Beginner guide for making a network cable block diagram?

[eng3]

I have AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical. The most I've ever done in AutoCAD is export existing files to PDF. I've never created a drawing (though I am familiar with other software like rhino3d)

Anyways, I'm trying to create a network cable block diagram depicting my network of ethernet and fiber. I want to show the connections between each equipment (computers, switches, patch panels, etc) showing the cables (id#, type, etc). I want to show connector labels at each end and box labels so the connection is clear. Some cable are breakout cables (one connector on one end to many connectors on the other). I don't need to depict every strand of wire in each cable just enough so one can figure out where the cables are going

What's shown in this video is a decent example of what I want to create except they are doing AV and they didn't put labels on the cables or connectors.

In an ideal world, I'd want to be able to then export this to a table so I could have all the info in excel too. That way I wouldn't have to maintain two things at once.

Most examples I've seen seem to be more like electrical schematics (switches, resistors, etc). I've tried software like Visio but it lacks detail and seems to focus more on pretty icons. I've also tried draw.io but i find that process is very "manual/tedious" eventhough it is more intuitive to use. The closest thing I've seen in the past are autocad drawings so I thought this might be a good tool to learn.

Therefore, I'm hoping someone can give me some tips and/or point me to some videos where I can follow along. Ideally a video creating something similar to what I'm looking for. I know autocad has a ton of features, at this time, I'm only interested in learning how to use the features needed to do my current task.

 

also, I tried posting this in the autodesk forum but once I sign in, the site just continues to reload over and over again.  I tried 3 different computers, chrome and firefox.  Anyone else have this issue?

[ReMark]

Did you know there are network diagram and map creators?  Two that are free include LucidChart and SmartDraw.  Maybe either one of these might be more suitable for your purposes.  I doubt AutoCAD Electrical would be useful.

[eng3]

Can you explain why you don't think Autocad Electrical would be useful?  I know its possible in AutoCAD as I have many similar drawings in autocad format created by other people.

 

I am aware of those tools.  As mentioned, those tools focus more on providing pretty shape libraries to give a very high level picture.  As shown in the example, I'm trying to depict far more detail.  Showing which cable connector plugs into which box jack.  Showing the cable label, connector labels, jack labels.  None of those tools go down to that detail.  

[ReMark]

AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical are two different pieces of software.  Do you know, for a fact, that the drawings you saw were created with AutoCAD Electrical?  I've used AE in the past and I do not recall seeing any of the items you mentioned in your first post as being included in the software.  Maybe AE has been updated to include such symbols?

Edited March 15 by ReMark

[eng3]

I do not know which one they were made with.  Is it even possible to know? As far as I can tell, Autocad Electrical is mostly a layer on top of Autocad that gives "shortcuts" to make some tasks (related to Electrical) faster.  The video link I have in the first post shows a drawing very close to what I'm looking for.  I don't know if they used autocad or autocad electrical.  It seems like electrical would at least give some shortcuts.

I don't think any software currently exists to produce EXACTLY what I'm looking for with zero effort.  Therefore I need to pick the right tool that gives me the most tools to get me what I want with the least amount of tedious work.  Thus far autocad electrical seems to get me closest because it has the ability to create reports based on my drawing.

 

In regular Autocad I can see how I could just draw lines and create what I'm looking for but that would be extremely tedious.

Spending some more time in Autocad Electrical I see a few paths that could work.

 

I don't necessarily care about symbols in the sense that I don't need a picture of a computer/switch/etc.  I need a rectangle with ports/pins that represent the connection points.  (ie. A switch would have a connection for each port in the switch).

 

It seems like Autocad Electrical would want me to create a custom component block in the library for each type of object (Switch, Computer, etc) to define all the connections.  It seems like it wants me to define every wire and connector.  Then connect all the wires and then group/mark the wires to define the cables.  However, I'm not building cables, they are purchased prebuilt (ie. CAT6 cable, fiber cable).  I don't really need to define the wires in each cable.  I just want to define each cable so I can have a drawing showing where each one plugs in.

 

I could just draw a rectangle to represent each object and stick connectors on.  Then for each cable, just represent them with one wire.  I am still not quite sure how to properly use cable markers.  Especially because I have some cables that are breakout cables?  (One connector on one end to multiple connectors on the other end).

 

One idea is to essentially go down one level of complexity for everything since I don't care about the wiring in each cable.  Treat each cable as a "wire" in autocad.  Treat each object (computer, switch, etc) as a autocad "connector".  Treat each connector as a autocad "connector pin" to connect the cables together.  I see I can define pin numbers and description for each pin.

 

Just playing around in Autocad electrical, I can get it to visually show the way I want fairly easily.  I'm still not familiar enough with reports to get an output of what I need.  (cable id, cable pn, cable desc, from object, from connector, to object, to connector).

 

This is why I'm asking the question to autocad experts to look for recommendations for the best path to go down to get the most out of autocad electrical that I can while avoiding pitfalls.

 

 

 

[ReMark]

It seems you have it covered then.  I cannot think of anything else to add short of looking at something very specific like SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper.

[eng3]

1 hour ago, ReMark said:

It seems you have it covered then.  I cannot think of anything else to add short of looking at something very specific like SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper.

I might be covered based on my initial investigation.  There still is alot I dont know about ACAD electrical.

 

As for Solarwinds,

1. I don't have a license for SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper

2. I'm not trying to create a network topology diagram, that is at a far higher level and more of a functional diagram

I'm trying to create a cable diagram so one knows how to install cabling (know what connects where) or use it as a reference to identify where cables are going based on labeling.

I think you are focusing too much on the "network" part as it is largely irrelevant.  The "cable" part is what's important.  I want to make a drawing showing how cables connect.

 

I'm still unsure as to what path is best to go down if I use autocad electrical. I listed a few different paths.  can you recommend one over the other?

For each Object (computer, switch,etc)

1. Create custom components in the library

2. Just draw rectangles

 

For cables,

1. Create custom cables in the library, but then the diagram will be very cluttered if I have to define every wire

2. Create custom cables but only define one wire, not sure if that will work

3. Just use use a generic cable marker on one wire

4. Treat a wire as a cable and don't use cable markers

I'm still not sure how to handle breakout cables (one connector on one end breaking out to multiple connectors on the other end)  If I just connect wires together, the report only shows one leg.

 

These options can give me the visual i want.  I can still use autocad electricals shortcut features like routing wires cleanly in the diagram.

I'm less clear about how to get them to work with reports.

Right now I'm just blindly trying things.  I don't wan't to fully invest until I'm sure I'm going down the right path.  I seem to be getting very close so it is promising

 

The closest alternative I've seen is using draw.io but that doesnt support reports

Edited March 15 by eng3

[ReMark]

Well, you have me stumped.  I used AE to create electrical ladder diagrams.  Sorry, I can't be of more help.  Good luck in your endeavor.

Edited March 15 by ReMark

[eng3]

Thanks

Most of it is figuring out the nomenclature / syntax

 

For example, figuring out the mapping between the Attribute Tags and Report Field names.  One would think they would be the same.