A number of software tools exist to create or generate computer network diagram / visual maps of networks, servers, storage, services, data centers, and other peripherals. Broadly, there are two groups of software tools - those that help create diagrams manually and those that generate them using automated / semi-automated approaches.

• Manual Design Software - typically allows users to design and draw logical and physical topology diagrams by manually placing icons and inter-connections
• Auto-discovery software - these tools typically generate physical topology diagrams / maps by traversing the network and automatically discovering resident devices

Comparison of network diagram / visualization software

This is a comparison of some computer network diagramming software. This list is not exhaustive, but reflects a cross section of the available solutions. Please post only encyclopaedic information that can be verified by external sources. Please maintain a neutral, unbiased point of view.

Software Name	Type	Deployment	Team Collaboration	Servers	Storage	Networking	Services	Telecom	Peripherals	Cabling	Racks	Geographic Location	2.5D 2.5D 2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is... /3D	Inventory	License
10-Strike	Auto-discovery	Desktop													Commercial
Cacoo Cacoo Cacoo is an Adobe Flash-based real-time collaborative diagramming application created by the Fukuoka, Japan based Nulab Inc. Cacoo features a large stencil set that allows users to create site maps, wireframes, flowcharts, network diagrams, mind maps, UML diagrams and others.Diagrams created using...	Manual Design	Hosted
Cade	Manual Design	Desktop													Freeware
Cisco Network Assistant
Creately Creately Creately is a cloud-based diagramming and design application service operated by Cinergix, Pty Ltd. It is built on Adobe's Flex/Flash technologies and provides a visual communication platform for virtual teams...	Manual Design	Hosted & Desktop													Commercial
CuteDraw
Dia	Manual Design	Desktop													Freeware
Diagram Designer Diagram Designer Diagram Designer is a free flowchart creating software designed by Michael Vinther. It can also create diagrams and slideshows.-Features:* Customizable template object palette.* Spellchecker....
Diagram.ly
Eazydraw Eazydraw EazyDraw is a Mac-only vector graphics program from Dekorra Optic. It has all of the usual vector drawing tools, but also includes features not usually combined together...
Edraw	Manual Design	Desktop													Commercial
Eyenpe
Gliffy	Manual Design	Hosted													Commercial
GoVisual Diagram Editor
GraphViz Graphviz Graphviz is a package of open-source tools initiated by AT&T Labs Research for drawing graphs specified in DOT language scripts. It also provides libraries for software applications to use the tools...
Kivio Kivio Calligra Flow, formerly known as Kivio, is a free diagramming software that is part of Calligra Suite, an integrated graphic art and office suite by KDE.-Description:...
LAN Surveyor	Auto-discovery	Desktop													Commercial
LanFlow															Commercial
LucidChart
ManageEngine ManageEngine AssetExplorer ManageEngine AssetExplorer is asset management software which manages IT assets. It was developed by ManageEngine from ZOHO Corporation. It scans and audits workstations across a network available in each of the workstations. It requires an initial license fee and annual maintenance fees based...  - Network Mapping	Auto-discovery	Server													Commercial
Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visio , formerly known as Microsoft Office Visio, is a commercial diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams.- Features :...  Standard	Manual Design	Desktop	(with Sharepoint)												Commercial
Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visio , formerly known as Microsoft Office Visio, is a commercial diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams.- Features :...  Premium/Professional Add-In for Microsoft System Center	Manual Design	Desktop	(with Sharepoint)											(with System Center)	Commercial
Netbraintech		Desktop
NetFormx
NetProbe
NetSuite NetSuite NetSuite Inc. is the leading vendor of cloud-based Software-as-a-Service integrated business management software for mid-market enterprises and divisions of large companies, with over 10,000 organizations and a +$225 billion market cap...
Network Notepad	Auto-discovery and Manual Design	Desktop						?	?						Freeware & Commercial
NMAP
Omnigraffle OmniGraffle OmniGraffle is a diagramming application made by The Omni Group. OmniGraffle is built only for Mac OS X and the iPad. It may be used to create diagrams, flow charts, org charts, and illustrations. It features a drag-and-drop WYSIWYG interface...
Opmanager
OPNET OPNET OPNET Technologies, Inc. is a software business that provides performance analysis for computer networks and applications.The company was founded in 1986 and went public in 2000. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and has offices in Cary, North Carolina; Nashua, New Hampshire; Dallas,...  NetMapper	Auto-discovery	Desktop		?	?		?	?	?						Commercial
Petri
SmartDraw SmartDraw SmartDraw is a visual processor used to create flowcharts, organization charts, mind maps, project charts, and other visuals. SmartDraw is built exclusively for Windows operating systems and works with Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000...	Manual Design	Desktop													Commercial
Spiceworks Spiceworks Spiceworks is a software development company headquartered in Austin, Texas. It was formed in early 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar, and Francis Sullivan to provide a Facebook-like community integrated with a free ad-supported IT systems management, inventory, and help desk...  Network Map	Auto-discovery and Manual Design	Server					?								Open Source
The Dude
Visual Thought
Weresc
WhatsUpGold WhatsUpGold WhatsUp Gold is a network management and monitoring software produced by Ipswitch, Inc. WhatsUp Gold recently acquired Dorian Software, a maker of security event and log management products for Windows environments.-Editions and Plug-Ins:...															Commercial
YED Graph Editor

Legend

• Software Name
  • The name of the software, linked to its Wikipedia article. Software without Wikipedia articles will not be linked.
• Type
  • Manual Design – diagram must be created / edited manually
  • Auto-discovery – diagram is generated automatically
• Deployment
  • Hosted – software as a service
    Software as a Service
    Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
    
    , accessed via a browser
  • Desktop – installed and runs on the local machine
  • Server – installed on a central server and accessed via a browser
• Team Collaboration
  • Yes - Allows for joint editing of the diagram
  • No – editing is restricted to a single user
• Devices Viewable in diagram
  • Servers
    • Yes – servers can be displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying servers
  • Storage
    • Yes – storage can be displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying storage
  • Networking
    • Yes – Network devices can be displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying network devices
  • Services
    • Yes – Services can be displayed in the diagram (e. g. FTP, mail servers, etc.)
    • No – no support for displaying network services
  • Telecommunications
    • Yes – Telecommunications equipment can be displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying telecommunications equipment
  • Peripherals
    • Yes – other devices can be displayed in the diagram (e. g. printers, monitors, etc.)
    • No – no support for displaying peripherals
  • Racks
    • Yes – racks can displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying racks
  • Cabling
    • Yes – cabling can displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying cabling
  • Geographic location
    • Yes – geographic location of the devices can displayed in the diagram
    • No – no support for displaying the geographic location
• 2.5D / 3D Perspective
  • Yes – supports creating perspective graphics
    Perspective (graphical)
    Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface , of an image as it is seen by the eye...
    
     or 2.5D
    2.5D
    2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
    
     using isometric icons and connecting lines that appear 3D
  • No – no support for perspective graphics
    Perspective (graphical)
    Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface , of an image as it is seen by the eye...
    
     or 2.5D
    2.5D
    2.5D , 3/4 perspective and pseudo-3D are terms used to describe either:* 2D graphical projections and techniques which cause a series of images or scenes to fake or appear to be three-dimensional when in fact they are not, or* gameplay in an otherwise three-dimensional video game that is...
    
    
• License
  • Open-source/free
  • Commercial
• Inventory
  • Yes - keeps a record of all device
  • No - no support for maintaining an inventory