You need to visualize your network. What tools can help you do it best?

If you are a network engineer, you know how important it is to visualize your network topology, performance, and security. A good network visualization tool can help you monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize your network infrastructure and services. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best one for your needs? In this article, we will introduce some of the key features and benefits of network visualization tools, and suggest some of the most popular and effective ones you can use.

1 What is network visualization?

Network visualization is the process of creating graphical representations of your network elements, such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and devices. Network visualization tools can use different methods and formats to display your network data, such as maps, diagrams, charts, dashboards, and reports. Network visualization tools can help you gain insights into your network structure, performance, traffic, errors, security, and more.

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2 Why do you need network visualization?

Network visualization can help you improve your network management and operations in several ways. For instance, it can be used to identify and resolve network issues quickly and efficiently, analyze and optimize network performance and capacity, plan and implement network changes and upgrades, detect and prevent security threats, document and communicate network configuration and status, as well as comply with standards and regulations.

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Phaneendra Vankadara

Engineering Leader at Apple | Expert in DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering
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Visual maps of networks assist in planning for expansions, upgrades, or reconfigurations. It also helps in forecasting future needs or issues based on current network data. Visual representations are more accessible and understandable to stakeholders than raw data or technical reports. They are effective for communicating complex information to non-technical audiences.

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3 What are the types of network visualization tools?

Network visualization tools can be classified into different types based on their functions and features. For instance, network mapping tools can help you view your network devices and connections, while network monitoring tools can provide real-time and historical data on your network performance. Network analysis tools are useful for examining traffic patterns, flows, and protocols, while security tools can protect your network from threats. Additionally, reporting tools can generate summaries and visualizations of your network data.

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Chris Grundemann

Network Infrastructure Advisor (Strategy Consultant)
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In my opinion this article and especially this section is conflating visualization with observability. There are many ways to provide network observability, and many of them involve some graphical elements. That is not the same as actually visualizing the network though. To me, network visualization is more specific and involves creating maps of various aspects of the network, such as how it is connected (at layers 1, 2, and/or 3), how traffic is flowing over it, etc.

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Srividya Iyer

Technologist , Entrepreneur and Educator | Predictive Analytics, AI and Machine Learning in Network Operations
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Network Visualization is part of Network monitoring and Analytics where different types of events and metrics can be visualized using various charts and graphs. The other type of network visualization is to understand the topology of the network. This can be static drawings (visio) or dynamic discovery and graphing.

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4 What are the features of network visualization tools?

Network visualization tools vary in features and capabilities, but there are some core features you should consider. Scalability is important to ensure the tool can handle your network size and complexity. Automation can save time by automating network discovery, mapping, monitoring, analysis, and reporting tasks. Customization allows you to adapt the tool to fit your network requirements and preferences. Integration with other tools and systems like SNMP, NetFlow, syslog, and APIs helps share network data and information across platforms and devices. Lastly, usability is key for a user-friendly and intuitive interface and design that is easy to install, configure, use, and maintain.

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5 What are some of the best network visualization tools?

Network visualization tools can be immensely helpful in tracking and troubleshooting performance issues, monitoring various network aspects, capturing and inspecting network packets, scanning and discovering network devices and services, and collecting and graphing metrics. Some of the most popular and effective tools include SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, PRTG Network Monitor, Wireshark, Nmap, and Cacti. SolarWinds is comprehensive and can generate customizable network maps and dashboards. PRTG is versatile and can monitor bandwidth, devices, servers, applications, and cloud services. Wireshark is a powerful analysis tool that can display network traffic data in various formats. Nmap is a mapping and security tool that can scan for devices and services. Cacti is an open-source tool that can graph network data and create custom reports.

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Manuel Montes de Oca

Co-Founder at Supra | Cibersecurity 🦖
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zabbix: nms grafana/loki o elasticsearch con fortidragon: SIEM i-doit: cmdb las herramientas es lo de menos, definir los KPIs y modelar la información es lo crucial

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Chris Grundemann

Network Infrastructure Advisor (Strategy Consultant)
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Actually, these are network monitoring and analysis tools. Yes, one or two can provide rudimentary network visualizations, and all can provide data that might be used in visualization, still, I wouldn't categorize any as true network visualization tools. In many ways Visio, Omnigraffle, and LibreOffice Draw are visualization tools because they allow you to draw out complex and detailed network diagrams, albeit manually. Prometheus and Grafana can also, in combination, provide network visualizations; e.g. sFlow based weather maps, etc. Kentik also does some great flow based visualization. And then there are so called digital twins, which are also a kind of visualization, and generated by tools from vendors like Forward Networks & IP Fabric.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You need to visualize your network. What tools can help you do it best?

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2

3

4

5

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1 What is network visualization?

2 Why do you need network visualization?

3 What are the types of network visualization tools?

4 What are the features of network visualization tools?

5 What are some of the best network visualization tools?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Network Engineering

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You need to visualize your network. What tools can help you do it best?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 What is network visualization?

2 Why do you need network visualization?

3 What are the types of network visualization tools?

4 What are the features of network visualization tools?

5 What are some of the best network visualization tools?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Network Engineering

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