[K12OSN] Documenting the Network

[David L. Willson]

dia can be used to create basic network maps with switches, routers, servers, etc.  Not sure if that's already been mentioned or not.  I hear Kivio does this sort of thing, too, but I haven't used it.

David L. Willson
Trainer, Engineer, Enthusiast
MCT, MCSE, Linux+
tel://720.333.LANS
Freeing people from the tyranny (or whatevery) of Microsofty-ness, one at a time.

----- "\"Terrell Prudé Jr.\"" <microman at cmosnetworks.com> wrote:

> j.w. thomas wrote:
> 
> How do you guys document your networking environment?
> 
> I am the sole admin of a small system, and it just seems bad practice
> for the sole repository of all that info to be my head. For one, my
> head is notoriously unreliable for that sort of thing. Also, it can't
> be backed up.
> 
> Right now I have a small setup with a firewall, an ltsp server, five
> clients, a wireless connection, and a stand-alone workstation. More to
> come later (printers, more services, etc).
> 
> I'm planning to fire up an svn server to use as a repo for all the
> /etc directories on all the machines. I also have a text file with
> descriptions of every technical detail I could think to put in it:
> equipment specs, models, location, function, wireless encryption keys,
> power feeds (i.e., ups or not), ip addresses, services, etc.
> 
> I intend to draw a network map tonight, and I'm going to print that
> and the text file out and keep them in the network closet, maybe
> hanging on the wall. I'm also thinking that I will write the root
> passwords down on a piece of paper, seal it in an envelope, and put it
> in the network closet. That might seem like a bad idea, but if they
> can get in the network closet, they can already pwn the system. A
> sealed envelope would provide for an easy way to get the info should
> something happen to me, and would provide a pretty decent indication
> that the info had been accessed. Kind of an "In case of emergency,
> break glass" approach.
> 
> Is there a better way to store all this info? Maybe some software
> (FLOSS only please) has been written to deal with this already? What
> do you guys do?
> 
> 
> 
> I draw pictures and type up a description. Then this stuff goes in a
> file labeled "Network Documentation." Yeah, I know, low-tech, but it
> works very, very well.
> 
> --TP
> 
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