Psychz - Nikhil
Votes: 0Posted On: Aug 22, 2017 05:23:42
Just like in real estate world where "Location" is everything, the networking world is none different. If a network admin is unaware of the network and the servers within and how are they communicating or functioning then he is flying blind.
There are many good tools that are available as open source that can help you in mapping and monitoring the network. We have compiled a list of some leading open source tools that prove their worth day in and day out in networks of any size. From network and server monitoring to trending, graphing, and even switch and router configuration backups, these utilities will see you through.
CADE
CADE is an effective tool for network mapping with the help of network diagrams, flowcharts and other forms of representation. It is a 2D vector editor used in Windows operating system. CADE is an alternative to Microsoft Visio and contains basic Visio functionality. However, users prefer CADE over Visio as it is absolutely free. Also, CADE is a more fast and compact software.
CADE utilizes DXF 12 format and other formats such as JPG, PDF, and XAML can be exported. You can also edit documents in a browser and share it with colleague and friends. An efficient command line is also a key feature of CADE.
It is a very easy to use software with drag and drop options under which you can just select the network elements and drag them to the diagram. Equipment data can be set just by double-clicking on the data. The properties of the network element can be set as labels.
The network diagram blocks included in CADE are -
- Network Equipment
- Photo Realistic Equipment
- Network Logical Symbols
http://www.weresc.com/cade.php
Dia
Dia is a network mapping software that can work on both Windows, Linux and Mac OSX operating system. It can be used to create basic network diagrams. Dia is open source GTK+ programming tool. You can use Dia only if your purpose is to create basic network diagrams. However, it is free to use.
An easy to use and install feature makes it a favourite pick for everyone to use. It is a free software and you can install it by clicking on the below link.
https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Dia/Download
Diagram Designer
Diagram Designer is yet another network mapping tool which is completely free for your use. It has a wide variety of network icons for you to create an efficient network map. Its user interface is also very easy to use. It is very useful in creating flowcharts, slide shows, and network maps.
With the help of Diagram Designer you can Import/export PNG, MNG, ICO, GIF, WMF, EMF, BMP, JPEG and PCX images. The images can be compressed so that you can save memory by minimizing file size. Another interesting feature such as slideshow viewer and graph plotter can also be used for various purposes.
https://diagram-designer.en.softonic.com/
PAESSLER
PAESSLER provides you with an advanced network mapping software which can detect the network nodes and help you create an effective network map based on the nature of the network elements. The network mapping can be very useful in identifying your network.
PAESSLER also provides you with the option of auto-mapping under which the network is scanned constantly and the network nodes are automatically identified and the map is updated.
You can aslo create various forms of network diagrams like the "sunburst" view and the "overall" view.
However, PAESSLER provides you with a 30-day free trial with no limitations.
https://www.paessler.com/network-mapping
Network Notepad
Network Notepad is a very useful network mapping tool. It is available in Professional as well as Freeware Edition. It runs on Windows operating systems such as Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows 10, 8 and 7.
The Freeware Edition has a text-based file format. The interface is user-friendly with drag and drop options for placing the network icons. A CDP Neighbor tool is also available as an add-on that gives you the ability to view the connections to your network devices.
The Professional Edition comes at a price with some additional features such as advanced graphics and improved shapes and images.
You can download both the editions by clicking on the below link.
http://www.networknotepad.com/index.shtml
