A network map is a visual representation of devices in the network, their interconnections, and the transport layers that provide network services. Not only should it include switches, routers, firewalls, virtual LANs (VLANs), and access points, but it should also include hosts on the network.
Network maps are one of the most fundamental tools in a network admin's toolkit. The network's physical architecture and associated data provide a lot of information that would be impossible to access through other means. These maps are used to locate network bottlenecks.
These network maps are often created by network admins using tools like Visio. The challenge in manually creating network maps is that due to the dynamic nature of modern networks, with network devices frequently entering and leaving the network, maps soon become out of date.
Networks are becoming more distributed as well. On top of this, devices on the same network are frequently split into various VLANs to enable data flow separation or security. This emphasizes the importance of an automated network map in comprehending all of the devices and their connections on a network.
SNMP-based approaches, active probing, and route analytics are the three basic approaches for creating an automated network map.
Before knowing more about the product, here is a detailed guide to getting started with network diagrams.
ManageEngine OpManager is designed to help you map all the devices in your network, so you don’t have to spend hours manually planning and creating and updating your network diagrams. OpManager's network diagram software generates a real time network map automatically, reflecting the changes you make to it in real time through a periodic Layer 2 network discovery.
With OpManager's network mapping software, you can:
OpManager helps in the graphical representation of your company's network architecture for easy visibility. You can represent your network in a variety of ways using OpManager's automated network mapping software, such as:
Using OpManager, when a Layer 2 discovery is completed, you can map Layer 2 devices automatically. As a result, you won't have to bother creating or editing a Layer 2 Map every time a Layer 2 device is discovered or added.
This is one of the visualization formats available in OpManager's network mapping tool and with this diagram tool, you can graphically arrange your network's devices depending on the business goals they serve. You can also see the status of a live link between two network devices.
Maps are a format that can be used to describe the geographical position of your servers and other essential devices. OpManager's network maps offer a clear picture of your network's geographical spread by embedding essential network equipment into real-world locales using Google or Zoho Maps. OpManager also allows you to import and export devices along with their coordinates. If the CSV file contains the device name, IP address, latitude, and longitude, OpManager will plot the devices automatically.
It can be difficult at times to consolidate all of the important devices you monitor into a single screen. To avoid crowded maps, divide them into dependent network maps and build a parent view that contains all of the dependent network maps as a shortcut.
If a device in a dependent view is in critical status, it is immediately propagated to the parent view's shortcut icon, similar to device status. The network maps in OpManager give a hierarchical view of device groups by department, depending on the service they deliver.
Download a free, 30-day trial or schedule a demo to learn more about how OpManager's network mapping tool helps you view your network.
More than 1,000,000 IT admins trust ManageEngine ITOM solutions to monitor their IT infrastructure securely
