Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper: So you can create network maps

On some occasions, you may have needed to do an overview of your work or home network. This representation is called a network diagram, and it can help us, for example, to better understand the structure of a network or to plan its evolutions. In this tutorial, we will learn about Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper , we will explain the main features, how it is installed, we will create a map of a small network and more.

Main features and what we can do

Solarwinds is a company that offers solutions for IT administrators. These types of administrators monitor the business requirements of the organization, research technology strategies and solutions. Moreover, it builds a more cost effective and efficient system to achieve these goals.

Solarwinds offers software solutions for network administration, systems management and IT security. It also offers products for database management, IT service management and application management.

The software that we will present in this tutorial is Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper . It is a product that will allow us to map our network by creating a network diagram. Thus, thanks to this trial software, we can comfortably visualize the infrastructure of our network and navigate it easily. In this sense, we will have an editor to create our computer networks and we will be able to create a map of the networks we need in a simple way. Here is an example of what we can do with the program:

Regarding the main features of the program, we have:

1. Being able to discover network topology, automatically detects and delineates topology and produces comprehensive, easy-to-view network diagrams.
2. It allows you to choose from many discovery methods such as ICMP, WMI, CDP, VMware, Hyper-V, etc.
3. Export network maps from Microsoft Office Visio, PDF, PNG, and more.
4. Provide reliable reports on switch ports, VLANs, subnets, and inventory.
5. Compliant with PCI, FIPS 140-2 and more standards.

Network Topology Mapper program installation and requirements

Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper needs these minimum requirements for its proper functioning:

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Server 2003, Server 2008, Server 2012 or Server 2016.
• You need a 2,66 GHz or higher processor.
• RAM memory: 500 MB.
• Hard disk space: 10 GB (full version) and 150 MB trial version.

The program lets you try it out in a 14-day trial version. If you want to do it, you will have to click on the Download link following . Once the form has been completed with the requested data, we will receive an email with a link to download the program. Next, we unzip the SolarWinds-NTM-v2.2.2-Eval file and run the file there.

Then we will get a screen like this, in which we enter the email that we entered when filling out the form and click on Continue .

Then we follow the instructions until the end of the installation with this screen.

Then we leave the box on the left activated to run the program and click Close.

Home screen, options and network example

The first time you start the program, you get a welcome screen like this:

It should also be noted that, being a trial version, there are many options that work with limitations or cannot be used directly. You will receive a message that this is a demo version. If we press New analysis and configure the appropriate sections, you can analyze a network. Below are examples of network analysis plans.

In the center we have an explanatory video on how Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper is used and what it can offer us. On the right we can get help with, for example, the link to an online program manual. Here is the main menu of the program:

Above we have the files conventional to open, export and import files and more. We also have Show for display options and Help to get help. Now we will click on Open and we will take example #1 of a network diagram created with the program.

If we click on a network device and click the right button, we will get the options that we can do with it. For example, in the properties du node, the window you have on the right will appear and display its properties. It also lets you add text, change icon sizes, and more.

Another curiosity is that it allows to establish connection speeds between computers. In this sense, you have a few display options in which blue represents a 10/100 Mbps connection like this:

By just hovering over the connection line, it will show you the information as above. If you want to create your own map, click New card and we will start creating our own.

Left in Discovered Nodes , dragging a router and a switch to the workspace. So we started creating my network diagram. Then with Solarwinds Network Topology Mapper we added more stuff and here the limit is what the program and your network infrastructure let you.

As you have seen, this program is really interesting, the negative point is that it is not free (and it is not cheap at all), we will have to buy a subscription to the program if we want it use unlimited and with all options unlocked to bring it out to the fullest.