- What Is Network Diagram
- Mac App Network Diagram Software
- Network Diagram Software Mac
- Network Diagram Definition
Networks are rapidly becoming larger and more complex, with numerous different technologies playing into their growth and expansion. Network mapping is increasingly important for administrators and managers tasked with handling these growing networks. While the process of local area network (LAN) mapping can be performed manually, this manual work becomes risky as there is a higher chance something will be missed when it involves highly complex networks.
A network diagram tool has the potential to keep up with these changes and ensure that you always have an accurate depiction of your network on hand for reference. Drawing up network diagrams manually simply takes too long to keep up with the changes occurring on most networks (particularly enterprise grade networks!). Blueroom macrumors 603. Also, you can exchange your network diagrams back and forth with Visio, as long as you save in the Visio XML format.
With the significant amount of network mapping software on the market these days, I decided to review the tools available in 2020 network pros need to check out to help reduce their workloads and improve accuracy. I go over why SolarWinds® Network Topology Mapper (NTM) is a top choice for those looking for high-quality mapping software. Spoiler alert: this tool automatically discovers your network topology and creates several different types of informative visualizations, so you can easily see and navigate through your network. And if you’re looking for a more comprehensive monitoring solution, I explain why SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is good all-in-one option for those looking for tool with not only network mapping but other essential performance measuring tools.
But First: What Is Network Mapping?
Network mapping is the process of visually and logically mapping the network to understand the connections between the server and different nodes. Network performance software and tools usually include some network mapping features, so the network can be optimized.
Network maps are useful resources when admins conduct performance monitoring processes to check each part of the network. Maps can help show where performance bottlenecks exist and where there are opportunities to improve, so service quality is better for end users. Network performance monitoring outputs able to be visualized in network maps include metrics like the latency between the server and clients, bandwidth, throughput, and errors or failures that might arise.
Best Network Mapping Tools
I believe using network mapping software is a vital step in managing your network efficiently and professionally in any business setting. There are several different tools you could use, including some free network mapping software, but I’m recommending a couple of products due to their extensive feature list and easy-to-use nature.
Network Topology Mapper
SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper (NTM) is a dedicated network mapping tool. It automatically discovers and maps out your network topology and shows you the structure of your network in easy-to-view diagrams.
From a single network scan, NTM can build multiple different maps so you can compare and choose the map that best suits your needs. It also integrates well with other software, allowing you to export to Microsoft Office Visio, PDF, and PNG formats. You can try NTM free for 14 days.
Network Performance Monitor
For more comprehensive network map tools (plus additional features), I recommend SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM). NPM includes packet-level network topology insights (including cloud and VMware environments) and also offers great Wi-Fi heat mapping tools.
With the NetPath function, you can gain insight not just into your own network but into data pathways all the way to destination services. https://fgzgpie.weebly.com/mac-theft-protection-app.html. You can see hop-by-hop packet paths and instantly know where issues are occurring. You also get features such as the PerfStack™ dashboard, which allows you to compare the performance of different metrics side-by-side.
NPM also includes troubleshooting features and alerts, and is designed to be an easily scalable and reliable centralized network management tool. This is my pick if you want a truly comprehensive tool for provisioning and maintaining your network topology. You can get more information about the features in this network mapping tool here.
PRTG Network Monitor
PRTG Network Monitor is another comprehensive software offering network monitoring for the entire network, including network traffic, application performance, cloud services, and database capacity, as well as network uptime, security, and hardware longevity. You can use it for network topology mapping, as it allows you to create maps using the PRTG map designer. This is a manual process, but once you’ve created the maps, you can use them to view network information in real time for your devices, connections, and status updates. I’d say this software is on the pricier end for what it offers.
Intermapper
Another great option for network mapping software is the Intermapper tool by HelpSystems. The Intermapper tool has both network mapping and network performance monitoring features, and has cross-vendor support for Cisco, Apple, Dell, and others. With an intuitive and clear display, it provides a fully customizable network map, allowing you to see real-time network health with color-coded animations. You can choose either device-based pricing or a flat fee for unlimited devices.
Visio
Visio is the Microsoft diagramming and vector application for creating maps and charts (including network maps). Visio is not technically a network mapping tool, but it can be used by network administrators for this purpose. However, the network diagram needs to be created manually using the “Detailed Network Diagram” template. Generally, automatic network mapping tools may be more suitable for troubleshooting and security purposes. Visio can be an inexpensive option for an enterprise unwilling to invest in automated and comprehensive network mapping software. Code app on mac.
Getting Started with Network Mapping
As you can tell, there’s a lot of network mapping software out there, from simple mapping and flow-chart programs to comprehensive network performance tools. When compared to some of the best free mapping software, paid products might seem expensive at first glance. However, paid network mapping and performance monitoring tools are much more comprehensive, reliable, and complete when it comes to usefully mapping your network.
I highly recommend SolarWinds NPM or Network Topology Mapper for professional network administrators looking for tools to help them manage their environments.
Recommended Reading:
Ultimate Guide to Network Monitoring: If you’re looking at mapping your network and using software to do so, make sure you look at this comprehensive guide on network monitoring. Understanding your network and how it all functions is essential for the mapping processes to be useful.
A network is an organization’s critical resource as it plays an important role in enhancing productivity and profitability for the organization.
As an IT administrator, your job is to keep the organization’s network up and running at all times and secure it in the best way possible.
But it is not easy, especially if you have to maintain a large network with thousands of devices connected to it and this is why you need good network diagnostic tools and software.
One such important tool is a network diagram. As the name suggests, this diagram is a blueprint of the network and gives you a complete picture of how the network is built, how many devices connect to it.
The different interconnections that exist between different networks, IP addresses, configuration parameters, and so much more.
Such detailed information will make it easy for you to identify problems and troubleshoot them at the earliest.
Network Topology & Diagrams
There are many tools available to create and update network diagrams, so can stay on top of your network’s availability and functioning at all times, as well as knowing where each individual network device is physically located in your building/s.
Key to let unauthorized apps to open mac. Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of tools – ones that create the a network topology or diagrams for you and the other that gives you a digital canvas so you can create your own network diagram.
You can choose either of the two kinds of tools, depending on your requirements.
Some IT administrators prefer an automated tool as it takes a lot of work off their hands while others prefer to draw the diagram by themselves, so they can better understand its connections and functioning.
The first three tools mentioned below are automated ones while the next three provide a digital canvas and many convenient features to make it easy for you to create your own network diagram.
Here’s the Best Network Topology Maps & Diagram Software:
Let’s take a detailed look at each of these tools, along with some screenshots and where to download them.
1. SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper
SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper is a tool that automatically discovers new devices and connections in your network and maps the same to give you a comprehensive view of your network.
Features
The salient features of this tool are:
- Automatically discovers new connections in your network and adds them to the network diagram. Performs multi-level network discovery as well.
- Supports many delivery methods including SNMP v1 to v3, ICMP, WMI, Hyper-V, VMware, and more.
- Exports network maps to Microsoft Visio, PDF, and PNG formats. You can also schedule exports to Orion Network Atlas.
- Provides comprehensive reports on switch ports, VLANs, and subnets
- Helps with the regulatory compliance requirements of many standards such as PCI, FIPS 140-2, and more.
- Gives the flexibility to resize and move icons and the text around them.
- Does a thorough network inventory management of all hardware assets.
- Saves times, increases productivity and provides reliable data.
Pricing
SolarWinds Network Topology Manager is priced at $1,495.
Download
Click here to download a 14-day free trial.
2. NetProbe
NetProbe is a graphical network monitor or tracking tool that offers more than just network mapping. In fact, it is an intelligent tool that can monitor any devices attached to a network in real-time.
Features
The features of NetProbe are:
- Monitors connected devices in real-time
- Comes with a rich graphical interface that’s available through a web browser as well as a dedicated application.
- Alarms, trackers, and graphs can be integrated into the graphical layout.
- Detects and maps network layouts through wizards. Alarms and graphs can be added through the wizards too.
- Data for the diagram can be acquired in many ways such as SNMP, performance monitor, and scripts.
- You can set actions that will be performed automatically by the system when an alarm goes off. These actions can include sending an email, restarting a service, and more.
- An alert icon sits on your desktop and informs you of the status of items that are being monitored.
- Many network tools such as traceroute, ping, and network scanner are included.
Pricing
There are four versions in NetProbe.
- The Standard version supports only eight hosts and is free.
- The Pro version supports 20 hosts and costs $40
- The Deluxe version supports 45 hosts and costs $80
- The Enterprise version supports 400 hosts and costs $295
Download
You can download the free version here.
3. InterMapper
InterMapper is a cross-platform networking mapping tool developed by a company called HelpSystems. It doubles up as a monitoring tool as well.
Features
The features of Intermapper are:
- Discovers and maps all the devices and their connections of your physical and virtual networks.
- You can customize the maps to meet your preferences and this includes changing the layout, customizing the icons, and more.
- Comes with color coding and animation to show the real-time status of different devices.
- You can see your entire environment in real-time
- Easy to install, deploy, and use.
- Works well on Windows, Linux, and Mac systems.
Pricing
Contact the sales team for a custom quote.
Download
Click here to download your free 30-day trial.
4. Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio is a diagram and graphics application that helps to create professional flowcharts, network diagrams, and business processes. It comes with a Detailed Network Diagram template to create a visual representation of how a device is connected logically and physically to a network.
Features
The top features of Microsoft Visio are:
- Comes with many pre-loaded templates, themes, and thousands of shapes that make it easy to draw your network diagram. You can even use different colors, icons, and text to present complex network connections.
- The existing shapes meet the industry standards such as Unified Modeling Language 2.4, Business Process Model and Notation 2.0, and IEEE compliance.
- You can connect data to the diagram to give you a quick glimpse into your network’s performance at any time. You can even transfer data from your Excel files with just a single click.
- Makes it easy to share your diagram with other stakeholders within the organization through Visio services in Office 365 or SharePoint.
- Allows you to secure your diagrams with data loss protection, Information Rights Management (IRM), and multi-factor authentication.
- Comes with intelligent rules, validation, and a complete breakdown of the diagram for easy understanding.
- Supports many different file formats.
Pricing
Microsoft Visio comes in two plans. The first plan is a basic one that’s ideal for users who want to create and share simple diagrams. Costs $5 a month (with an annual commitment) and comes with 2GB of OneDrive storage. The second plan is an advanced one ideal for businesses that want to create a network and other IT diagrams that can be connected to data in real-time and meets the compliance requirement of different standards. This plan costs $15 a month with an annual commitment.
Download
Click here to try the basic plan and here for the advanced plan.
5. Dia
Dia is a free and open-source diagram software that resembles the Visio in many ways. But its feature set is highly limited when compared to Visio.
What Is Network Diagram
Features
The features of Dia are:
- Comes with networking equipment templates to make it easy for you to draw your network diagrams.
- It can be saved in a custom XML format or can be exported to different formats such as SVG, PNG, and more.
- Runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, and Unix.
Pricing
100% FREE to use
Download
Click here to download Dia.
6. LucidChart
LucidChart is a web-based platform that allows users to draw, share, and collaborate charts and diagrams.
It allows you to create many types of charts and diagrams such as flowcharts, UML, process maps, network diagrams, and organizational charts.
Features
The features of LucidChart are:
- Runs on browsers that support HTML5 and doesn’t require third-party software like Flash.
- You can connect live data to your diagrams. Alternately, you can import data to automatically build network diagrams.
- Integrates well with G Suite, Microsoft Office, Atlassian, and more.
- Gives the option to edit any pre-existing templates or diagrams and customize it to suit your needs.
- Supports collaboration and sharing in real-time.
- All data is encrypted and is backed up automatically
- Has thousands of shapes and templates to choose from.
Pricing
It comes in two versions – Free and Pro. The Free version is for a single user and costs nothing while the Pro version comes with many advanced features such as Visio import and export and any number of shapes and documents. It costs $9.95 a month when paid quarterly and $11.95 when paid monthly.
Download
You can download the free version here and a trial version of the Pro option here.
Mac App Network Diagram Software
Conclusion
Network Diagram Software Mac
To conclude, network diagram tools are necessary to give you an idea of your network’s layout and the devices that are connected to it.
While some tools automatically check your network and create a map for you, others give you a digital canvas on which you can draw your network diagram for better understanding and readability.
Network Diagram Definition
We hope the above-mentioned detailed information about the tools that belong to both categories help you to make informed decisions.