Free home network diagram software

It might not have some of the extras that a paid program like Microsoft Visio features, but it is more than up to the task of diagramming a small office network. It runs only in Windows and can be used for collaborative work with customers and colleagues.

Free sample diagrams are available to help you get started. Pricing : CADE is available for free download. It seems to be the favorite free resource on the Spiceworks professional IT board. The yWorks website features extensive instructions and documentation for using the tool—this is very helpful for beginners.

Pricing : yED is free to download and use in a business capacity. Available for Windows, Linux, OSX and coming soon for Web, MaSSHandra uses a real 3D environment to create network diagrams—especially handy if your network extends vertically on more than one floor of a building.

Pricing : MaSSHandra is free for everyone to download and use, and donations are welcome. While technically not free, Powerpoint can be used to rough out a simple network diagram. There is free clip art dedicated to helping with this task. Download the selected clip art to a device, and in PowerPoint, navigate to the Insert tab and click the Object button to drop icons onto the presentation.

Starting with a grid pattern on a blank presentation helps keep a network diagram looking tidy—to do this, simply navigate to the View tab, and check the box for Gridlines. Pricing : Check stores for Microsoft Office or Microsoft Office for appropriate packages for your business.

Gliffy is a browser-based application that features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for constructing floor plans and network diagrams. It can be used to organize, plan, and troubleshoot home or professional networks, and populated with images of typical office items. There are a number of pre-diagramed networks available in case you needed ideas for designing your own. Pricing : Gliffy is free to try for 30 days.

It cannot be stated enough—having a plan to connect your devices is a critical first step of a small office network setup. With one or more of these tools, you will be able to draw a network diagram and get started building your home or small office infrastructure. Out of curiosity, which of these tools if any was used to produce the network diagram at the start of the article? Learn more. Fret not, as relying on a home network diagram can make things easier, allowing you to identify the best layout for your home or office, provided you plan on connecting every compatible gadget to the internet.

In , where the concept of a smart IOT based devices is slowly evolving into a household affair, courtesy of Zigbee, Edge computing, AI, and other technologies, it is necessary for you to analyze the home network layout before going ahead with an ISP, modem, router, mesh, or even a combo.

Also, not every home network comprises wireless devices and there are times when you need to use the Ethernet ports, Switches, and other physical accessories to connect select gadgets to the internet. Knowledge of the home network is necessary if you are planning to buy a router or a mesh with extenders for your home or office. Plus, much like any other network diagram, having a home network layout at your disposal allows you to cut installation costs whilst accommodating routing devices, switches, modems, extenders, and other resources in a lag-free way.

If you are still not convinced about this discussion, here are some of the other benefits of pre-defining the home network design:. Also, if you are looking to keep the discussion as simple as possible, a secured and basic home network typically comprises three essential elements, including a router, switch, and firewall.

Despite most home networks simply being the variations of specific network layouts, each comes with its share of pros and cons. While some are highly secured, some are designed to emphasize speed and even security. Probably the most common network layout, this conglomerate features a standard router with a reliable wireless adapter.

Considering that you already have a modem with the ISP feeding into the same, the router is supposed to connect to the modem via the WAN port. It is the router that makes the entire home network wireless and it is advisable to purchase one with MU-MIMO support for it to handle multiple connection requests without slowing down. The basic layout inclusions are modem, router, and the devices that are to be connected.

This home network layout mitigates the range and connectivity-specific issues of a router. As a part of this network layout, the home devices are connected to the router via the Ethernet cable. Good routers offer 2 to even 4 Gig Ethernet ports, thereby allowing you to set up wired connections with ease. Unlike the wireless network that can be established via USB network adapters, Ethernet networks only work if the concerned device has a network adapter to show for.

Plus, you need to understand that not every Ethernet port connects to the gadgets at home. But then, Ethernet networks hardly fit in if you are seeing internet connectivity for a significantly large home.

This is where Switches come into play and I shall talk about these in some other network layouts. Probably the most common home network, this layout comprises a router or a router-modem combo, depending on your budget. Better termed as a hybrid network, most devices are either connected wirelessly or via Ethernet ports. A good approach to setting up this home network is to purchase a router with at least four Ethernet ports and a decent enough range.

A rule of thumb, for this type of home network, is to assign the Ethernet ports to the most demanding home devices, including the Smart Hub. Most home and office-based setups use UTP cables to connect the wired devices. This type of network is rarely established owing to the lack of necessary security safeguards. However, individuals who only have one device at home often look to minimize the additional costs associated with purchasing a router by connecting the device directly to the modem.

This way, you end up accessing the direct ISP line, which is still equally fast but plagued by the lack of security. As the internet comprises malicious elements, this network layout is often avoided by private and even professional users. Plus, the IP address pertaining to the modem is persisted as you do not have a routing device at your disposal. This network is perfect if you are planning to expand the Ethernet support of your router.

Also known as a router-switch network, this setup allows you to connect multiple devices to the router, using the Ethernet itself.

Most routers have limited Ethernet ports with even the best ones only featuring only 4. A Switch can, therefore, increase the Ethernet coverage and allow several devices to be connected to the internet via the UTP Ethernet cable.

Plus, a switch-based network can either be managed or unmanaged. In case you connect the Ethernet port to a managed switch, depending on the number of ports you seek, you can make use of network prioritization, traffic control, and also get access to virtual LANs. However, as a managed switch can cost you a fortune, it is better to set up a Smart Switch network. The Switch selection is at your prerogative as you can select a 4-port Switch or even one with 48 ports to show for.

Click a network diagram template below to start creating a network mapping now. You can also share files with non SmartDraw users by simply emailing them a link. You can easily make a network diagram and share it in your Confluence documentation or attach a network topology diagram to a Jira issue.

Easy Network Diagram and Drawing Tool. Quick-Start Network Design Templates Dozens of network diagram examples make you instantly productive. Choose a network diagram template that is most similar to your project and customize it to suit your needs.