Network schematic tools

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What are your network diagram needs? The diagram provides a visual representation of a network architecture. You can clearly see how things like peripherals, firewalls, servers, and mainframes will co-exist and work in harmony. Want to make a network diagram of your own? Try Lucidchart. It's quick, easy, and completely free. Just like networks, a network diagram can have a lot of elements depending on the complexity.

Start by listing all the components cloud, servers, clients, mainframes, peripherals, hubs, routers, etc. Next, draw lines between the elements to see how they will connect to each other. Before trying to create the diagram manually using a basic tool, look for a network diagram template that can provide a general starting point. The tool you use to create it should have images readily available to represent all the parts of your network.

As the diagram starts to materialize, start customizing it. Start by naming all the elements on the diagram and then change the font and size of text when naming peripherals versus backend components. Try using different colors for the lines that symbolize connections.

Adding these elements will provide more texture to the diagram. When the network diagram is complete, you should be able to save and print it. Diagramming is quick and easy with Lucidchart.

Start a free trial today to start creating and collaborating. ConceptDraw Diagram is a map-creating tool that has specialized templates and icons for network mapping. You can import and export maps in various formats, including Visio. The tool also integrates with a range of productivity software, including Microsoft Office and Google G Suite.

This tool can be bought individually or as part of a tool package, called ConceptDraw Office. That suite includes project management and planning utilities. The software can be installed on Windows or macOS.

Edraw is a general map, plan, and chart creation tool that includes some great formats for network topology mapping. The editor has libraries of network and IT equipment in different styles, including Basic , Detailed , and 3D. It also has libraries of icons that derive from Cisco , AWS , Azure , and Google Cloud Platform , so you can create network maps that look as though they came straight from a professional graphics artist.

Edraw has a stable of products with different specializations. For network mapping, you need to look at Edraw Max, which is available on a free trial. The software installs on Windows , macOS , and Linux. The package includes libraries of 2D and 3D icons to enable you to create your own network topology maps. You can also create your own icons or import them from other graphics tools. The editor employs a drag and drop methodology that allows you to select icons from a side panel and place them on the design board.

This is a paid product, but you can get it for evaluation on a day free trial. The software installs on Windows. Net-Probe is a little more than a network mapping tool — it is really a network monitoring system and it will discover your network for you.

The network maps of the system can be overlaid on real-world maps if you run a WAN. There is also a classic network diagram format included in the tool. The autodiscovery feature will compile a hardware inventory for you, so if you are organizing your network, you can ignore the generated topology plan and work from the hardware list. A live map will show device statuses on equipment icons and also list alerts in a separate window.

The software runs on Windows and the Standard version is available for free. This will monitor up to eight devices. The paid versions are the Pro, to monitor up to 20 devices, Deluxe, to monitor up to 45 devices, and Enterprise, which will monitor up to devices. Network Notepad is available both as free and paid versions.

The software runs on Windows and has a small footprint. You can expand the paid mapper, which is called Network Notepad Professional Edition, and make it into a network monitor by adding on NNMonitor , which is a Ping tool.

However, you will probably use this tool more as a network map designer. The editing screen gives you all of the icons that you need to clearly depict your network and the map is built using drag-and-drop.

If you use CDP to locate all of your devices, the attributes discovered by that process can be pulled into the descriptions of the network nodes in your map. The Freeware Edition is easy to download and you can get a day free trial of the Professional Edition and the Enterprise Edition. Graphical Networks produces a range of network management software, including netTerrain Logical. This is an automated network documentation system that will compile a hardware inventory and generate network topology maps by probing the network.

The netTerrain tool supports capacity planning and network reorganization. Extra features help you identify and shut down security weaknesses on your network. This topology tool is Visio-compatible, which gives you the opportunity to exchange data from netTerrain Logical to a range of other Visio-aligned tools.

The tool installs on Windows Server and higher. You can get a free demo of the system to try it out before you buy. D3M caters to a unique niche market — IT sales professionals. If you set up a product library with prices, the inventory will also copy to a bid with a total equipment cost calculated on it automatically.

Icons used in the map are provided by equipment manufacturers , so customers will be able to see exactly which make and model of device goes where. The concept of providing a service for workers in the field means that the tool was designed for collaboration and presentation.

Plans can be stored on the Cloud and mobile apps make design and retrieval possible from anywhere. The tool is pricey, but you can get your first project completed for free. There is no limit on the number of projects you can use the tool for after that first free trial. There are three charging bands for the system, which work on the number of users that you want to access the tool.

The service is charged on a subscription basis with a monthly fee. LANTopoLog is a free enthusiast-created network mapper.

However, the information displayed in the map gives you a very straightforward representation of all the network data that you need quickly. The tool includes a network discovery facility, which is based on SNMP. The resulting map, which is drawn automatically, shows each of the devices in your network and the devices that it connects to. The result of this schematic is a tree structure that gives the IP addresses, port numbers, and hostnames of each device and its connections. This is a rudimentary network monitoring system.

Its use as a network mapping tool lies in the list of discovered devices, which you could use as an inventory. This provides you with the current connections between your devices, which you could use as a guide when replanning your network in a graphics tool, such as Visio. This software runs on Windows environments. Creately is a neat chart-creating tool that has specialized templates and icons for network mapping.

However, you could use this designer in conjunction with a basic network explorer, such as LANTopoLog to get the best of both worlds. The package includes a large selection of templates , which each come with a set of icons. The layouts available include WAN views that feature city and cloud icons. This network diagramming software is designed to support customization, so you can draw your network diagram exactly as you see it in your head.

Creately is a detailed network diagrammer with in-system collaboration and chat functions, making it easy to illustrate and share your network diagrams. Features like smart connectors help your network diagram stay legible, while styling options and a full library of node shapes allow you to personalize your network diagrams. You can register here for their free version. Lucidchart network diagram software is a great program for creating flowcharts, process maps, and other kinds of network diagrams.

There are three professional options as well as a free, single-user option available for download. SmartDraw is a web-based network diagram tool designed to run anywhere with a stable internet connection. Their goal is to be as easy to use as possible, which results in limited customization options but very neat, professional-looking network diagrams.

You can sign up for a free online version. LanFlow offers simple network diagramming tools but powerful design capabilities, including libraries of 2D and 3D icons. Some other helpful features include an optional snap grid, full zoom-in capability, and figure labels that automatically move as you edit.

You can also choose from predefined templates or completely create your own and add hyperlinks and websites to your network diagram. LanFlow is a diagramming tool only—there are no autodiscovery features or alarm programming options. Gliffy is a browser-based application that features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for constructing floor plans and network diagrams.

It can be used to organize, plan, and troubleshoot home or professional networks, and populated with images of typical office items. There are a number of pre-diagramed networks available in case you needed ideas for designing your own. Pricing : Gliffy is free to try for 30 days. It cannot be stated enough—having a plan to connect your devices is a critical first step of a small office network setup. With one or more of these tools, you will be able to draw a network diagram and get started building your home or small office infrastructure.

Out of curiosity, which of these tools if any was used to produce the network diagram at the start of the article? There are new network diagram tools that can both design network infrastructure and architecture diagrams. Few examples for diagrams are general purpose networks, Cisco diagrams and AWS architecture diagrams. Creately is a good choice. Its an easy to use network diagram tool.

There are many examples and templates to get started faster as well. You can create up to 5 diagrams free and if you are using the software professionally its better to buy a personal plan. It works on all major platforms and web. Keep in mind Google Tools has a drawing tool and the clipart can be found on Google images.

I do this all the time and its totally free.