| Overview |
Boost Your Brainpower with Visual Learning
Experts have found that the human brain can only handle about 7 items at any given time without visual aids. This limitation of “working memory” holds true for both network experts as well as beginners. As a result, we spend a lot of time “refreshing” our memories when learning (or troubleshooting for that matter), often by repetitively issuing and examining the same show-command outputs.
Making things more complicated, engineers are required to memorize and recall countless “details” in order to pass their certification exams. Preparation often takes years and the details of a particular lab have all but escaped us in a few weeks, let alone months.
Dynamic diagram can help you overcome the learning challenges on both fronts – short term and long term. In the short term, a dynamic diagram allows you to view a new knowledge point visually, through a map. Details surrounding that knowledge point can be easily added or subtracted by scrolling the wheel of your mouse. Although the working memory of our brain is still limited by the 7 items, by using visual aids we can now quickly refresh those 7 items, enabing us to learn faster. In the long term, you can leverage the self-contained nature of dynamic diagram to document your learning process progressively. Because everything is preserved inside a dynamic diagram, it is very easy to review technical details weeks or even months later, regardless if your lab network has been torn down. See the diagram below for an example.
A dynamic diagram is created in seconds for visual learning |
| Features |
Personal Edition – Hundreds of Easy-to-Use Features
Similar to Enterprise suite and Consultant suite, NetBrain Personal Edition (PE) has hundreds of easy-to-use features based on dynamic diagram, spanning from network discovery, diagram automation, document automation and visual troubleshooting. The key difference is that PE is designed to work with a lab network limited to 12 network devices. These devices could be physical routers, switches, firewalls, or emulated Dynamips devices. The license agreement further defines lab network limitations:
- The size of configuration files must be less than 12k per device (about 400 lines)
- The hostname must be less than 12 characters (e.g. boston_core is 11 characters and permitted)
NetBrain uses a workspace to organize and model a network. If you don’t have access to a live network workspaces enable you to continue analyzing network design, as long as you have access to a set of configuration files. PE supports 1 workspace with a maximum 12 devices. When you are done with one lab, you can remove devices from the workspace and load a new lab with new devices.
The table below lists the key features of Personal Edition. To dive in, click the title. (Note that all NetBrain solutions share a similar user interface and some links may point to pages inside Enterprise suite). A detailed comparison between Enterprise suite, Consultant suite and Personal Edition can be found here.
| Key Features |
Description |
| Building a Workspace |
| Discover Dynamips Lab |
Build a NetBrain workspace by importing a Dynamips .net file and then discovering the lab network via reverse Telnet to console. |
| Import Configure File |
Build a virtual NetBrain workspace by importing a set of configuration files. |
| L3 Network Discovery |
Discover a live network via Telnet/SSH/SNMP. |
| L2 Network Discovery |
Discover L2 connectivity by interpreting show-command output and SNMP data. |
| On-Demand Mapping Automation |
| Map-by-Extending-Neighbors |
Build a diagram by extending next-hop neighbors of the current device. |
| Search-to-Map |
Search by an IP, hostname or configuration text, and map out the matched devices. |
| Map Device Group |
Map out a group of devices and their links automatically. |
| Map Switch Group |
Map out a group of switches and their connectivity automatically. |
| Map Traffic Path |
Map out the traffic flow between source and destination IP address. |
| Traceroute-to-Map |
Map out the traffic flow based on the output of a traceroute command. |
| Map VLAN |
Map out all devices inside a logical VLAN such as 192.168.1.0/28. |
| Map End Systems |
Map out the connectivity between end system, switch and 1st hop router. |
| Update Existing Maps Automatically |
Use workspace data to update diagram elements automatically, including topology, design data and embedded configuration files. |
| Document Automation |
| One-Click Visio |
Export a dynamic diagram to Visio. (Limited to 12 times with PE) |
| One-Click Network Assessment Document |
Create a network design or network assessment document out of a dynamic diagram automatically. (Limited to 12 times per PE) |
| One-Click Inventory Report (CSV) |
Export inventory data of all devices inside a workspace. |
| Map-Driven Network Analysis |
| Design Reader |
A customizable, template-based technology to decode network configuration on-the-fly. |
| Routing Annotation |
Annotate IGP and BGP routing design through color coding links or devices in a diagram. |
| IP Detector |
A toolkit that can translate any IP address into a known device and map the result. |
| Dynamic Zoom |
By zooming in or out of a diagram(scrolling the wheel of a mouse), the details inside a diagram are dynamically added or subtracted. |
| VLAN Annotation |
Highlight VLAN assignment for each switch port. |
| Telnet/SSH Automation |
Double-click a device and automatically login to the command line interface. (NetBrain automatically selects a username, password and enable password from a predefined credential pool) |
| On-Demand Network Diagnosis |
| Diagnostic Monitoring |
Through dynamic diagrams, collect, display and alert on live performance data such as up/down status, CPU/memory/link utilization, hop-by-hop delay and link error. |
| Configuration & Routing Comparison |
Compare the configuration files and routing tables between two live data samples for all devices in a map. |
| Network Benchmark |
Collect a set of predefined data from a live network, including configuration files, routing table, etc. |
| Show-Command Automation |
Collect customer-defined show-command output from a live network automatically. |
| Topology Change Comparison |
Compare two instances of topology data to discover a connectivity change. |
| Map as Collaboration Media |
| Embed Data into Map |
Embed show-command output, external files, notes, etc. inside a dynamic diagram. |
| Map Note |
A rich-text, multi-page note embedded inside a dynamic diagram. |
| Show-Command Output Browser |
A toolkit to easily navigate and annotate show-command output. |
Discover Dynamips Lab
If your PC has direct network access to all Dynamips routers, you can discover the lab by providing one seed device. If you can only access the Dynamips lab via reverse Telnet, NetBrain can discover the lab by:
- Loading a Dynamips .net file
- Discovering an emulated lab network via reverse Telnet to console
For the best effect, please upgrade your Dynamips to a newer version that supports multiple instances of reverse Telnet to console.
Once a Dynamips lab is discovered, you can start to document the show-command output automatically, among many other things.
Embed External Data into a Map
The data that can be embedded into dynamic diagram includes:
- Show-command outputs that are collected by automation
- External files
- Web URLs
- Configuration files (automatically by NetBrain)
- Other Qmaps
Note that you can build a workspace out of any existing Qmap by importing the embedded configuration files into a workspace.
Map Note
A traditional map is good for describing topology and highlighting key design. It is not ideal however, for detailed study notes. The map note feature is a rich-text, multi-page document that features hyper-links to:
- Embedded show-command output
- Attached files
- Web URLs
Use map notes to organize the fragmented data around diagrams – This way your study notes are easy to create and understand.
Show-Command Output Browser
The Show-Command browser is a convenient way to review multiple show-command outputs of multiple devices. You can highlight and comment on a portion of show-command outputs – which can be a very useful feature when documenting a practice lab. |
| Quick Start |
Most PE features are map-driven and easy to use. It is best practice for you to start with the following 12 tasks, and then gradually expand to other features and functions by simply using PE in your day-to-day learning journey.
Quick Start Video:
| Category |
No |
Task |
Description |
| Setup Workspace |
1 |
Drag-And-Drop A Set Of Configure Files Into NetBrain |
Build a dynamic diagram (Qmap) out of configuration files instantly |
| 2 |
Setup Access To Live Network |
Allow automated Telnet to each device |
| 3 |
Copy And Paste Configuration Text Into NetBrain |
Add an unknown device to NetBrain |
| Use Qmap |
4
|
Navigate a Q-map |
Visualize network design |
| 5
|
Build a New Q-map |
Other ways to document a network |
| Configure Lab Step by Step |
6a |
Step1 |
Configure Lab Network |
Change device configuration |
| 7a |
Collect Show-Commands |
Collect show-commands and configuration automatically |
| 8a |
Document Lab |
Highlight and annotate the collected data |
| 6b |
Step2 |
Configure Lab Network |
Same as 6a |
| 7b |
Collect Show-Commands |
Same as 7a |
| 8b |
Document Lab |
Same as 8a |
| Compare Data |
9 |
Compare Configuration, Routing And Show-Command Output |
Compare the data collected in Step1 and Step2 |
| Review Learning Materials |
10 |
Open An Existing Q-map |
Review the notes embedded inside a Q-map |
| Other Ways to Start |
11 |
Build a Workspace Out Of a Q-map |
Load a Q-map configuration into a workspace |
| 12
|
Build Workspace From Dynamips |
Build a new workspace by loading a .net file and discovering a Dynamips lab |
The set of configuration files used in the demo video can be downloaded from here.
Download Sample Q-maps
Note that you can always visit www.network-diagram.com to download more dynamic diagrams into your local PE by clicking the button “View Dynamic Diagram”.  |
| Community |
Join Visual Learning Community at www.network-diagram.com
Network-diagram.com is a dedicated hub for the visual learning community. You can
- Ask and answer technical questions illustrated with Q-maps
- Share your learning Q-maps with each other
- Organize visual study groups for your CCIE, CCNP or CCNA certification
The forum is Q-map-friendly, in that it can automatically generate a preview of the uploaded Q-map. NetBrain's Design Reader can download any Q-map and review the embedded data to better understand the question. (See below)
As you can see, a network question is much easier to understand if presented with a diagram and show-command data. Note that the subjects of active discussion are streamed to the start page of any PE workstation in real time.
By actively asking or answering questions and sharing your learning Q-maps, you can build your online score in the visual learning community. This will in turn qualify you for continuous use of NetBrain Personal Edition for free. (Detailed Rules) .
Form Visual Study Groups – Local or Remote
One of the biggest benefits of using NetBrain PE is that you no longer need to study alone. With software that enables knowledge points or labs to be documented, groups can “divide” time-consuming lab set-up tasks among members without losing access to important data. People can form study groups around a common lab workbook or around network topics.
When an entire learning community is sharing their learning materials unselfishly, learning will be easier and a lot more fun for all… |
| FAQ |
 How can PE help me to prepare for my CCIE lab exam?
PE enables you to spend more time in learning new skills, less time in low-value, repetitive tasks. First, you can practice lab from within PE and leverage dynamic diagram to learn new technology faster; Second, you can automatically document a practice lab, which will allow you to review what you have done in the future without re-building the lab; Thirdly, you can share lab Q-maps with your study group (who may be following the same lab workbook) and allow everyone to practice much more lab scenarios in a fraction of the time.
- Is PE useful for my CCNA or CCNP written exam?
-
To master new skills, you need to review the contents again and again and commit them to your memory. Our brain memorizes things faster visually. Once you have learned to use dynamic diagram to document knowledge points visually (and instantly), you will find the PE indispensable for preparing for the written exam as well.
- Is PE free?
-
PE is not free software. But you can use PE for your learning needs, free of charge, if you agree to contribute back to the visual learning community at www.network-diagram.com. Basically, you are required to participate in the Q&A session in the forum and/or share some of your learning Q-maps. Detailed rules are here.
- How do I renew my PE license?
-
First time you activate your PE, you are granted with a 1 year license. At end of the 1st year, you can click the Help>Renew License menu to renew your license. NetBrain maintains a score based on your activity at network-diagram.com. If your score is high enough, the renewal request is granted. Note that you should use the same email to request PE software and login to network-diagram.com.
- What’s the difference between Personal Edition and other commercial editions?
-
PE is limited to a lab network with a device count of up to 12(both physical and Dynamips devices). PE supports 1 workspace only. Server-based Enterprise suite can support a network with tens of thousands of devices, which can be partitioned into multiple workspaces. Stand-alone Consultant suite is designed for network consultants who often have to work on networks without live access.
PE is based on Consultant Edition, but expanded with more troubleshooting features. Enterprise-suite has the most comprehensive features of all. Detailed comparison is here.
- How do I get started with PE?
-
PE is very intuitive to use. You can learn many features by exploring the map-driven UI and going through the e-learning materials listed in resource tab. To start, check out the content inside the Quick Start tab.
- How does PE collect data?
-
PE collects data through Telnet/SSH along with SNMP. In case you don’t have live lab setup, you can start PE by importing a set of configuration files. You need to provide login credentials if live access is required.
Once a workspace is populated, PE will use data from both the live network and disk cache.
- Where does PE store data?
-
PE stores all data in the local disk, either inside the built-in workspace or a Q-map. You can copy data from a Q-map into the workspace, or vice versa.
- What’s the system requirement?
-
PE runs on most Windows-based systems, including Windows 7, Vista, XP, Windows server 2003 and Windows server 2008.
- Can I install PE in the same PC as Dynamips lab?
-
Yes.
- Where do I get the Q-maps for CCIE, CCNP or CCNA labs?
-
Network-diagram.com is the first place to look for CCIE/CCNP/CCNA Q-maps. NetBrain, along with many other engineers are actively sharing learning maps with the entire community.
Alternatively, you can form a study group with engineers of similar interests and share learning Q-maps among group members privately.
- What’s different with a visual study group?
-
Most study groups didn’t go beyond sharing basic learning materials. With PE, a different study group can be formed in a way that each member can effectively share his/her learning process with others. For example, when a practice lab is well documented by diagram, step-by-step configuration and show-command output, it can greatly benefit other people even without the live lab running. In a nutshell, visual study groups enable you to spend more time learning, and less time building labs.
- Can I use PE in my company network or my customer’s network?
-
You can try out features in a non-lab network in the 1st month after installing PE. For a full-scale trial of NetBrain in an enterprise network, contact the NetBrain sales team.
- It seems that some features inside PE are not just for learning needs, why?
-
PE is built and expanded on top of Consultant Edition software. Certain features may not be needed for learning purposes.
|
| Resources |
Overview of Entire NetBrain Solution:
Quick Start:
Features:
Training:
Learn more about Enterprise Solution: Go to Instant Trial |
|
NETBRAINTECH.COM