Computer network diagram

A computer network diagram is a schematic depicting the nodes and connections amongst nodes in a computer network or, more generally, any telecommunications network. Computer network diagrams form an important part of network documentation.

Symbolization

Readily identifiable icons are used to depict common network appliances, e.g. routers, and the style of lines between them indicates the type of connection. Clouds are used to represent networks external to the one pictured for the purposes of depicting connections between internal and external devices, without indicating the specifics of the outside network. For example, in the hypothetical

Depending on whether the diagram is intended for formal or informal use, certain details may be lacking and must be determined from context. For example, the sample diagram does not indicate the physical type of connection between the PCs and the switch, but since a modern LAN is depicted, Ethernet may be assumed. If the same style of line was used in a WAN (wide area network) diagram, however, it may indicate a different type of connection.

At different scales diagrams may represent various levels of network granularity. At the LAN level, individual nodes may represent individual physical devices, such as

Cisco uses its own brand of networking symbols. Since Cisco has a large Internet presence and designs a broad variety of network devices, its list of symbols ("Network Topology Icons") is exhaustive.^[2]

Topology

The physical network topology can be directly represented in a network diagram, as it is simply the physical

Gallery

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  Virtual Private Network
• 
  Enterprise private network
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  Overlay network collapsed
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  Overlay network broken-up
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  xDSL to Internet connectivity
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  Triple play illustration
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  Internet Distribution and Core
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  Internet, Access to core

See also

• Comparison of network diagram software
• Computer network
• Diagram
• Network diagram
• Network topology

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Computer network diagrams.