Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1
1. Why Legacy Diagramming Fails Our Business 1
2. Dynamic Mapping - A Fresh Approach 2
Data-Driven Mapping 2
Third Party Data Integration 3
Diagrams On-Demand (Simple Input, Visual Output) 4
Dynamic Network Overview 6
Infinite Layers of Detail 7
Automatically Updated 7

3. NetBrain: A Fully Dynamic Solution 8

Dynamic Map as a Data-Driven Diagram 8
Executable Runbooks Powered by Dynamic Maps 9
Dynamic Map Integration With Visio 10
Creating a Design Document From a Dynamic Map 10

 Executive Summary

Accurate network diagrams are the Holy Grail in

enterprise network management –almost any task starts
with up-to-date documentation. We all know we should
be documenting our networks, but historically there
hasn’t really been a good way of doing it. Today’s manual
diagramming methods are prohibitively time-consuming,
and so-called “static diagram generating software” still
falls short.

Existing “static” diagramming solutions simply can’t

keep up with the pace of change in today’s enterprise
networks. A more dynamic mapping solution is needed.
Dynamic mapping is a leap forward in diagramming
technology, replacing gigabytes of static diagrams with
the right diagram, created the moment it’s needed.
Dynamic maps are built from live network data,
accessible on demand, and updated automatically. By
implementing dynamic mapping technology, enterprises
are equipped with up-to-date diagrams that accelerate
troubleshooting, drive safe network changes, and
mitigate security risks.

01 | Executive Summary netbraintech.com |

 1. Why Legacy Diagramming Fails Our Businesses

Network diagrams are the go-to visual aid engineers turn to when
troubleshooting connectivity problems or considering design changes.
Yet with the volume, velocity, and variety of change in today’s networks,
maintaining an up-to-date diagram repository manually is virtually
Without visual aids, the impossible. Diagrams are obsolete almost as soon as they’re finished.
ability to understand
Consequently, static diagrams are best described as historical snapshots
complex networks
begins to break down. – accurate when created, but increasingly untrustworthy as time goes by.
Network engineers are understandably skeptical of static diagrams, often
choosing to create brand-new diagrams instead of relying on old ones.
Accurate network Accurate network diagrams have become the “Holy Grail” for most network
diagrams have become
the “Holy Grail” for teams.
network teams.
Traditional network diagramming is extremely manual, broken down into
two phases: data collection and drawing. There are conflicting schools of
thought regarding how much data is too much, but at a minimum engineers
Second-generation
“static diagram need to collect hostnames, interface IP address definitions, and routes
generators” have failed from devices before they can begin drawing. More data makes diagrams
due to scalability and
usability problems. useful for a broader range of tasks, but with a limited amount of room
for stencils and labels on a single diagram, too much detail clutters the
document.

The industry has tried a variety of approaches to improve upon purely

manual diagram creation, but with limited success. In the 1990s, Microsoft
added an SNMP-based discovery function to Visio so that users
could automate the creation of network diagrams, but the tool wasn’t
sophisticated enough to handle the complexity of most networks. Several
second-generation mapping tools emerged in the 2000s in the form of
static diagram generators. The underlying technology behind these tools
– many of which still exist today – hasn’t changed. Second-generation
diagramming tools still use SNMP to scan the network and generate
batches of static diagrams. The biggest challenge for these

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 second-generation tools is scalability; they just can’t generate usable
diagrams of large networks, as the result is a chaotic mess of lines and
icons.

2. Dynamic Mapping – A Fresh Approach

Truly dynamic maps Dynamically changing enterprise networks require a dynamic mapping
are driven by math- solution. But what characterizes a network diagram as “dynamic”? The
ematically modeled,
best way to answer this question is by examining how dynamic mapping
real-world data.
technology was leveraged by online mapping services to replace hard-copy
road atlases. Google Maps is a good example of an online mapping service
SNMP discovery is not we can use to draw analogies to network diagramming.
enough to build an
accurate, data-driven
network model.
Data-Driven Mapping
Google Maps are “data-driven,” which means that Google uses a
mathematical model of Earth’s topography (overlaid with petabytes of
other transportation and business data) to render the geodata displayed on
each map. That’s how every landmark and road on a Google map is more
than just an icon and label; each is backed by real data (e.g., street view
images, business names, and phone numbers), guaranteeing accuracy.

A Google map is dynamic because it’s capable of change and/or action

(as opposed to being fixed or static). We can zoom in on local sections of
the map, drill down into icon elements to get data details, or zoom out to
get a broader bird’s-eye view. As the data (e.g., road closures, business
relocations) changes, the mathematical model updates dynamically, and
the map reflects the new reality.

Similarly, a truly dynamic network map represents a live rendering of a

mathematical model derived from live network data. The data elements
behind each device icon and interface label on the map are part of that
model (device images, properties, config data, etc.), so any network

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 changes are updated automatically on the map. All this data needs to
be dynamically accessible so that it doesn’t congest the map with its
complexity.

Figure 1: Google Street Map with Landmark Data Elements

Figure 2: Network Map with Device and Interface Data Elements

In a network environment, SNMP discovery alone is insufficient for

collecting this level of data – other methods (specifically, telnet/SSH)
need to be in place to dig deeper into the network’s configuration
and design. Further, systems need to be in place to guarantee the
fidelity of the data over time so the diagrams always reflect the latest
network changes.

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 Third-Party Data Integration
With API integration, a Dynamic Map enables a “single pane of glass” view
across multiple IT systems, integrating data from networking monitoring,
trouble-ticketing, CMDB, event management systems, and more. Whether
it’s visualizing hardware maintenance information or the status of open
tickets, third-party data can be visualized on the map.

When it comes to application issues, the network is always guilty until

proven innocent! Because Dynamic Map information is presented in the
context of the network, it makes it easier to point to a specific network
issue – or clear the network from blame. Dynamic Maps integrate
seamlessly with existing workflows and serve as a shared console – and
single source of truth – for cross-team collaboration.

Figure 3: A Dynamic Map is a Single Pane of Glass.

Diagrams On-Demand (Simple Input, Visual Output)

Most enterprise network diagram repositories have hundreds of diagrams,
but rarely the one that’s really needed. By way of example, let’s say a poorly
performing application traverses the network across three data centers. To
troubleshoot the issue, a single diagram with the relevant devices from the
three data centers is required – not three separate diagrams with all devices
in each data center. In other words, the diagram should adapt dynamically
to the task at hand.

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 Google Maps handles this problem by allowing a “filtered” view of the
global map, for example, by searching for a landmark and mapping the
area around it, or mapping directions between a starting and destination
address. Similarly, dynamic mapping focuses on creating a tailored
diagram containing just the critical elements related to a specific need
– precisely at the moment it’s needed. The table below describes some
scenarios where a tailored map could address common network tasks.

Figure 4: Diagramming On-Demand (Simple Input, Visual Output)

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 Dynamic Network Overview
Just like zooming into Google Earth to see a particular region or city on
the globe, a dynamic mapping solution should provide a single global view
of the network which a network engineer can drill into site-by-site. By
zooming into a network site, detailed layer-3 topology and design data
should be immediately accessible, and the connections between each site
obvious.

Figure 5: Dynamic Global View of Earth

Figure 6: Dynamic Global View of a Network Topology

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 Infinite Layers of Detail
In addition to the zoom-in and -out capability, what makes a network map
dynamic is the ability to layer a virtually infinite amount of data onto the
diagram. Just as Google Maps doesn’t display all the underlying data on the
screen but still has it all available dynamically by clicking on icons, dynamic
network maps should be able to toggle on or off various data views or
display multiple levels of data simultaneously.

Figure 7: Data Views Toggle Between Different Types of Data on a Map.

Automatically Updated
Google uses a combination of crowdsourcing and manual data collection
to maintain the accuracy of its map data, ensuring that people don’t go
the wrong way down a one-way street. With a dynamic network map, this
level of data integrity is equally important. Dynamic Maps should rely on a
system of data which is automatically maintained and updated. That way,
diagrams can be created from live data the moment they are needed.
In special cases, when diagrams need to be defined ahead of time, they
should be updated automatically every time they are opened.

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 Figure 8: A Saved Map Can Be Automatically Updated with Recent
Network Changes

3. NetBrain: A Fully Dynamic Solution

NetBrain Technologies was founded on the principles of dynamic

mapping to address the challenges of inaccurate network
documentation. NetBrain’s unique Dynamic Maps serve as the primary
network management interface for documentation, troubleshooting, and
change verification.

Dynamic Map as a Data-Driven Diagram

NetBrain collects a deeper level of data from the live network than
any other network mapping tool on the market. The unique discovery
and benchmark engine leverages telnet/SSH in addition to traditional
SNMP to log in to every device and extract configuration and design
data. This data is compiled into a mathematical model of the network.
Every Dynamic Map represents a rendering of that mathematical model,
making all the data visually accessible.

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 Figure 9: Live Data Extracted during Discovery/Benchmark

Executable Runbooks Powered by Dynamic Maps

Many organizations leverage playbooks to implement policies and
procedures, such as troubleshooting guides or security checklists. These
playbooks are difficult to implement because they are manual. NetBrain’s
Executable Runbooks empower teams with a reusable methodology,
powered by dynamic mapping.

NetBrain workflows can be triggered via third-party API calls. For example,
when a trouble ticket is created as soon as a performance threshold is
breached, NetBrain can instantly map the part of the network relevant to
the issue and launch a troubleshooting workflow to collect data at the time
the alert was generated.

There are several methods of rendering a Dynamic Map within NetBrain,

depending on the requirements of the task at hand. The following table
gives some examples of real-world tasks that can benefit from on-demand
mapping embedded into automated workflows.

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 Automation for Real-World Scenarios

Troubleshoot Slow Applications

Map out a slow application instantly and diagnose performance issues from the map.

Migrate Data Centers

Automatically discover and document a data center before/after migration.

Assess a Network for VoIP Readiness

Map out potential VoIP paths and measure advanced performance metrics along the paths.

Troubleshoot Multicasting Issues

Instantly map a downstream source tree and monitor multicast traffic on the map.

Meet Compliance Mandates

Automatically generate detailed documentation and validate network parameters against
security and compliance checklists, e.g., for NIST, PCI, SOX, or HIPAA.

Defend the Network Against Cyber-Attacks

Auto-trigger a diagnostic workflow and map the path of malicious traffic the instant an
attack is detected by an IDS/SIEM.

Dynamic Map Integration with Visio

Network teams don’t need to abandon their existing Visio diagrams
altogether; NetBrain’s dynamic mapping solution can integrate them.
Once a Visio diagram repository is indexed by NetBrain, all of the Visio
diagrams become searchable. Both Dynamic Maps and existing Visio
diagrams integrated with NetBrain are listed in search results.

Dynamic Maps are both forward- and backward- compatible with Visio.
Visio diagrams can be imported and translated into the dynamic format.
Conversely, Dynamic Maps can be exported to the standard Visio format
and maintained automatically on a set schedule. Even if policy mandates
an updated Visio database, NetBrain users don’t have to worry about
manually updating the diagrams.

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 Figure 10: Export from Dynamic Map to Visio Format

Creating a Design Document from a Dynamic Map

Diagrams aren’t the only form of documentation that network teams use
to collaborate. Many teams generate MS Word documents for internal
design reviews or for compliance reporting. With NetBrain, engineers can
automatically export data directly from a Dynamic Map to a pre-defined
template in MS Word.

Figure 11: Export from Dynamic Map to MS Word Document

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About NetBrain Technologies, Inc.
Founded in 2004, NetBrain is the market leader in network
automation. Its ground-breaking platform leverages the power
of Dynamic Maps and Executable Runbooks to provide CIOs and
network teams with end-to-end network visibility and analysis
across physical, virtual, and software-defined networking
environments.

Today, more than 1,800 of the world’s largest enterprises and

managed service providers use NetBrain to automate network
documentation, accelerate troubleshooting, and strengthen
network security—while integrating with a rich ecosystem of
partners. NetBrain is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts,
with offices in Sacramento, California; Munich, Germany; and
Beijing, China.

For more information, visit https://www.netbraintech.com/.

NetBrain® and the NetBrain logo are registered trademarks of
NetBrain Technologies.

NetBrain Technologies, Inc. +1 800 605 7964

15 Network Drive info@netbraintech.com
Burlington, MA 01803 www.netbraintech.com