Braindump

Something that I work with almost everyday is network documentation. Either I have it and I use it to reference something, or I don’t have it and I need it horribly. Well to make things simple, I have a standardized approach to documenting networks. The tools that I use to collect the data may change but the information will most likely be the same. The following is an example of the items that I like to have documented.

Network Identification
Servers | Workstations | Printers
IP Addresses
NetBIOS / Hostnames
MAC Addresses
Description
Installed Software | System Inventory
Make / Model / Serial Numbers
Warranty / Contract Information

Routers | Switches | Access Points
IP Addresses
NetBIOS / Hostnames
MAC Addresses
Description
Latest Configuration
Make / Model / Serial Numbers
Warranty / Contract Information

Firewalls | VPN Concentrators | Hardware Accelerators
IP Addresses
NetBIOS / Hostnames
MAC Addresses
Description
Latest Configuration
Make / Model / Serial Numbers
Warranty / Contract Information

Network Topology
Diagrams | Network Maps
Physical and Logical Diagrams
Layer 3 Networking Diagrams

ISP Information
Description of Links
Contacts and Support Numbers
Account Information
Terms of Service

Network Overview
List of Supported Network Operating Systems
List of Supported Client Operating Systems
List of Supported Network Protocols

IP Information
DHCP Server Settings | Scopes | Options

Network Security Settings
Firewall Configuration
Router Access-Lists
VLAN Access-Lists

Troubleshooting
Change History / Administrator’s Log
Installation History

Network Baseline Information
Traffic Flow and Network Utilization
Bandwidth Utilization
Average Server and Workstation Utilization
Average Server and Workstation Memory Utilization

Backup | Disaster Recovery Plan
Tape Backup Plan
Rotation
Software Configuration
Off-Site Storage
Clustering and Failover Systems
Vendor Phone Numbers for Support
Remote Access Plan for Administrators
On Call Support

Physical Location Documentation
Building Map
Room Numbers
Availabilty of Access Keys

Policies and Procedures

User Rights Policies
Internet Usage Policy
Email Usage Policy

Naming Conventions
Workstations
Servers
Routers
Switches
Access Points
Firewalls
Printers
DNS
Active Directory

Points of Contact

Maintenance Plan

Software Licensing