Post on 11-Feb-2017
Diagramming ITS Infrastructure
and ITIL Services with Visio
David Cuthbertson
www.assetgen.com
www.squaremilesystems.com
AssetGen Overview
• Based in UK
• Develop software for
documenting medium/large
IT infrastructure with Visio
automation a key feature
• Training and project support
via sister company
– Square Mile Systems Fixed Infrastructure(Cabling, Power, Cabinets, Rooms, Buildings)
Hardware InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, UPS, Storage, Other
Virtual InfrastructurePCs, Network, Servers, Storage, DBMS
ApplicationsPC, server, mainframe, SOA
ServicesEnd user, infrastructure, supplier
Business ProcessesDepartmental, Company
Agenda
• Understand different ways to use Visio
– Data centres, networks, cabling, ITIL services
• Quick tips for ITS diagramming using Visio
• Some features that you should know about
• Automating the diagramming process
• Plus any questions you may have
A Few Questions From Me
• Who has created or viewed more than 10
Visio diagrams this year?
• Who typically documents inventory data in
Excel and diagrams in Visio?
• Who has had a Visio training course in the last
3 years?
Visio History
• Stand alone business, acquired by Microsoft
• Last non-MS versions had auto-discovery,
extensive equipment templates
• Current Versions
– Visio 2007/10 Standard
– Visio 2007/10 Professional*
– Visio 2010 Premium
– Visio 2007/10 Viewer (runs in IE browser)
* recommended
Version Differences (1)Templates and Shapes
Version Differences (2)
Data Integration
Diagram Sharing
Visio Concepts and terms
• Shape
• Shape properties
• Connector
• Background
• Layer
• Stencil
• Template
RTR-BHAM-01
Visio Resources And Help
• Microsoft web site
• Books
• Linkedin group – Visio Enthusiasts
• Equipment manufacturer web sites
– Cisco, Commscope, Siemon
– HP, Dell, IBM, others www.visiocafe.com
• 3rd Party stencils
– netZoom, others www.altimatech.com
• Visioguy www.visguy.com
Good or bad?
Basics of Diagramming
1. What you see
2. The extra data you
get if you click on a
symbol
3. How you get to
more / less detail
Best Practice Diagramming1. Title
2. Purpose
7. Symbols
8. Attributes
9. Connections
6. Instructions
3. Author
4. Version
5. Date
10. Grouping
11. Background / layers
Contoso, Inc.IT Purchase Request
Sales team proposed expansion
IP Address 10.0.1.5
Memory (MB) 1024
CPU (MHz) 1.4
Windows Storage
Server 2003
filestore-sales-01
IP Address 10.0.1.6
Memory (MB) 768
CPU (MHz) 1.26
Windows Storage
Server 2003
filestore-sales-02
IP Address 10.0.1.14
Memory (MB) 1536
CPU (MHz) 2
Windows Server
2003, Standard
Edition
ftp-sales-01
IP Address 10.0.1.51
Memory (MB) 2048
CPU (MHz) 3
Windows Server
2003, Datacenter
Edition
sql-sales-01
IP Address 10.0.1.52
Memory (MB) 2560
CPU (MHz) 3.2
Windows Server
2003, Datacenter
Edition
sql-sales-02
IP Address 10.0.1.53
Memory (MB) 2048
CPU (MHz) 3
Windows Server
2003, Datacenter
Edition
sql-sales-03
Administrator
Don Hall
web-sales-02
Administrator
Don Hall
web-sales-03
Diagram Navigation
1. Double click on a shape Drill into
2. Hyperlink - web page Portal, monitoring
3. Hyperlink – document Recovery doc,
test results
4. Hyperlink - to a Visio page Drill down / across
5. Hyperlink - to a specific Visio shape Other instance of device
What happens to the links when we save to a web page?
The Diagram Creation Process
Purpose
Gather data
Transfer data to diagram
Layout
Add extra detail for readability
Save
Send / publish diagram
Define shapes
1.
8.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. Which takes the most time?
2. Where can errors creep in?
Advanced Visio Concepts
• Keeping file sizes small
• Linking Visio to external data – Excel, dB
• Data graphics and display
• In House templates / stencils
• Visio “add ons”
Why a difference in file size?
Blank Diagram 1 1995kB
Blank Diagram 2 12kB
Why is one file 166 times greater than the
other, when neither has any thing on a page?
Tip – be careful reusing an old diagram!
Multiple Diagrams
SW-BHAM-
CORE1
SW-BHAM-
CORE2
SW-BHAM-01 SW-BHAM-03 SW-BHAM-05 SW-BHAM-02SW-BHAM-04SW-BHAM-06
UK_BIRM_UX01 UK_BIRM_UX02 UK_BIRM_UX09 UK_BIRM_UX04UK_BIRM_UX05 UK_BIRM_UX03 UK_BIRM_UX06 UK_BIRM_UX07 UK_BIRM_UX08 UK_BIRM_UX10
99999
99999
UK_BIRMCC_PDU1
UK_BIRMCC_PDU2
PWR01-03-A
PWR01-04-A
PWR01-05-A
PWR01-06-A
PWR01-07-A
PWR01-03-B
PWR01-04-B
PWR01-05-B
PWR01-06-B
PWR01-07-
B
UK_BIRM_UX01 UK_BIRM_UX02 UK_BIRM_UX09 UK_BIRM_UX10 UK_BIRM_UX03 UK_BIRM_UX04
UK_BIRM_UX05
UK_BIRM_UX06
UK_BIRM_UX07
UK_BIRM_UX08
Floor Plan
Rack Position
Service impact
Power Supply
Network Connections
BLADE_BIRM01
UK
_B
IRM
01_
BLA
DE
-01
UK
_B
IRM
01_
BLA
DE
-02
UK
_B
IRM
01_
BLA
DE
-03
UK
_B
IRM
01_
BLA
DE
-04
BL
AD
E-B
IRM
01.B
LA
DE
-SW
1
BL
AD
E-B
IRM
01.B
LA
DE
-SW
2
UK
_B
IRM
01_
BLA
DE
-05
UK
_B
IRM
01
_B
LA
DE
-09
UK
_B
IRM
01
_B
LA
DE
-10
UK
_B
IRM
01
_B
LA
DE
-12
H/W Build
Linking to Excel / Databases
Excel Visio
Lists/Inventory Diagrams
VisioDatabase
Examples
Inventory to rack layout
Inventory to network diagram
Rack list to floor plan
Power usage to floor plan
Application list to service map
Switch links to network diagram
Visio Data Graphics
• Standard feature 2007/10 Professional
• Enables use of embedded data
– Display multiple text fields around a shape
– Data bars to show capacity
– Use icons for status differences
– Change shape colour based on data value
Quick Ways (1)
• Floor plan
• Cabinet layout
• Floor boxes
• Networks
• ITIL Service Map
• Data Graphics
• Web pages
Quick Ways (2)
CreateCompareUpdate
DataSource(s)
SoftwareApplication
VisioDiagrams
Examples:Infrastructure management toolsetsAuto-discoveryTestingMonitoring
Get a System to Create Them For You!
Questions?
• Visio features
• Visio “standards” for consistency
• Automation of Visio diagrams
Visio Summary
• Great tool with lots of features, many of
which are unknown or misunderstood
• To spend less time using Visio
– Have common templates and stencils
– Link Visio to a data source
• For creation and updates
• For different views of a component
• Look at specialist tools that automate the
creation and maintenance of Visio diagrams
Thank You For Listening
Diagramming ITS Infrastructure and
ITIL Services with Visio
David Cuthbertson
www.assetgen.com
www.squaremilesystems.com