One major problem with the CND is the long period time before the database
reflects newer products. For example, the db update I received last week was
the very first time GE was made available for the tool. To date, the db
still doesn't reflect the Catalyst 3550, a very popular gap-filler switch
with high customer demand. There is no telling what other products are
missing from the database and you only find out when you're ready to include
it in your design. The CCO configurator with your own product knowledge is
still tops for putting together a Cisco design.
my 2 pennies
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Griffin"
To:
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2001 8:53 AM
Subject: RE: network map for campus-size network [7:9199]
> Prescilla...My opinions/suggestions
>
> All of the earlier suggestions are good as well (Visio, Netviz, etc.), but
I
> also really like the Cisco Network Designer (CND), produced by Netformx
> (www.netformx.com).
>
> Like an earlier respondent stated, this is a high performance app that is
> CPU, memory and disk space intensive, BUT here are a few reasons why I
like
> it for predominantly Cisco networks:
>
> 1. It is the standardized network diagraming tool used by the internal
> Cisco engineering staff.
>
> 2. It includes an active (updatable) database of EVERY currently
available
> Cisco platform and all componentry. In fact it includes complete
databases
> of over 70 other vendor products and options as well (from 3Com through
> Zircom; PCs, OSs, hubs, switches, routers, add-ons, etc.). You pay for
the
> weekly update service.
>
> 3. The internal logic is AI, rules based and can recognize chassis,
> accessories, modules, blades, IOS version, memory configurations, as well
as
> data link and IP addresses. Autodiscovery can generate a logical (Layer
3)
> network diagram of any SNMP compliant device (any included vendor). The
> report generator can produce an asset list in several forms, including by
> device type, vendor, or drawing level, and display model number, MAC
> address, and IP address(es)--great for a preliminary network audit survey
or
> design upgrade project. Will tell you where the obsolete devices or even
> obsolete blades are located. You can design the network from the ground
up,
> or capture the existing network and upgrade it. The key advantage to CND
> (over other apps) is that the AI configuration wizard recognizes physical
> configuration mistakes (wrong IOS feature set, not enough DRAM or FLASH,
no
> compatible interface, etc.) while you are building the network, and based
on
> the latest available components.
>
> 4. Graphics can be exported to HTML, Visio, or even bit-mapped. Text and
> tabular data can be exported to ASCII, Word, Excel etc. Legacy Vision
> diagrams can be imported to CND. Exports lose the AI logic, but imports
can
> gain it if the device is recognized within the extensive object library.
>
> 5. As a Cisco instructor, I have used CND to document student networks in
> the lab, in order to verify IP configurations, and I generally recommend
it
> as a tool option to Design class students. (I actually taught the CND
> Orientation class to partners during the initial worldwide deployment last
> year--now the classes are on-line or delivered through Cisco field
offices.)
>
> 6. The price range is compatible with Netviz if all options are purchased
> (weekly updating and Enterprise level autodiscovery), but even without
the
> enterprise level discovery it is comparable to Visio on steroids. The
> included local autodiscovery is acually more suitable for modular
> compilation of large networks.
>
> Lastly, I must add a kudo for your book "Top-Down Network Design" which I
> reference in virtually all of my classes, especially DCN--it is a classic
> and well written!!
>
> (BTW, A trial version of Designer can be gotten from Netformx or maybe
from
> Cisco directly).
>
> Cheers...
>
> Dennis Griffin
> (PSC->Geotrain->Global Knowledge)
Message Posted at:
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