One of the network administrator's main jobs is to keep the network documentation up-to-date. I suggest that you keep all important information about your network in a three-ring binder. Give this binder a clever name, such as The Network Binder. Here are some items it should include:
An up-to-date diagram of the network: This diagram can be a detailed floor plan showing the location of each computer or a more abstract and Picasso-like depiction. Anytime you change the network layout, update the diagram. Include a detailed description of the change, the date that the change was made, and the reason for the change.
Tip | Microsoft sells the Visio program, which is specially designed for creating network diagrams. I highly recommend it. |
A detailed inventory of your computer equipment: Table 15-1 provides a sample checklist you can use to keep track of your computer equipment.
Computer location: | |
User: | |
Manufacturer: | |
Model number: | |
Serial number: | |
Date purchased: | |
CPU type and speed: | |
Memory: | |
Hard drive size: | |
Video type: | |
Printer type: | |
Other equipment: | |
Operating system version: | |
Application software and version: | |
Network card type: | |
MAC address: |
A System Information printout for each computer: Choose Start All Programs Accessories System Tools System Information.
A detailed list of network shares and standard drive assignments: Don't just list the name of each network share; provide a brief description of each share's purpose as well.
Any other information that you think may be useful: Give details about how you must configure a particular application program to work with the network and copies of every network component's original invoice-just in case something breaks and you need to seek warranty service.
Backup schedules: Include a schedule of when each server is backed up as well as an explanation of the tape rotation schedule.
Warning | Never put passwords in the binder! |
Tip | Even if you keep track of the information in your network binder by using a spreadsheet or database program, keep a printed copy of the information on hand. |
If your network is large, you may want to invest in a network-discovery program, such as NetworkView Software's NetworkView (http://www.networkview.com). This program can gather the network documentation automatically: It scans the network carefully for every computer, printer, router, and other device it can find and then builds a database of information. The program then automatically draws a pretty diagram and chugs out helpful reports.