Network topology mapping is the procedure of visually representing your network layout through the construction of a network map. Tools specifically designed for network topology mapping facilitate automatic creation of these network maps. Given the significant value attributed to dynamic network visualization, it’s beneficial to delve deeper into the workings of network topology mapping.

Creation of Topology Maps

While it’s plausible to manually draft a topology map, and it is possible, it’s often inefficient and susceptible to errors for larger networks. The map would become outdated following the first modification. Therefore, our focus lies on how dynamic network topology maps are automatically generated by network topology software tools.

Although the specifics may differ across various tools, the general procedure for creating a topology map is as follows:

1. The user determines network ranges and credentials (SNMP, TelNet, HTTP, SSH, and WMI), then initiates a scan.
2. The network topology software scans the networks to identify devices and their interconnections.
3. A visual representation of the logical and physical connections is presented to the user.
4. The map is automatically updated on a scheduled plan.

More advanced network topology software allows the user to delve deeper and acquire specific data on devices within the network. For instance, suppose a device is not working, using network topology software, it’s often possible to identify the root cause, using Layer 2 tracing to find that a previous switch was powered down.