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If I have no idea of the current network setup, and I'm connected to the LAN - is there any GUI that could possibly identify nodes visually or give me any sort of insight?
I'm looking for a more comprehensive solution than Window's built in Network Map, which only shows your connection.
I'm using Windows and Ubuntu.
Charlls
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 1 369
21
The latest nmap comes with a flashy GUI that can graph network topology.
agnul
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 575
The topology is based on the number of hops from your computer, so each ring is another hop away from the last. On your local network, everything is one hop away, so it shows up as a single ring. – hololeap – 2017-07-18T05:40:11.717
Also note that in order for this feature to work outside of your LAN, you have to have root access and use the --traceroute flag (or -A). – hololeap – 2017-07-18T05:41:30.673
how can i do this for local network?? i am trying nmap -PE -PA21,23,80,3389 -sP 192.168.1.0/24 but it show me only ring! – AminM – 2014-03-12T11:51:59.230
4
We use NetworkView which works quite well.
Martin
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 3 644
this looks promising – Charlls – 2009-07-16T11:00:24.180
3
Have you tried something like Spiceworks? You tell it the network to scan and it will identify nearly any device on the network. Feed it SNMP and login information and it will pull specific information from those devices to help map the network. They have a network mapping utility that is still in beta, but it seems to work decently well.
Best of all, it's free.
Russ Warren
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 2 523
2
Visio has a plugin called LanSurveyor which will scout your network, identify nodes, and plot them out. It is put out by Solar Winds, and has a free trial. Their express version was available free through a promo which I don't know is still active or not - here's the link for that:
DHayes
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 2 103
I have used solar winds in the past and it was pretty slick! Importing right into visio sounds like a real time saver. – Axxmasterr – 2009-08-12T16:18:07.207
1
Zenmap provides a very slick graphical interface for viewing network topology.
DLH
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 579
1
I did not see these mentioned in this thread, so I thought I would list some of the other programs which also do this sort of thing. These are all high end programs, so don't expect to find free versions however you might get the benefit of using a trial copy just to see if you like it.
HP OpenView - Excellent tool and one of the industry leaders
CA Unicenter - Extremely high end and powerful but is difficult to set up.
Tivoli - High end tool as well.
Axxmasterr
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 7 584
1
You could try Network Notepad
LachlanG
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 675
This is to create network maps, correct? Not to auto-generate them from some sort of scanner. – Charlls – 2009-07-16T06:33:48.393
Looks like the auto discovery features may not work for you. See http://www.networknotepad.com/NNCDP.html
– LachlanG – 2009-07-16T06:42:00.0101
If you're using Windows Vista, there's a Network Map feature built in. You'd probably have to search around for third-party tools for other operating systems.
jtbandes
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 8 350
1
This probably isn't of any real use but i thought the idea was pretty cool.
Visualizing network architecture using the Quake III engine.
Shane Kearney
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 611
0
I find that WhatsUp Gold to be an ideal program for this. All you do is point it at your network segment and it will scan and identify every device which responds back. Their website is http://ipswitch.com . There are trial versions of this software out there to be had and I am sure the company will give you a trial copy too.
This is perhaps the simplest and most intuitive tool of this type that I have used to date. It also has a web server feature which will allow you to move around the network if needed.
I find the graphics of this program certainly nice enough for a quick and dirty map of the local network. You'll find it worthy as well!
Axxmasterr
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 7 584
0
If you're running Windows 7 or Vista, go into the Network and Sharing center. In the upper-right corner you can click on See full map, and Windows will automatically create a diagram of your network.
Dan Walker
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 8 869
I'm looking for something slightly more comprehensive – Charlls – 2009-07-16T06:21:29.420
0
It doesn't seem to show only your connection, but rather shows other devices on the LAN. Now maybe your LAN is built such that it can't detect the other devices...
Or you could get an actual map of places using WireShark 1.2's GeoIP and OpenStreetMap support.
dlamblin
Posted 2009-07-16T06:04:53.033
Reputation: 9 293
1Presumably this is not a network you own or administer. Unless the tool is just passive (i.e. looks at the traffic coming to your node and tries to identify nodes from that) it will scan other nodes on the network. This may be contrary to the network usage policy and, in some jurisdictions, could even be illegal. – mas – 2009-07-16T07:22:40.083
1I've been contracted to manage a network where no documentation of the system is available. In the home and business, some of these networks can have various hardware (Repeaters, Access Points, Cameras, A/V Equipment, Etc...) and rather than dig into walls using Toners and Cable Testers, I was thinking there could be something out there. – Charlls – 2009-07-16T09:30:58.153
http://serverfault.com/questions/43307/visual-network-topology-map – joe – 2009-07-27T09:22:02.103
Interesting question...you might also get some good responses from the sister site serverfault.com. – Bernard Dy – 2009-07-20T13:15:39.150
1I really recommend you ask this on servefault.com as well. – Stefan Thyberg – 2009-07-20T16:20:20.637
1Typically, this kind of software is something offered by companies that make networking equipment and only works on their hardware. I've written something like this myself that works using ping, snmp and a database of snmp responses for certain models, it does mean snmp has to be enabled on everything though. – Stefan Thyberg – 2009-07-20T16:27:21.280