ARTICLE

Static vs. Dynamic:

Marked Differences in Diagramming
Until recently, network professionals relied solely on one type of network diagram: the static
diagram. Static network diagrams are simply visual network representations depicted by icons
and shapes. The most primitive static diagrams are hand-drawn and manually updated. They
require so much time to create and maintain that often theyve lost their value to network
engineers shortly after theyre created.

Software-Driven Static Diagrams

Static diagrams can, of course, also be rendered using traditional static network diagramming
software. Like hand-drawn diagrams, software-generated diagrams require constant manual
upkeep to remain current. Microsoft Visio is one of the most commonly used network
diagramming platforms. It works like a blank slate where engineers can drag and drop icons,
which represent network devices, and connect them visually.
While Visio depictions are a sharper, more attractive version of manual diagrams, they are
still cumbersome to create and update. The icons in Visio diagrams are unrecognized by the
software after they are created. The system does not know the meaning of a router icon or
FastEthernet link. In other words, the icons contain no data, so it is up to engineers to assume
continuous responsibility for manually updating the Visio diagrams.
Static network diagram-generation software with auto-discovery simplifies network
diagramming somewhat more than Visio. This kind of platform can perform a basic network
discovery, enabling experienced engineers to build diagrams based on the outcome. The autodiscovery feature speeds the diagramming process considerably, but only in designated areas
of the network.

Network Evolution and Static Diagrams

Organizations that rely on static diagrams have difficulty keeping them current. Estimates
indicate that the average enterprise network requires two changes per network device per
year, on average. These changes can amount to 2,000 or more updates per year in a larger
network. Network engineers simply cannot make 2,000-plus network updates every year.
Static diagramming software is not able to detect changes automatically, and still relies on
human intervention to apply updates. The challenges of keeping documentation current still
remain. Todays engineers must be able to leverage diagrams that accurately depict the actual
state of the network at any time.

Dynamic Diagramming: An Innovative Approach

Enter the dynamic network diagram. Dynamic diagramming is different from static
diagramming in two important ways:
1. The icons that appear on the map are modeled by a mathematical formula. The system
recognizes the icon as a network device and associates properties with it that inform
the system how to get data from the device. In this sense, the icons are not simply
graphics; they are representations of actual network devices.
2. Dynamic diagrams can leverage the live network. As data from the live network is
modified, dynamic diagrams can be updated automatically to reflect the changes.
Dynamic diagramming software automatically grabs changes from the live network
and applies them to the network diagram. In other words, dynamic mapping reflexively
creates and maintains a live network map without any human intervention to
implement change.
Networks change constantly to adapt to evolving business demands. From week to week,
they grow and shift both from reactive changes and also to accommodate planned network
growth. With dynamic mapping, engineers can access up-to-the-minute data from the live
network to refresh existing maps. These dynamic maps represent a significant advancement
that network engineers can count on to troubleshoot and manage networks every day.
The data contained in dynamic diagrams acts like a key that unlocks network insights.
Dynamic maps are accessible on-demand and can be adjusted to meet a users specific needs.
In todays workplace, where advances happen almost on a daily basis, dynamic diagramming
is not only usefulits indispensible.

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Founded in 2004, NetBrain set out to pursue a new vision: automate time-consuming
tasks associated with network documentation, design, and troubleshooting. NeBrains
customers are using map-driven automation to eliminate manual network
documentation, automate troubleshooting tasks, and mitigate security risks. NetBrain
is headquartered in Burlington, MA with offices in Sacramento, CA, New York, and
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