Network documentation is one of those things that people struggle to accurately label and describe. In the same way that art is in the eye of […]
Network documentation is one of those things that people struggle to accurately label and describe. In the same way that art is in the eye of […]
Network documentation is one of those things that people struggle to accurately label and describe. In the same way that art is in the eye of […]
Network documentation is one of those things that people struggle to accurately label and describe. In the same way that art is in the eye of the beholder, so too is network documentation.
In fact, the need for proper network documentation can bring out the artist in all of us. Engineers tend to get creative under budget restraints, and just as there are as many ways to tackle a problem as there are people in the world there almost as many different network documentation processes and solutions. There is, however, one common element: end-result satisfaction is rare.
Similar to DCIM, ask ten different people to define network documentation and you will end up with at least ten different answers (more like 15 or 20 answers). One effective way to define something is to eliminate things from its definition. To define network documentation, let’s weed out what it’s not.
Let’s back up a bit before we start eliminating. Here’s a look at a basic wish list for network documentation (this will probably vary a little depending on your unique needs):
So, above is my wish list for the “what”. It’s not JUST about the what, however. It’s also about the HOW: how the data is gathered, how it is accessed and how useful it ultimately is.
So, now that we’ve covered what is needed and how, we’ve got to bring out the bad news (sorry)…
That monitoring/NMS tool? That is NOT network documentation.
We’ve heard it time and time again…”well, to document the network we actually use our network monitoring tool.” If that’s what you’re using, here’s the bad news:
You are out of your element.
Using your NMS as your primary network documentation system means your diagrams will be sorely lacking. Monitoring tools, after all, can only include what they can discover. You’re missing devices from other vendors, non-discoverable objects, cabling, racks, patch panels, industrial equipment and much more. Further, your NMS tool is not accessible for all of your stakeholders, it’s not easy to use and doesn’t offer much of a physical depiction of your assets.
It’s here that the real creativity in engineers starts to shine. I bet you’ve created some amazing stuff suing a Wiki. Collaborative efforts via SharePoint and Google Drive can be downright inspiring. THere are some amazingly detailed diagrams on AutoCad. Problem, though? You’re no Tatsuo.
Who is Tatsuo? A Japanese artist who turns spreadsheets into masterpieces. It’s breathtaking and completely out-of-the-box art. That being said, most of us lack the talent and time to create something like this. Further, documenting networks isn’t done for the love of it – it’s done out of necessity.
If I had just a penny for every time I’ve heard, “But I can already do such and such task using a strange workaround”….I might not be rich but I could probably afford that Ferrari I’ve been eyeing for 20 years. I mean: I’ve heard of a guy using the recycling bin as his file storage system. You’ve probably heard about folks using their CD-ROM drives as coffee holders. It’s human nature to invent workarounds or strange habits and nerds aren’t immune. I once knew a programmer who absolutely wouldn’t use an IDE: he insisted on writing all of his code in notepad. Point? Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
So, if your network is very small – I fully understand. Maybe a spreadsheet or a Wiki really is adequate. Those unsightly columns and rows may just be all that you really need. If you must keep up with the day-in and day-out changes to a 100+ object corporate network, however, automated network documentation is key to your success.
The philosophy that ‘monitoring is documentation’ brings in the automation but misses some key players such as diagrams, configuration items and other features. With the group of varied tools we went through above in Bill & Ted’s (not so) Awesome Adventure, you do get flexibility but you end up with a collection of products designed for something very different and no real automation to speak of.
Bottomline here? While we applaud your bootstrapping and creativity, get yourself a real network documentation system and leave Google Docs in the dust.
The Graphical Networks netTerrain SaaS Services will achieve System Availability (as defined below) of at least 99.9% during each calendar year of the Subscription Term. All other SaaS Services will achieve System Availability (as defined below) of at least 99% during each calendar year of the Subscription Term. “System Availability” means the number of minutes in a year that the key components of the SaaS Services are operational as a percentage of the total number of minutes in such year, excluding downtime resulting from (a) scheduled maintenance, (b) events of Force Majeure in the SaaS Agreement), (c) malicious attacks on the system, (d) issues associated with the Client’s computing devices, local area networks or internet service provider connections, or (e) inability to deliver services because of acts or omissions of Client or any netTerrain user. Provider reserves the right to take the Service offline for scheduled maintenance for which Client has been provided reasonable notice and Provider reserves the right to change its maintenance window upon prior notice to Client.
If Provider fails to meet System Availability in the month or the year, upon written request by Client (within 30 days after the monthly or annual billing period in question), Provider will issue a credit in Client’s next invoice in an amount equal to 1% of the yearly fee for the affected SaaS Services for each 1% loss of System Availability below stated SLA per SaaS Service, up to a maximum of the Client’s fee for the affected SaaS Services. If the yearly fee has been paid in advance, then at Client’s election Provider shall provide a credit to Client to be used for additional services or term extension. The remedy stated in this paragraph is Client’s sole and exclusive remedy for interruption of SaaS Services and Provider’s failure to meet System Availability.
Graphical Networks’ netTerrain Cloud platform is a highly reliable and secure solution, built on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. AWS is compliant with various industry-accepted security standards.
Our engineers utilize proven security technologies and techniques to protect netTerrain, its underlying systems and your data from intrusion and unauthorized access.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please email us at: support@graphicalnetworks.com.
1. Where is your Cloud Hosting located?
Graphical Networks utilizes the Amazon AWS cloud infrastructure, for its data storage and backups and shares several AWS standards and accreditations. Our virtualized servers run primarily in the United States, US East (N. Virginia). Please consult with us first, for access on a server outside of the United States.
Amazon AWS is certified by the following security compliance standards:
ISO 27001, 27017, 27018
FISMA
FIPS 140-2
PCI-DSS Level 1
EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EG)
Reference: Amazon Security Bulletins
2. Who has access to my data?
Graphical Networks does not share customer data with third parties. Administrative access to customer data is not available to anybody outside of the group of administrators set up by your organization’s main admin account.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
Graphical Networks’ access to the backend database is restricted to a very small number of closely managed Graphical Networks administrators. Access to production systems and data follows the security standard of Least Privilege.
3. How is my data protected?
All software maintenance and configuration activities are conducted by Graphical Networks employees. The same databases are never used to store data from different clients (tenants), which is the safest and most robust approach for a multi-tenant enterprise solution. Graphical Networks employs industry standard practices for security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and change management.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
4. Graphical Networks Security Policies
Graphical Networks maintains, and annually updates, a general written Information Security & Access Policy, which details employee’s responsibilities toward confidentiality of client data and acceptable use of resources. All staff must review and sign this policy during on-boarding.
The exit interview reminds ex-employees of their remaining employment restriction and contractual obligations.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
5. After my account expires, what happens to my data?
When your SaaS account expires, all associated data is deleted within 60 days.
Graphical Networks respects your confidentiality and any information you provide to Graphical Networks will never be sold, shared, or rented to other organizations for commercial purposes.
The following terms and conditions govern all use of the Graphical Networks netTerrain Software-as-a-Service (“Service”) and any assigned account (“Account”) used in connection with the Service and includes, but is not limited to, any new features or tools which are added to the current Service, or any related content, services, or products provided by Graphical Networks LLC (“Graphical Networks”).
The Service is owned and operated by Graphical Networks LLC Inc. and is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies (including, without limitation, the Graphical Networks Software Subscription Services (SaaS) Agreement) and procedures that may be published by Graphical Networks from time to time through the Graphical Networks website (netTerrain.com) or through any of the Graphical Networks subdomains (collectively, the “Site”) (collectively, the “Agreement”).
In this Agreement, our customers and any of their staff members whom are given access to their Graphical Networks Account are herein referred to as “Subscribers”, and our customers’ customers who use the Service (e.g. to login and manage network documentation) are referred to as “Customers”.
Graphical Networks LLC
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
USA
T: 240-745-5824
This Software Subscription Service (SaaS) Agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the obligations and conditions between you (“Client”) and Graphical Networks LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“Provider”), relating to your use of the Serviced defined herein. Please read this Agreement carefully. Your use of the Services is expressly conditioned on your acceptance of this Agreement.
BY CLICKING THE “I AGREE” ICON BELOW, AND/OR BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ANY TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT USE THE SERVICES AND EXIT IMMEDIATELY BY CLICKING “I DO NOT AGREE” ICON BELOW.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration for the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
Services will be provided during the Subscription Period, from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time by email, telephone or the web, Monday through Friday, exclusive of Graphical Networks holidays, which is subject to change in Graphical Networks sole discretion with 30 days’ notice.
Sorry, Provider does not offer refunds. Client will have service active for the remainder of the Subscription Period.
BY CLICKING “I AGREE” AND/OR BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTOOD IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE SUPERIOR TO, AND SUPERCEDE ANY CONFLICTING OR INCONSISTENT TERMS CONTAINED IN ANY PURCHASE ORDERS, OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED TO THE COMPANY BY YOU, OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE COMPANY, OR AGREEMENTS PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO BY THE PARTIES. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND/OR THE DATA, AND EXIT NOW BY CLICKING ON THE “I DO NOT AGREE” ICON BELOW.
The Graphical Networks netTerrain SaaS Services will achieve System Availability (as defined below) of at least 99.9% during each calendar year of the Subscription Term. All other SaaS Services will achieve System Availability (as defined below) of at least 99% during each calendar year of the Subscription Term. “System Availability” means the number of minutes in a year that the key components of the SaaS Services are operational as a percentage of the total number of minutes in such year, excluding downtime resulting from (a) scheduled maintenance, (b) events of Force Majeure in the SaaS Agreement), (c) malicious attacks on the system, (d) issues associated with the Client’s computing devices, local area networks or internet service provider connections, or (e) inability to deliver services because of acts or omissions of Client or any netTerrain user. Provider reserves the right to take the Service offline for scheduled maintenance for which Client has been provided reasonable notice and Provider reserves the right to change its maintenance window upon prior notice to Client.
If Provider fails to meet System Availability in the month or the year, upon written request by Client (within 30 days after the monthly or annual billing period in question), Provider will issue a credit in Client’s next invoice in an amount equal to 1% of the yearly fee for the affected SaaS Services for each 1% loss of System Availability below stated SLA per SaaS Service, up to a maximum of the Client’s fee for the affected SaaS Services. If the yearly fee has been paid in advance, then at Client’s election Provider shall provide a credit to Client to be used for additional services or term extension. The remedy stated in this paragraph is Client’s sole and exclusive remedy for interruption of SaaS Services and Provider’s failure to meet System Availability.
Graphical Networks’ netTerrain Cloud platform is a highly reliable and secure solution, built on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform. AWS is compliant with various industry-accepted security standards.
Our engineers utilize proven security technologies and techniques to protect netTerrain, its underlying systems and your data from intrusion and unauthorized access.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please email us at: support@graphicalnetworks.com.
1. Where is your Cloud Hosting located?
Graphical Networks utilizes the Amazon AWS cloud infrastructure, for its data storage and backups and shares several AWS standards and accreditations. Our virtualized servers run primarily in the United States, US East (N. Virginia). Please consult with us first, for access on a server outside of the United States.
Amazon AWS is certified by the following security compliance standards:
ISO 27001, 27017, 27018
FISMA
FIPS 140-2
PCI-DSS Level 1
EU Data Protection Directive (95/46/EG)
Reference: Amazon Security Bulletins
2. Who has access to my data?
Graphical Networks does not share customer data with third parties. Administrative access to customer data is not available to anybody outside of the group of administrators set up by your organization’s main admin account.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
Graphical Networks’ access to the backend database is restricted to a very small number of closely managed Graphical Networks administrators. Access to production systems and data follows the security standard of Least Privilege.
3. How is my data protected?
All software maintenance and configuration activities are conducted by Graphical Networks employees. The same databases are never used to store data from different clients (tenants), which is the safest and most robust approach for a multi-tenant enterprise solution. Graphical Networks employs industry standard practices for security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and change management.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
4. Graphical Networks Security Policies
Graphical Networks maintains, and annually updates, a general written Information Security & Access Policy, which details employee’s responsibilities toward confidentiality of client data and acceptable use of resources. All staff must review and sign this policy during on-boarding.
The exit interview reminds ex-employees of their remaining employment restriction and contractual obligations.
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 USA
Email: sales@graphicalnetworks.com
Website: www.graphicalnetworks.com
Tel: +1-240-912-6223
5. After my account expires, what happens to my data?
When your SaaS account expires, all associated data is deleted within 60 days.
Graphical Networks respects your confidentiality and any information you provide to Graphical Networks will never be sold, shared, or rented to other organizations for commercial purposes.
The following terms and conditions govern all use of the Graphical Networks netTerrain Software-as-a-Service (“Service”) and any assigned account (“Account”) used in connection with the Service and includes, but is not limited to, any new features or tools which are added to the current Service, or any related content, services, or products provided by Graphical Networks LLC (“Graphical Networks”).
The Service is owned and operated by Graphical Networks LLC Inc. and is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies (including, without limitation, the Graphical Networks Software Subscription Services (SaaS) Agreement) and procedures that may be published by Graphical Networks from time to time through the Graphical Networks website (netTerrain.com) or through any of the Graphical Networks subdomains (collectively, the “Site”) (collectively, the “Agreement”).
In this Agreement, our customers and any of their staff members whom are given access to their Graphical Networks Account are herein referred to as “Subscribers”, and our customers’ customers who use the Service (e.g. to login and manage network documentation) are referred to as “Customers”.
Graphical Networks LLC
814 W. Diamond Ave. Suite 370
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
USA
T: 240-745-5824
This Software Subscription Service (SaaS) Agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the obligations and conditions between you (“Client”) and Graphical Networks LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (“Provider”), relating to your use of the Serviced defined herein. Please read this Agreement carefully. Your use of the Services is expressly conditioned on your acceptance of this Agreement.
BY CLICKING THE “I AGREE” ICON BELOW, AND/OR BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ANY TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT USE THE SERVICES AND EXIT IMMEDIATELY BY CLICKING “I DO NOT AGREE” ICON BELOW.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration for the mutual promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:
Services will be provided during the Subscription Period, from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time by email, telephone or the web, Monday through Friday, exclusive of Graphical Networks holidays, which is subject to change in Graphical Networks sole discretion with 30 days’ notice.
Sorry, Provider does not offer refunds. Client will have service active for the remainder of the Subscription Period.
BY CLICKING “I AGREE” AND/OR BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTOOD IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU FURTHER AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE SUPERIOR TO, AND SUPERCEDE ANY CONFLICTING OR INCONSISTENT TERMS CONTAINED IN ANY PURCHASE ORDERS, OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED TO THE COMPANY BY YOU, OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE COMPANY, OR AGREEMENTS PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO BY THE PARTIES. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION AND/OR THE DATA, AND EXIT NOW BY CLICKING ON THE “I DO NOT AGREE” ICON BELOW.