Advice on keeping track of network connections

[crazyitguy]

Can someone give me some advice on way to keep track of what is connected to what in a network.

I use a spreadsheet now, but it is very inefficient. like this:

-Switch1-FE1 -> PatchPanel1-1 -> room 1 -> Jack 1
-Server1 -> Switch2-FE1

Thanks

 

[jdeisenm]

One should have the IP address and host name of servers stored in a text file or spreadsheet.

I like to use the "description" command to document switch ports on my cisco switches. See example below. Also, I use the commands "sh arp" to match ip address to mac address and then I use the command "show mac-address | inc aabb" (where aabb) is the last 4 characters of the mac address. This tells me on which switch port a specific device is seen.

If the device is a windows computer I use the command "nbtstat -a 192.168.1.10" to determine the computer name and the mac address.

int fa0/1
desc fa0/1 windows email server

int fa0/2
desc fa0/2 unix ftp server

int fa0/3
desc fa0/3 windows file server