[nylug-talk] Any open source network design tools?

[R. Mariotti]

brian.gupta at gmail.com wrote:
> I am a bit unclear as to the nature of your request. Are you looing
> for some sort of network architect expert system, that will design
> your network?
> 
> That is how I read your request, and I don't beleivee that this exists.
> 

Well, Brian... sort of.

I've "designed" and installed as well as managed quite a number of 
network infrastructures for clients over the years.  But in this case 
I've been receiving recommendations from vendors and "consultants" as to 
how the network should be segmented for efficiency and manageability. 
In several cases the recommendations are foreign to my working knowledge.

Some hardware vendors have configurators that provide some portions of 
this task but mostly for model/feature/component of their products.

I am seeking a tool that asks certain questions such as "How many 
locations, how many nodes, topology, authentication, filesharing, etc" 
then perhaps can return a recommendation as to recommended topology, 
subnet ranges, how/where key components should be placed/configured, etc.

Yes, it was a pie in the sky type of question. But, not knowing if 
something like this exists, without asking, I'd never know.

Hope this clarifies things somewhat.

Thanks.