On occasion you may have needed to create a map of your home or office network. The reasons can be multiple, such as explaining to someone more easily how your network is distributed, and they can offer you a more suitable solution. Another, too, can be to help us plan how you want to create your new network or improve it. With the Smartdraw Network Diagram software we can fulfill this purpose.
We are going to start talking about Smartdraw, which is what this software offers us, so that we can make a very complete network diagram with extensive customization options.
What can we do with this software
A network diagram could be defined as a visual representation of the network architecture. Thus, we can trace the structure of a network with a great variety of symbols to interpret routers, switches, and also all the wired connections that we have in the local network. It should be noted that this is an ideal way to share the design of a network, as the visual representation makes it easier for users to understand how computers and devices are connected. Smartdraw Network Diagram is a software that will allow us to make our network diagrams.
To begin, it should be noted that Smartdraw gives us two possibilities when using its network diagram software:
- An online use.
- Download the program.
Regarding online use, obviously we will need to have an Internet connection. The tools will be loaded and used in the Internet browser. Another important thing to keep in mind is that if we want to use it online we must create an account.
Regarding this tutorial, we are going to base it on the download of the program and its subsequent installation in Windows 10. Then we will explain the most important sections and create a small network. This is an example of the results that we can obtain with Smartdraw Network Diagram:
With this program we can easily draw the diagram of our LAN, WAN, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network or network and cabling topologies.
The reasons to consider its use are many, such as that it has multiple network design templates, extensive network icon libraries, and, in addition, it has free support. It is also prepared for group and collaborative work, being able to use Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, Onedrive and it is compatible with Word, Excel and Power Point.
Installation and first steps with the program
If you want to try Smartdraw Network Diagram, you have to go to its download section by clicking here . Next, ask you to put your e-mail and click on the Free Download button. Once the file is downloaded, you can consult its installation guide . Before we begin, let’s discuss its minimum performance requirements:
- Operating system: Windows 7/8/10 or Vista.
- 2 GB of RAM.
- 4 GB of free disk space.
Installation is simple, you just have to follow the steps indicated on the screen. Once finished, a screen like this will appear:
Here we are told that it is a trial version and the days that we can use it. In this case, we will click on Click Here to continue . If you want to buy it, you can check a price list and these others are if you only want an online version that is cheaper.
This is an introductory video of Smartdraw Network Diagram which explains in broad terms what the program offers:
Now it’s your turn to start using Smartdraw. Once the program has started, a welcome screen like the following one will appear:
On the left side are the types of projects that we can carry out. Here we have some project examples like:
- Engineering.
- Commercial and residential floor plans.
- Decision trees.
- Infographics.
- Organization charts.
The first time we start it, Network Diagrams is selected by default. As we want to make the representation of a small network so that you can see how it looks, we are in the right position. On the right we have some project templates to choose the one that best suits us at all times. At the top, we have File marked in red, which we are going to talk about briefly below.
As you can see, this is the typical section that we generally find in any main menu of a program. In this case, its most important functions are:
- Open documents to start working directly with them.
- Import Visio documents.
- Save and save as, to store our projects.
- Various on-line functions.
- Activate License to activate the program when we buy a license.
A comment about the trial program, it works in a kind of mixed mode. For example, the first time you work with something, you have to download it and it takes a while. However, the second time you start it, it is faster.
Now is the time to start working to create our network for which we will click on Network Diagram Automatic that I marked in red on the welcome screen.
Main sections of Smartdraw Network Diagram
This is the main screen with which we are going to work to create our network diagram.
We are going to start talking about the sections that you have, marking with red boxes starting from the top down. At the top, where is “File” that I have talked about previously is the “Main Menu”. Some of the options you have are:
- Insert : to insert an image, a link or an object.
- Table : to put a table if we need it.
- Support : in case we want help.
In the second area on the left, we have the typical arrows to advance and delay the actions, in case we have made a mistake or want to see if it suits us better now or earlier. Other interesting buttons are:
- Shape : to draw geometric shapes such as circles, rectangles etc. If you want you can add text inside.
- Line (left): to make different types of line to connect the devices.
- Text : to add text.
- Line (right): to color the lines.
- Effects : used to set effects on some objects. For example, set shadow to a rectangle.
The third section Computers & Servers is where are the icons that we can use to make our network. Simply by double clicking, the chosen symbol will appear in our work area. If we click on the work icon, it will be framed in a square that has four directional arrows.
In the case of stretching one of the 4 arrows, another identical team will create next to us. for example, this is what would happen if we pulled the arrow to the right.
The fourth section, below the icons that we can use, comes a series of arrows and has a behavior very similar to what I just explained. For example, if we click on Add Right, the team we have chosen will be placed on the right.
Finally, the fifth section would work in a similar way. In this case, I would add another two to the team from which it starts in the indicated direction, to end up forming a set of three (they do not have to be the same).
Creating a network example
Now that we have the basic notions to be able to start working with the program, we are going to create a network diagram of a small office with Smartdraw Network Diagram. The network would be composed of the following elements:
- A Wifi router that gives access to the Internet.
- An FTP server.
- A file server.
- Three desktop PCs where employees work.
This would be the network diagram that I have created using these elements:
As you can see, it is a simple network, but you can do as complex as you want. Other elements that could be added are: a web server, a firewall, a cloud and more. Your imagination is the limit to create that network. Thanks to Smartdraw Network Diagram, we can get a visual representation of the architecture of our network.