LAN Topology Mapper

Get deeper insight into your network with a LAN topology mapper

Automate network diagramming with a LAN topology mapper

Automate network diagramming with a LAN topology mapper

When it comes to mapping your LAN topology, you want to make sure you get a complete image of your network without needing to add each device manually. With SolarWinds® Network Topology Mapper (NTM), creating a complete LAN topology map is built to be simpler.

NTM’s LAN mapper can automatically discover devices on your LAN network to create a clear map representing the devices and their relationships. With NTM, you can scan your whole network or define a seed device or specific IP address ranges to scan smaller sections of your network. The solution then uses industry-standard methods to discover your devices, including SNMP, WMI, ICMP, CDP, VMware, and more.

Create multiple LAN topology maps from a single network scan

Create multiple LAN topology maps from a single network scan

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper makes it easier to create multiple LAN topology maps from a single network discovery scan. Not having to rescan to create more network maps can help you save bandwidth, resources, and time.

If you need a more comprehensive network map, NTM is also built to perform multi-level network discovery to help you better understand the relationships between the devices on your network.

Schedule automated scans to keep your LAN network diagram up to date

Schedule automated scans to keep your LAN network diagram up to date

Keeping track of devices constantly being added or removed from a LAN network can be challenging. SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper can help make it easier to map devices by keeping your network diagrams automatically updated.

The LAN diagram software can automatically detect any changes made to your devices, including routers, switches, servers, desktops, VoIP phones, wireless access points, and more. NTM can also ID new devices and is built to collect metrics on both old and new network devices. The LAN mapper can then update your topology maps to reflect the changes detected in the latest scan to ensure your topology maps are up to date, which can be scheduled to complete at regular intervals, such as daily, weekly, and monthly.

Demonstrate regulatory compliance with a LAN network mapping tool

Demonstrate regulatory compliance with a LAN network mapping tool

LAN network topology maps are about more than just gaining visibility into your network—they’re also important for demonstrating regulatory compliance. SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper is specifically built to be FIPS 140-2 compliant and can help you more easily demonstrate compliance with regulations that require you to maintain an up-to-date network topology map.

The LAN diagram software is designed to create maps that are PCI, SOX, HIPAA, and FIPS 140-2 compliant. With SolarWinds NTM LAN mapping tool, you don’t have to scramble to account for your devices when it’s time for an audit.

More easily view device connection information for VLAN, layer 2, and layer 3

More easily view device connection information for VLAN, layer 2, and layer 3

SolarWinds NTM is built to allow you to simply rollover links between devices located on the topology and diagramming maps to quickly see connection information, such as interface name, port number, SFTP details, and link speed of data passing between devices. NTM can provide connection information for multiple views, including layer 2 (link layer), layer 3 (IP layer), virtual infrastructure (VLAN), and custom/manually created connections. Simply check the relevant box in Connection Display Options to select the appropriate connection information view.
Get More on LAN Topology
Do you find yourself asking…
  • What is LAN topology?
  • What are the types of LAN topologies?
  • Why are LAN topology and LAN topology mapper important?
  • What does LAN topology software do?
  • How does LAN topology mapping work in NTM?
  • What is LAN topology?

    LAN topology is defined as the ways devices, nodes, and connections on your local area network (LAN) are arranged in relation to each other. You can either have a physical LAN topology or a logical LAN topology.

    • Physical topology refers to the physical connections between the many nodes on your network—including the cables and wires connecting the devices. It covers the concrete connections between those nodes.
    • A logical topology refers to how nodes relate to each other in terms of how data and traffic move through them. It helps explain both how and why the network is arranged the way it is.

  • What are the types of LAN topologies?

    There are a few different primary types of LAN topologies, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. These topologies can be used for both physical and logical LAN topologies and can be adjusted and combined as needed. The basic LAN topologies are:

    Bus: The bus topology is a linear topology that orients all the devices on your network along a cable running in a single direction from one end of your network to the other. Data flowing through the network will also flow in one direction with this topology.

    Ring: In a ring topology, your nodes are arranged on a closed circular transmission path where data passes through each station in order before coming back to its point of origin. Ring topologies use multistation access units, or MAUs, to let each device connect to the LAN. The MAUs let data travel either clockwise or counterclockwise.

    Star: In the star topology all your devices are connected to a central hub, like a switch or hub, through dedicated or shared LAN segments. Unlike with the bus or ring topologies, the loss of a single link will not interfere with the connection for all the other unaffected nodes since each node is attached to the central hub independently.

    Tree: With the tree topology, the central hub acts as a sort of trunk for the LAN network, with nodes extending outwards like branches. Unlike in a star topology, not every node is connected directly to the central hub. Instead, there is a parent-child hierarchy to the nodes. The nodes connected to the central hub are also linearly connected to other nodes.

  • Why are LAN topology and LAN topology mapper important?

    The layout of your network can play a critical role when it comes to both how and how well your network functions. When you choose the right LAN topology for your network, you can improve performance while also making it easier to identify problems, troubleshoot issues, and allocate resources more effectively.

    A LAN network mapper can give you a visual representation of your network and the relationships between your devices. The mapper can also help you keep track of what’s happening in your network and even demonstrate compliance with industry standards that demand you have an up-to-date topology map.

  • What does LAN topology software do?

    LAN topology software is built to take the difficulty out of maintaining an up-to-date LAN topology map. Instead of manually creating and updating your LAN topology maps—a process that can be inefficient, time-consuming, and prone to human error—a LAN mapper can automatically discover devices on your network and create a map representing your full LAN topology. LAN topology software maps can help give you insight into device configuration and performance issues that could be more difficult to identify using manual device topology mapping.

    LAN topology software can automate the process of network discovery and topology mapping by scanning your LAN network to discover the devices connected to it. The tool can use discovery protocols, including SNMP, CDP, ICMP, and more, to detect nodes, then the LAN mapper can collect polling data to understand the function of each of the nodes and is designed to create a map to visually represent the devices it discovers and their relationships. A quality LAN mapping tool can also let you schedule automated scans to check your network for any changes to your devices at regular intervals. If there are changes, the tool can automatically update your LAN topology map to reflect them, so your map stays up to date.

  • How does LAN topology mapping work in NTM?

    SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper (NTM) is built to simplify the LAN topology mapping process by automating network discovery, mapping, and allows you to create several maps from a single network scan to save you bandwidth, resources, and time by not having to rescan each time you would like to create another map. NTM can also help ensure your LAN topology maps are up to date by letting you schedule automated network scans at an interval of your choosing. If NTM discovers changes to your network devices, it can automatically update the maps accordingly.

    The tool is also highly customizable to allow you to create the network topology view you need. For example, NTM lets you manually add and remove devices and customize scans to focus on specific subnets or to exclude certain devices. The tool’s Network Discovery Scan Wizard can also make it easier to conduct one-time network scans whenever you need them or create a specific schedule for scans that occur at your desired time interval. Once you have a full scan of your network, NTM also lets you customize the visual interface of your LAN topology diagram, so it’s as useful to you as possible.

What is LAN topology?

LAN topology is defined as the ways devices, nodes, and connections on your local area network (LAN) are arranged in relation to each other. You can either have a physical LAN topology or a logical LAN topology.

  • Physical topology refers to the physical connections between the many nodes on your network—including the cables and wires connecting the devices. It covers the concrete connections between those nodes.
  • A logical topology refers to how nodes relate to each other in terms of how data and traffic move through them. It helps explain both how and why the network is arranged the way it is.

Close
What are the types of LAN topologies?

There are a few different primary types of LAN topologies, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. These topologies can be used for both physical and logical LAN topologies and can be adjusted and combined as needed. The basic LAN topologies are:

Bus: The bus topology is a linear topology that orients all the devices on your network along a cable running in a single direction from one end of your network to the other. Data flowing through the network will also flow in one direction with this topology.

Ring: In a ring topology, your nodes are arranged on a closed circular transmission path where data passes through each station in order before coming back to its point of origin. Ring topologies use multistation access units, or MAUs, to let each device connect to the LAN. The MAUs let data travel either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Star: In the star topology all your devices are connected to a central hub, like a switch or hub, through dedicated or shared LAN segments. Unlike with the bus or ring topologies, the loss of a single link will not interfere with the connection for all the other unaffected nodes since each node is attached to the central hub independently.

Tree: With the tree topology, the central hub acts as a sort of trunk for the LAN network, with nodes extending outwards like branches. Unlike in a star topology, not every node is connected directly to the central hub. Instead, there is a parent-child hierarchy to the nodes. The nodes connected to the central hub are also linearly connected to other nodes.

Close
Why are LAN topology and LAN topology mapper important?

The layout of your network can play a critical role when it comes to both how and how well your network functions. When you choose the right LAN topology for your network, you can improve performance while also making it easier to identify problems, troubleshoot issues, and allocate resources more effectively.

A LAN network mapper can give you a visual representation of your network and the relationships between your devices. The mapper can also help you keep track of what’s happening in your network and even demonstrate compliance with industry standards that demand you have an up-to-date topology map.

Close
What does LAN topology software do?

LAN topology software is built to take the difficulty out of maintaining an up-to-date LAN topology map. Instead of manually creating and updating your LAN topology maps—a process that can be inefficient, time-consuming, and prone to human error—a LAN mapper can automatically discover devices on your network and create a map representing your full LAN topology. LAN topology software maps can help give you insight into device configuration and performance issues that could be more difficult to identify using manual device topology mapping.

LAN topology software can automate the process of network discovery and topology mapping by scanning your LAN network to discover the devices connected to it. The tool can use discovery protocols, including SNMP, CDP, ICMP, and more, to detect nodes, then the LAN mapper can collect polling data to understand the function of each of the nodes and is designed to create a map to visually represent the devices it discovers and their relationships. A quality LAN mapping tool can also let you schedule automated scans to check your network for any changes to your devices at regular intervals. If there are changes, the tool can automatically update your LAN topology map to reflect them, so your map stays up to date.

Close
How does LAN topology mapping work in NTM?

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper (NTM) is built to simplify the LAN topology mapping process by automating network discovery, mapping, and allows you to create several maps from a single network scan to save you bandwidth, resources, and time by not having to rescan each time you would like to create another map. NTM can also help ensure your LAN topology maps are up to date by letting you schedule automated network scans at an interval of your choosing. If NTM discovers changes to your network devices, it can automatically update the maps accordingly.

The tool is also highly customizable to allow you to create the network topology view you need. For example, NTM lets you manually add and remove devices and customize scans to focus on specific subnets or to exclude certain devices. The tool’s Network Discovery Scan Wizard can also make it easier to conduct one-time network scans whenever you need them or create a specific schedule for scans that occur at your desired time interval. Once you have a full scan of your network, NTM also lets you customize the visual interface of your LAN topology diagram, so it’s as useful to you as possible.

Close

Automate LAN topology mapping

Network Topology Mapper

  • Automatically discover your entire LAN network with scheduled scans

  • Use out-of-the-box LAN topology layouts to display your map

  • Use multiple network discovery methods including SNMP, ICMP, WMI, VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, CDP, and more

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