Technical Documentation

Well, you can use certain software to do an inventory of network devices assuming SNMP is enabled. Might want to look into Visio 2000, I know it has a discovery mode that can detect and then map your network. Also, more expensive options like HP Open-View are available.

That's all I can offer!

Good luck,
Kurt G.

MacAfee ZAC = MacAfee Zero Administration Client.
I have implemented ZAC in an enormous network consisting of ~26,000 nodes distributed among 92 facilities with ~240 NT servers; each of the 92 sites had their own backup domain controller.
There isa slight learning curve to ZAC but it can record everything about servers, clients, printers, you name it. Right down to the serial number on the motherboards!
You can set up a main ZAC distribution server and replicate it out to your BDC's, then the BDC's will do then inventory work upon user login or at a specified time. The BDC's will then push all of the info. collected back to the primary ZAC server.
You can make the ZAC servers collect inventory on a time interval, or on user logon, based on MAC address, IP address; it's very powerful.

Kevin Shannon
kshannon@tandata.com

Techrepublic offers downloads. One of them is an inventory typ of form to list all hardware & software of a workstation/device. This could be compiled manually and added to a datbase or spreadsheet. Then as new equipment is brought in it should be added before installed. This type of control is labor intensive to setup, but in the long run is very easy to maintain. Advantage is a hard copy. The forms even have rows/columns for replacement parts , and serial numbers.

My organization has begun the task of implementing a product called netViz. This product has the ability to discover items on the network like Visio, but it also allows you to modify the behavior of an object when you click, double-click, or right-click the object. netViz promotes itself as a visual database for network/telecom documenting. From my limited use of the product over the last 3 months, it delivers on its goals and then some.

We've been using NetCensus by Tally Systems for hardware and software inventory. You might want to check out their website: www.tallysys.com

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