topic Re: Network documentation in Switches, Hubs, and Modems

Network documentation

Jarno Lepistö — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 06:59:28 GMT

Hey.

I'm working my degree thesis in Tampere polytechnic, and i need some written (or internet article) refrence to it. I need information the ways how documents are made and why. Some information why topologies are drawn like they are and so on.. :). Work is allmost done and this is only thing i need to add then its ready, so help me to graduate.

Re: Network documentation

Ron Kinner — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 22:05:37 GMT

I think most IT people use the Visio program to make network drawings and as-built drawings. You can get ready made stencils of most network equipment. For example Cisco provides a set of stencils for all of their equipment.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/about/ac123/ac114/ac173/ac225/about_cisco_packet_department0900aecd800c9146.html#2

Why do we use it? We have to sell the idea to upper management and they like pretty pictures and Visio makes pretty pictures fairly easily.

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/introint.htm

If you can find one of the CCNA or CCDA tutorials I think they have a chapter on what the different symbols mean.

Ron

Re: Network documentation

Jeff Carver — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 09:07:28 GMT

A source for many Visio stencils, including
HP, is at http://www.visiocafe.com/

With the many connections to depict in a
network, the objective is to arrange the
various items in a way that makes the whole
configuration understandable, reduce the
clutter and convey the various interconnections.

There aren't really any rules, just
conventions that people tend to use.

If you look at topology drawings, and find
one that works, you tend to copy the
portions that work for your own drawings.

Jeff

Re: Network documentation

Jarno Lepistö — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 01:08:30 GMT

Thanks for you help. I'm not using Visio but i have done the document using Word, Exel and Powerpoint. And i found nessessary book refrenses and my work is ready now.

Maybe now i start to study Visio a bit and look possibilities what Visio provides.. I used cisco icons in my document.

Re: Network documentation

Sergej Gurenko — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 03:41:53 GMT

My favorite network draving software is PaceStar LanFlow. This one is realy ease to start easy to draw. I like the logical shemes, not detail full of unneded colors exact-box shemes. And this tool is right for this.
Unique feature is Labels. You can connect three labels to one line - to the each end ald to the center.

http://www.pacestar.com/lanflow/lfdesc.htm
You can find eval there also (4 Mb only!).
It is possible to import custom icons (but not ready visio stencils)