ARTICLE

Static vs. Dynamic: Marked Differences in Diagramming

Until recently, network professionals relied solely on one type of network diagram: the “static” diagram. Static network diagrams are simply visual network representations depicted by icons and shapes. The most primitive static diagrams are hand-drawn and manually updated. They require so much time to create and maintain that often they’ve lost their value to network engineers shortly after they’re created.

Software-Driven Static DiagramsStatic diagrams can, of course, also be rendered using traditional static network diagramming software. Like hand-drawn diagrams, software-generated diagrams require constant manual upkeep to remain current. Microsoft Visio is one of the most commonly used network diagramming platforms. It works like a blank slate where engineers can drag and drop icons, which represent network devices, and connect them visually.

While Visio depictions are a sharper, more attractive version of manual diagrams, they are still cumbersome to create and update. The icons in Visio diagrams are unrecognized by the software after they are created. The system does not know the meaning of a router icon or FastEthernet link. In other words, the icons contain no data, so it is up to engineers to assume continuous responsibility for manually updating the Visio diagrams.

Static network diagram-generation software with auto-discovery simplifies network diagramming somewhat more than Visio. This kind of platform can perform a basic network discovery, enabling experienced engineers to build diagrams based on the outcome. The auto-discovery feature speeds the diagramming process considerably, but only in designated areas of the network.

Network Evolution and Static DiagramsOrganizations that rely on static diagrams have difficulty keeping them current. Estimates indicate that the average enterprise network requires two changes per network device per year, on average. These changes can amount to 2,000 or more updates per year in a larger network. Network engineers simply cannot make 2,000-plus network updates every year.

Static diagramming software is not able to detect changes automatically, and still relies on human intervention to apply updates. The challenges of keeping documentation current still remain. Today’s engineers must be able to leverage diagrams that accurately depict the actual state of the network at any time.

Dynamic Diagramming: An Innovative ApproachEnter the dynamic network diagram. Dynamic diagramming is different from static diagramming in two important ways:

1. The icons that appear on the map are modeled by a mathematical formula. The system recognizes the icon as a network device and associates properties with it that inform the system how to get data from the device. In this sense, the icons are not simply graphics; they are representations of actual network devices.

2. Dynamic diagrams can leverage the live network. As data from the live network is modified, dynamic diagrams can be updated automatically to reflect the changes. Dynamic diagramming software automatically grabs changes from the live network and applies them to the network diagram. In other words, dynamic mapping reflexively creates and maintains a live network map without any human intervention to implement change.

Networks change constantly to adapt to evolving business demands. From week to week, they grow and shift both from reactive changes and also to accommodate planned network growth. With dynamic mapping, engineers can access up-to-the-minute data from the live network to refresh existing maps. These dynamic maps represent a significant advancement that network engineers can count on to troubleshoot and manage networks every day.

The data contained in dynamic diagrams acts like a key that unlocks network insights. Dynamic maps are accessible on-demand and can be adjusted to meet a user’s specific needs. In today’s workplace, where advances happen almost on a daily basis, dynamic diagramming is not only useful—it’s indispensible.

Founded in 2004, NetBrain set out to pursue a new vision: automate time-consuming tasks associated with network documentation, design, and troubleshooting. NeBrain’s customers are using map-driven automation to eliminate manual network documentation, automate troubleshooting tasks, and mitigate security risks. NetBrain is headquartered in Burlington, MA with offices in Sacramento, CA, New York, and Beijing, China.

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