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Network MAPPING - 1

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by public

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Hey folks.

Just wanted to hear from a few people on how they keep track of their network/computers/printers/server information etc.

First let me tell you all how we do it.

Right now, all we have is a very large excel file. The file contains

1) Computer (what kind of computer it is & computer name)

2) Where it is (accounting, maketing)

3) Who is using it (user name etc)

4) What is installed on it (to track client licences), & asset tags.

Obviously it isnt a perfect wayof doing this, but it does a good job helping us track user licences (we have win2k pro on all computers and users are restricted from installing software so our list is valid, up to the point that it is kept up to date that is).

Right now I am working on a project of mapping the corporate offices with VISIO 2002 and actually placing where each computer really is, where each printer/copier really is and stating also important info for each computer (computer name, user, etc) and other kinds of objects (printer IP addresses, fax #'s, cubicle ID #'s), switch consolidation points, etc.

I would really really of liked to "link" the visio "objects" to the exact "cell" within the excel document that gives more info on the computer. HoweverI have only found out how to create an "excel" object that links to the excel file's cell. Not the best way, but It works ok.

CONTINUED on next discussion!!! RAN OUT OF ROOM

-Ginel Lipan
public@lipan.org

2 replies

by public

2ND PART -

In Visio I have sevaral pages (i did my best to keep things "layered" from big to small)

1) WAN setup (with router info, fireall info, etc etc. everything we need to know when working on the wan).

2) LAN Setup, consolidation & switch connection overview.

3) Coax setup (our as/400 setup and client information)

4) Map of the corporation. I actually used the old Autocad blueprints for the cubicle setups. I have like a perfect map of the entire buildings. Here i will map out laptops, computers, consolidation points, printers, copiers, etc etc etc. This is the big job. Its great because not only does it give detailed overview of our lan, new MIS employees have a nice map in front of them.

5) Remote location setup. Same thing. Map out the mini lan for each remote location (we have like 6), compueters, hubs, router info for the DSL lines, peer to peer login info, phone setup, etc etc etc.

Visio and excel seem to work pretty well, but i was wondering if anyone is doing it differently.

Any ideas? Any semi-easy software (i know software like HP openview has their own certifications for crying out loud!!). (and software like 3com's lan mapping software is to simple to help us)

thanks!!

-Ginel Lipan

by chrisabr

I am a student admin at my school, and am also working on a full Visio2k Pro map of our network. I love it, but I know there are quicker ways out there. I am also 3/4 complete with my CCNA, and once my instructor showed us a program from Fluke Networks called Network InterOp I think. It did a beautiful logical map based on ping times, as well as several other metrics. I only saw it once, but it looked really cool. I don't know if it would be anything you would need, but that is one way I have seen it done. Would you happen to know if there are any plugins that would automatically create a logical map of a network for Visio2k Pro?

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