadmin to know the scheme of a local enterprise network and always have it in front of his eyes, and also consider the entire process of drawing its topology with the help of specialized software.

First of all, it must be said that the composition of its equipment and software depends on the network scheme , which in turn is subject to the needs and requirements of the company. Thus, a properly constructed network topology increases the efficiency of the entire enterprise as a whole, and also allows not to stop the workflow even if one of its components fails. In addition, knowledge of topology allows you to assess its weaknesses, carefully plan future connections of network equipment and PCs. Among other things, it is very important for the system administrator to respond to any network problems as quickly as possible. If it is large, it consists of dozens or hundreds of computers, servers, printers, switches and other network equipment, then it is not always possible to quickly navigate and understand what the problem is, where to go first of all for troubleshooting. If there is a network map on the map, you can always see where the faulty device is located, on which floor, in which office or premises, etc.

But if you are a beginner or have been sent by an outsourcing company to solve specific problems or troubleshoot problems, it may take several hours to recognize and draw the network topology, and if the network is highly branched and extensive, then more than one day. Are there any tools that allow you to draw a network topology with minimal time, effort and money? On the software market , the network topology programs are provided for automatically building a network layout , provided that there are managed switches and switches in it. At the same time, the process of drawing a network topology involves only a few steps:

1. Install the drawing program of the network diagram on the computer of the system administrator or the IT manager.
2. Scanning the entire network to find all the network equipment it contains. At the end of this process, the network topology drawing program itself finds connections between network devices, if it has managed switches and switches that support the SNMP service.
3. If the connections between the network devices are not drawn for some reason (for example, the security policy prohibits the use of the SNMP service), the scheme can be manually drawn (draw links, place the equipment "on the cabinets") using the built-in network diagram editor.

As a result of this work, you will have on your hands a network map , which will display all the network devices that are part of this network, and the connections between them.

That's so all in three stages you can lay one of the bricks in the foundation of the stability of your system, employees and the whole enterprise. The network topology drawing program can greatly facilitate the life of the system administrator in many aspects of his work: maintaining technical documentation, analyzing the network structure, developing an implementation plan, and so on.