Tools for Network design

[calebcastillo]

Hi, I´ve been working as a network designer for the past six months and I´m looking for tools that help me make better assessments about the flow of the network and the type of traffic.

I´ve found tools but some of them are expensive. I would like to know what type of tools do you guys use?

Thanks

[luis_cordova · Accepted solution]

Hi @calebcastillo 

I always thought PRTG is a good tool to start monitoring.

The free version allows you to have 100 sensors.

Obviously, if you need more, you should opt for the paid verison.
https://www.paessler.com/free_network_monitor

Regards

[calebcastillo]

Hi Luis,

Thanks so much for your input I will give it a try for sure.

[etoromol]

Hello Caleb,

During my experience working in network environments, I noticed there isn't any "default" app to elaborate topology designs. Having said that, I found Microsoft Visio as one of the most used apps by network engineers to maintain their network diagrams.

There is an open-source app called Dia which I use for small projects. It is very stable and you can download the official Cisco Icon pack and installed on it. I leave you the link for your own review:

http://dia-installer.de

Regards,
Eduardo

[calebcastillo]

Hi Eduardo,
I use Viso, but never heard of Dia, good to know thanks for your answer.

[balaji.bandi]

I use Visio and cisco stencils they are much better and easy.

[Deepak Kumar]

I am using Microsoft Visio and cisco stencils. Really, I tried a few tools but I like Visio.

[Giovanni Alexander Molina]

for network assesments and mapping the actual topology I use Network notepad, and for monitoring a free one that could work is Cacti. You can download de suse iso that includes it and its already installed.