OT: Visio or Autocad
Greetings all, A good friend of mine swears that Autocad is superior for network design to Visio. I don't disagree, but only because I have never used Autocad for network design. So far Visio has generally met my needs when I'm working on a design, but I have found it lacking (or perhaps just my Visio skills?) when trying to merge L2 and L3 designs. Most of the time I start from scratch on each layer, but it does become a burden as changes are made once the design becomes operational, and over its' lifetime. Is anyone using Autocad for network design? What are your thoughts? -- Stephen.
Re: OT: Visio or Autocad
On Wed, 10 Oct 2007, Stephen Fulton wrote: A good friend of mine swears that Autocad is superior for network design to Visio. I don't disagree, but only because I have never used Autocad for network design. So far Visio has generally met my needs when I'm working on a design, but I have found it lacking (or perhaps just my Visio skills?) when trying to merge L2 and L3 designs. Most of the time I start from scratch on each layer, but it does become a burden as changes are made once the design becomes operational, and over its' lifetime. Is anyone using Autocad for network design? What are your thoughts? I'm using AutoCAD, but just for physical plant stuff such as route maps where I can overlay my plant data onto GIS maps. We also use it because architects and contractors sometimes supply us with CAD drawings when we're reviewing construction plans and such. I use Visio 2003 for the 'official' backbone maps used by our NOC and neteng groups. Most of my peers also use Visio for doing design drawings. AutoCAD and Visio both have their strengths and weaknesses. It really boils down to your needs, preferences, learning curve tolerance, etc. I've never tried to use AutoCAD for a network diagram, but for my way of working at least, it would seem to be pretty cumbersome, plus my templates and any customer shapes I've made are already built around Visio, so I'd have to re-create that to do the same task in AutoCad. jms
Re: OT: Visio or Autocad
On 10/10/07, Stephen Fulton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is anyone using Autocad for network design? What are your thoughts? Stephen, I still use Corel Draw 3 for my network diagrams, so its not unheard of to use something other than Visio. The main benefit to Visio comes when -someone else- needs to make an update to your network diagram. They probably have access to a copy of Visio and enough knowledge about using it to make a minor tweak to your diagram. The same can't be said of Autocad. Or Corel Draw. Regards, Bill Herrin -- William D. Herrin [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3005 Crane Dr.Web: http://bill.herrin.us/ Falls Church, VA 22042-3004
RE: OT: Visio or Autocad
It is my uinderstanding that we should use what really works for the individual.. Just because certain individuals OVERUSE Visio for various reasons, I feel that the usage of the best tool to fit the situation is perfectly acceptable. In the end, the printout will still look the same right?? If people want to update the diagram, I feel if you are the source of this diagram then unless you specifically delegate control to someone all revisions should come from or be made by you.. I personally think Visio is way too complex and over done.. Microsoft makes it complicated so that they can not only make money on the purchase of the license, but also rake in the $ from potentially unnecessary training due to the complexity that they have built into the nature of the application.. IE: Microsoft: lets make it so everyone could have a use for it, and lets make it so complicated that we can recover on the training aspect.. It's the Micro$oft Way, rather than fight it, just sitback and be assimiliated. Sounds like a startrek thing.. ;) Although, on the flipside, Microsoft does have it's place in the community, most of their applications seem to help increase productivity and seem to be researched and developed pretty deeply.. Bottom line is, Time and place for everything. Thanks 4 ur time and attention, all the best, e. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of William Herrin Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 5:11 PM To: Stephen Fulton Cc: nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: OT: Visio or Autocad On 10/10/07, Stephen Fulton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is anyone using Autocad for network design? What are your thoughts? Stephen, I still use Corel Draw 3 for my network diagrams, so its not unheard of to use something other than Visio. The main benefit to Visio comes when -someone else- needs to make an update to your network diagram. They probably have access to a copy of Visio and enough knowledge about using it to make a minor tweak to your diagram. The same can't be said of Autocad. Or Corel Draw. Regards, Bill Herrin -- William D. Herrin [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3005 Crane Dr.Web: http://bill.herrin.us/ Falls Church, VA 22042-3004
RE: OT: Visio or Autocad
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of William Herrin Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 5:11 PM To: Stephen Fulton Cc: nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: OT: Visio or Autocad On 10/10/07, Stephen Fulton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is anyone using Autocad for network design? What are your thoughts? Stephen, I still use Corel Draw 3 for my network diagrams, so its not unheard of to use something other than Visio. The main benefit to Visio comes when -someone else- needs to make an update to your network diagram. They probably have access to a copy of Visio and enough knowledge about using it to make a minor tweak to your diagram. The same can't be said of Autocad. Or Corel Draw. Regards, Bill Herrin -- William D. Herrin [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3005 Crane Dr.Web: http://bill.herrin.us/ Falls Church, VA 22042-3004
