Design Ethernet Network with EDraw

Whether you're designing a simple Ethernet network or documenting a large and complex one, you can use the improved Ethernet shape in EDraw Network Diagrammer to get the job done quickly. The connectors on the Ethernet shape attach easily to the updated device shapes in EDraw, and they remain attached, even when you move them.

You can also add text and store network information (such as network names and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses) in your diagram and then extract the information by using one of three new pre-defined reports.

Ethernet Symbols

The follow symbols are some Ethernet shapes in EDraw. You can drag them from the EDraw Network Library.

Examples of Ethernet LAN Diagram

To use the Ethernet shape

1. On the File menu, point to Library Gallery, point to Network, and then click Basic Network Diagram or Detailed Network Diagram.

   Tip

   If you want to use the Ethernet shape in another kind of EDraw drawing, open the drawing, and on the File menu, point to Shapes, point to Network, and then click Network and Peripherals.
2. From the Network and Peripherals stencil, drag the Ethernet shape onto the drawing page.
3. From the Computers and Monitors stencil or Network and Peripherals stencil, drag the network device shapes onto the drawing page.
4. Attach the device shapes to the Ethernet shape by using each shape's built-in connectors.

   How

   1. Click the Ethernet shape.
   2. Rest the pointer over a yellow control handle. When the pointer changes to a four-headed arrow, drag it to a blue connection point on one of the device shapes.

      When the device shape is correctly connected to the Ethernet shape, the connection point turns red, indicating that it is glued.

      Tip

      To hide an unused connector, drag its control handle back to the Ethernet shape.
5. To add text to a network shape, click the shape and then type. To move the text, drag the yellow control handle.
6. To store data with a shape, right-click the shape, click Properties, and in the Custom Properties window, type values for the data you want to store.

   After you enter the data, you can generate reports.

   How

   1. On the Tools menu, click Reports.
   2. In the Report list, click the name of the report definition you want to use.

      Notes

      If you don't see the report definition you're looking for, clear the Show only drawing-specific reports check box, or click Browse and navigate to the location of the report definition.

      To modify an existing report definition before generating a report, select the report definition, click Modify, and then follow the instructions in the Report Definition Wizard.

      To create a new report definition, click New, and then follow the instructions in the Report Definition Wizard.

   3. Click Run, and then in the Run Report dialog box, select the report format you want.

      How

      • To save your report as a Web page, click HTML.
      • To create your report in a Microsoft Office Excel worksheet, click Excel.
      • To save your report as an Excel worksheet embedded in a shape in your drawing, click EDraw shape.
      • To save your report as an XML file, click XML.

      Note  You must have Microsoft Excel 95 or later installed to save your report as an Excel worksheet or as an embedded shape in your drawing.

   4. Do one of the following:
      • If you are saving your report as a EDraw shape on the drawing, select whether to save a copy of the report definition with the shape or to link to the report definition.

        Note  If you plan to share your drawing, select Copy of report definition so that others can see the report.

      • If you are saving your report as an HTML or XML file, type a name for the report definition.
   5. Click OK.

Tip

• To change the set of colors used in your diagram, Switch to Color Schemes Pane.

The Network and Peripherals stencil also includes a Ring network shape. The Ring network shape works just like the Ethernet shape but represents a ring network.

Basic Network Diagram