The Computer Network Designer (CND) is the most recent and technically advanced script included within my portfolio. The concept for the script was initially inspired by complaints from construction sites. Designing large computer network with thousands of Fiber Optics, CAT6 patchcords, media converters, switches and patch panels is an exacting task, and troubleshooting such a network with poor quality documentation can be a nightmare. Some long distance signal paths can consist of a chain of CAT6 patchcords, media converters, patch panels, and Single Mode or Multimode Fiber Optic with cross overs, and that path is usually shown on multiple drawings.
Before I started working on this program, the engineer would sketch a network on paper and type in all connections in an Excel cable list. Then, the designer redrew the sketch in CAD. Afterwards, the engineer would have to review the CAD drawing for designer mistakes. This was a labor intensive process, and final documents were generally difficult to navigate. Mistakes further complicated this process.
The CND is the answer for that design challenge. It has a database architecture, but it is built on Excel. Spreadsheets serve as tables, and queries are processed with the script. The connection diagrams can be automatically generated as a Visio, Microstation, or Autocad document.
The user fills out cable and network equipment type tables and generates cable tags. Then, the user builds the network equipment list with locations and drawing numbers. The next step is to connect ports with picked from the list cables. The program verifies if each cable has both ends connected, and it eliminates potential mistakes. Once interconnection is completed, the cable list is ready for cable routing.
After completing database the program is ready to generate Visio (or other CAD) connection diagrams. All predefined Visio shapes representing network equipment are inserted at locations spaced apart by fixed distance, so some layout adjusting may be necessary.
The important feature of the CND is a signal path tracking function. This function allows all of the network hardware items associated with one signal to be collected in one spreadsheet row. This allows the engineer to easily identify the first and last item of long chains of cables, media converters, and patchpanels.
The attached video shows the entire design process of a simple network example containing 3 computers and a switch. The program has been tested on a large plant network with over 1000 cables and Microstation drawings. The plant construction was completed and feedback on the network documentation quality was positive.