Your Network Diagram, Your Way, Instantly

With plain old Visio, after a lot of sweaty hours, you can have your diagram your way - but you just don't have that kind of time.

Second generation software will discover the network, then crank out diagrams for areas defined by a human expert.  It is getting better, but you still can’t rely on them to produce what you want on-the-fly.  The tools are Not designed for instant network diagramming.

Technology has advanced.  Introducing Dynamic Network Diagramming from NetBrain - the first 3rd-generation network diagramming software:

• A dynamic network diagram is created instantly with a few simple inputs from you… 

For example, the following network diagram was created by inputting source and destination IP into NetBrain software.  The rest is all automatic.  This can be very handy when you troubleshoot a slow application.



Network Diagram of Traffic Flow Created On-The-Fly during Troubleshooting

• A dynamic network diagram can update itself when your network changes...

In the following example NetBrain detects a few network changes since the diagram was first created. With just one click, NetBrain can update the diagram for you automatically.

Original Network Diagram

Network Changes Detected By NetBrain

• Diagnose performance problems right off a dynamic network diagram...

The following examples showcases the performance and connectivity diagnosis features launched directly from dynamic network diagrams - you can now quickly pinpoint a problematic device, over-utilized link and even packet loss.



Diagnosis Launched from a L3 Network Diagram



Diagnosis Launched from a L2 Network Diagram

Key Capabilities of Dynamic Network Diagrams

Dynamic Network Diagram Capabilities	Creation	Instant Creation	A dynamic network diagram is created with as few as one click, instantly. No special training required. Check out a few examples here.
		Self-Updating	Manually updating an existing network diagrams due to network change is a concept of the past.  NetBrain software will keep all diagrams updated automatically.
		Dynamic View	Zoom in to a dynamic network diagram to see more details showing up in the map.  Say good-bye to crowded Visio diagrams. See an Example
		Embed User Data	Need to attach some data into a diagram? With dynamic network diagram, you can embed entire troubleshooting process and data into one diagram.  Open this dynamic network diagram with NetBrain to see how a entire CCIE lab’s questions, answer and show-command results are embedded.
	Enable Action	One-Click Visio and Word Document	Need a Visio diagram? It is only one-click away. Need a full network design document? Another click away. Download this Word document to see an example.
		Troubleshoot Performance	Performance and connectivity diagnosis will never be the same – Like an X-ray picture to doctors, a dynamic network diagram allows network pros to look into the live network and pinpoint issues accurately.
		Simulate  Design	Planning an upcoming data center migration?  Do you know you can model your entire network design with dynamic network diagrams by simply dragging-and-drop configuration files into NetBrain?  Better, you can run network simulation and even verify your implementations right off this diagram.
		Automate Network Assessment	Network consultants can automate an entire network assessment, from network discovery to configuration analysis; from performance assessment to documentation creation.

How does Dynamic Network Diagram Work?

• Each icon in the dynamic network diagram is not just a picture, but a smart object supported by data model.

  	Visual representation is similar	What Software Interprets is different
  Visio	Visio Icon for router bst_core	An icon made from a stencil named “router” with label of “bst_core”
  NetBrain	Smart object for router bst_core	An icon representing a router object named bst_core, which has over 100 data attributes embedded: including configuration file, routing protocols, neighbors, hardware model, OS version and serial number. See an example of what this data can do, click the red “+” sign, and build a new diagram by extending neighbors. (See the picture below)

  
  

  Data Model behind bst_core Enables Instant Creation of This Diagram by Extending Its Neighbor

• After full network discovery, software will construct a mathematic view of the entire network and pre-built all smart objects. Users can then interactively guide NetBrain to construct a customer diagram for the task at hand – with a few clicks. See a few examples

• Recurring network discovery and benchmark will keep smart objects updated when live network changes. Whenever an existing diagram is opened, underling smart objects will update the diagram automatically

• A dynamic network diagram is the launching point for diagnostic and predictive intelligence. Powered by smart objects, engineers can now run complex analysis including network simulation, performance diagnosis and network assessment, right from the diagram.

Compare Dynamic Network Diagram and Static Network Diagram

Table: Compare Static & Dynamic Network Diagrams

	Static Network Diagram (Visio)	Dynamic Network Diagram (Q-map)
1. Create with discovery and automation	No	Yes
2. Update itself when network changes	No	Yes
3. Support performance troubleshooting and network simulation	No	Yes
4. Enable visual collaboration during design review and troubleshooting escalation	limited (due to high cost of creating static diagram)	Yes
5. Support multiple formats (e.g. Visio, Gif)	Yes	Yes

 

What’s Next...?   --> View an Interactive Demo

• Build Dynamic Network Diagrams
• Build Static Network Diagrams with NetBrain
• Compare Network Diagramming Tools
• Network Diagram Examples