Your IT team is struggling to create network diagrams. What tools can help them out?

1 What are network mapping tools?

Network mapping tools are software applications that can automatically discover, scan, and map your network devices and connections. They can also monitor and update your network diagrams in real-time, and provide you with useful information and alerts about your network's performance, health, and security. Network mapping tools can save you time and resources by eliminating the need for manual data entry and diagramming, and by providing you with accurate and consistent network documentation.

2 How do network mapping tools work?

Network mapping tools can utilize various methods and protocols to discover and scan your network devices and connections, such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and Secure Shell (SSH). SNMP can query and retrieve data from network devices, while ICMP can ping and test the connectivity and availability of network devices. WMI can be used to gather information about Windows computers, while SSH can execute commands and collect data from Linux servers. These methods provide a comprehensive way to map out your network.

3 What are the benefits of network mapping tools?

Network mapping tools can provide many advantages, such as improved visibility into your network's topology, structure, hierarchy, and dependencies. This can help you identify any issues or anomalies that might affect performance or security. You can also create and maintain accurate, up-to-date network diagrams that meet industry standards and best practices. Furthermore, you can export and share your network diagrams in various formats and integrate them with other tools and platforms. Additionally, network mapping tools can automate and streamline your network management tasks, such as inventory, configuration, troubleshooting, monitoring, alerting, etc. You can also customize your network diagrams to suit your needs by adding annotations, labels, icons, colors, filters, etc.

4 What are the features of network mapping tools?

Network mapping tools can vary in their features and functionalities, depending on their vendor, price, and target audience. However, some features that you should look for in a network mapping tool include automatic network discovery and scanning that can handle multiple network segments, subnets, domains, and protocols. It should also provide real-time network monitoring and updating with alerts for any issues or problems that might affect your network's performance or security. Additionally, the tool should offer interactive and customizable network diagrams with annotations, labels, icons, colors, filters and more. Finally, the tool should provide network analysis and reporting capabilities to help you understand and optimize your network's performance, health, and security. Generating and exporting reports in various formats such as PDF, PNG, Visio is also necessary.

5 How to choose a network mapping tool?

When selecting the best network mapping tool for your IT team, you should consider your network size, complexity, and diversity, as well as its scalability and flexibility. Additionally, you should evaluate the network mapping tool's ability to meet your goals and requirements, and its user-friendliness. It is also important to consider your budget and resources, and the pricing model of the network mapping tool. Taking all these factors into account will help you choose a network mapping tool that offers the best value for your money.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?