Modeling the Enterprise

philz1982

I've been asked by my boss to look into tools that will allow me to model an enterprise. I would need to model from layer 2 up. Layer 1 would be nice but is harder to do without being on-site.

I'd be looking for:

Switches
Routers
Appliances
Desktops
Phones
Servers
IP Based Devices
Ect.

My initial thoughts were to use Nmap for version/application detection and then to use a network mapping software. Not sure how I will get what services server's are running short of enumerating them from another server that's on their domain.

Basically I need to build enterprise map's.

Surely there is a form of software that does this, price doesn't matter but I'd like to play with it first.

Thanks, feel free to ask any clarifying questions.

-Phil

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Comments

Deathmage

if you have the resources, Autotask has a very nice network digging tool, a bit more powerful than nmap. Autotask is a ticketing software like Remedy just all web-based and quite powerful.

philz1982

Interesting, looks like way more then I need.

What I need to do is capture the environment so I can model it and then define inefficiencies that could be improved through alternative architecture. My big metrics are going to be:

Logical and physical topology
Utilization (Compute, power, Bandwidth)
Server layout and roles

This is way beyond just IT devices, this is looking at any business or operational appliance as well.

Thanks for the feedback.

wes allen

Some kind of flow monitoring might be useful, since that will give you an idea of which devices are talking to which devices, then you can run nmap or nessus against the IPs that show up to find out more about them.

J_86

Solarwinds has a network mapper. It ok, but I have not used the new version (maybe it got better).
Network Mapping Software - Network Topology - Network Diagram

I demoed NetBrain's Enterprise Suite not long ago, it's pretty nice. It will give you more information as far as utilization. Automated Network Mapping and Dynamic Network Troubleshooting from Enterprise Suite

philz1982

J_86 wrote: »

Solarwinds has a network mapper. It ok, but I have not used the new version (maybe it got better).
Network Mapping Software - Network Topology - Network Diagram

I demoed NetBrain's Enterprise Suite not long ago, it's pretty nice. It will give you more information as far as utilization. Automated Network Mapping and Dynamic Network Troubleshooting from Enterprise Suite

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback, Netbrains, while I like it won't work. The challenge that is making my discovery so damn difficult is this is a one and done discovery. I go in I map the network, capture the flows and then I am out never to return.

Most of the software suites I've seen so far are for capturing and monitoring systems from an operational perspective. I need something from a pre-sales design perspective. Come in snapshot the network and all applications and leave.

-Pil

JeanM

Assuming you can run it from a port that isn't limited or will not see/reach "hosts" on the network right?

wes allen

You might look at Nessus PVS to work along with your active scans. That will help pick up hosts that have a firewall or ACLs to limit access to them, or that just pop up for a few hours during the day, etc. There are a couple open source tools that work kinda the same as well.

Palo Alto firewalls also have a wire mode, so you could just put one in place at a choke point with all allow rules, and use it to ID hosts and Apps. They do PoC's that way a bit, rather then mirror / taps.

d4nz1g

You can use CDP to find Cisco stuff and ingoing/outgoing interfaces.

Nmap is useful too, but make sure your network does not block network scanning.

philz1982

Let me add some further clarity. This would be a drop in drop out project. What I mean, is I would go to the customer site, discover everything, use that to build an Enterprise model and leave. I would not be leaving any software behind for logging for more then 2-3 days at the most and that would simply be to test congestion/bandwidth and flow.

joelsfood

I'd give Topomapper a try

Network Mapping | Network Diagram Software - ManageEngine TopoMapper Plus