Network Diagram Software

tr1x

What software do you use to draw your network diagrams? I've seen some diagrams that make everything look so nice and neat, but not sure what any are called.

veritas_libertas

I use TE's Netpict - Free network diagram tool

onesaint

I use Gliffy and of course Visio.

erpadmin

Thumbs up for Visio.

tr1x

Gliffy looks nice.. I'll try that and Visio when I get home. Thanks guys.

Mstavridis

VISIO rocks since you can integrate it with excel and access database

powerfool

Visio is pretty much the standard. There are thick books dedicated to its finer points... but you can learn a lot just using it.

N2IT

Visio

It's good at everything great at nothing.

MickQ

Yep. I've tried a few and up until today was using Smartdraw for me, and Visio for customers who want it that way. I'm going to check out a few of these other ones here now.

pcgizzmo

I'd like to know what the vendors use to get their slick looking network diagrams. Probably some creative type in the marketing dept. but vendors have really nice icons and their network diagrams always look slick.

Speaking of network diagrams if you get tired of rating other peoples girlfriends and boyfriends there is always this Rate My Network Diagram

Some pretty good diagrams here.

NightShade1

Visio all the way

Forsaken_GA

Visio is pretty much the industry standard. I also use OmniGraffle Pro on OS X, since it can export to Visio format.

DevilWAH

Yep if you can get a copy of viso then I would go with that. many of the vendors have downloadable free "icons" for there products for viso so you can make some really nice diagrams. And as people say like to access and excel. If you end up doing diagrams for larger companies/customers then they will expect you to use it.

But of course you have to pay for it

I have played with the "free" ones and for simple (when i say simple I don't mean cheap looking) they produce fantastic results, and are much easier to pick up, a few of them will run directly of USB key, which is great when you are at a customers site and what to sketch some thing out for them.

I have even used "CISCO Packet tracer" to make up a network digram, it very simple but some times simple is all you need.

onesaint

DevilWAH wrote: »

I have even used "CISCO Packet tracer" to make up a network digram, it very simple but some times simple is all you need.

I've done this as well. It can be interesting to visualize packet movement. The problem here is the limitation of gear and add ons within the packet tracer software.

the_hutch

Visio, but it has to be Pro. Visio standard does not have the network elements.

Roguetadhg

Visio.

Might as well chime in with what everyone else uses. I use mine to design floor layouts, network room wiring. It's well worth the money.

tr1x

Since Visio seems to be the unofficial standard, I'm gonna go with it. I have it already with Office but never installed it and didn't have a chance to yesterday, I'll get it installed tonight. Thanks for the posts, good to know what people use and what customers and other people in the industry will expect me to use.

darkerz

Gliffy.

Although, I do like Visio.

RomBUS

For the very few times I actually had to design a diagram...Only used Visio Pro

Netpict looks cool for a free utility though

ccnxjr

I'm using Omnigraffle Pro for Mac OS X .

I like Dia , not sure if/how the diagrams can be opened and saved by other diagramming software.

Forsaken_GA

ccnxjr wrote: »

I'm using Omnigraffle Pro for Mac OS X .

I like Dia , not sure if/how the diagrams can be opened and saved by other diagramming software.

I like Dia as well, but unfortunately, it does suffer from a portability problem. The only option for portability is to export it to an image file. I use it every once in awhile for a quick diagram I'm going to print and mark up, but that's it.

AlexNguyen

tr1x wrote: »

I have it already with Office but never installed it and didn't have a chance to yesterday, I'll get it installed tonight.

Visio is a standalone product, it's not included with the MS Office suite license (or media). What's included with the Office suite is the Visio viewer. You need to buy Visio separatedly from Office suite.

tr1x

Oooh, okay. Thanks for the heads up.

MAC_Addy

ccnxjr wrote: »

I'm using Omnigraffle Pro for Mac OS X .

+1 for Omnigraffle! and +1 for Visio on a PC based system. I have used both, but mainly Visio at work. I've drawn up some diagrams of my work network plus my home network.

the_hutch

AlexNguyen wrote: »

Visio is a standalone product, it's not included with the MS Office suite license (or media). What's included with the Office suite is the Visio viewer. You need to buy Visio separatedly from Office suite.

Or...assuming you aren't using it for business/production purposes...you could get yourself a TechNet subscription for less money and have a licensed copy of Visio Pro plus anything else that Microsoft has released in the past 10 years.

the_hutch

the_hutch wrote: »

Or...assuming you aren't using it for business/production purposes...you could get yourself a TechNet subscription for less money and have a licensed copy of Visio Pro plus anything else that Microsoft has released in the past 10 years.

$299 for TechNet... as opposed to $399+ for Visio Pro 2010.

AlexNguyen

the_hutch wrote: »

$299 for TechNet... as opposed to $399+ for Visio Pro 2010.

If you're a student, you can get the "academic" price of Visio Pro 2010 for $154.95:

Microsoft Visio Professional 2010 (Academic) for Win with Academic Discount at JourneyEd.com

the_hutch

AlexNguyen wrote: »

If you're a student, you can get the "academic" price of Visio Pro 2010 for $154.95:

Microsoft Visio Professional 2010 (Academic) for Win with Academic Discount at JourneyEd.com

Or there's that option...didn't know that.

Syznewski

Visio, although I would switch for something more specialized for network diagramming.

GOZCU

Lucidchart, has anything i need, but yes visio is the standard on that field

https://www.lucidchart.com

scaredoftests

Visio does the trick