| Tom Franken |
Network Management Model |
Documentation |
Network Management Model Availability Security Recoverability Usability Documentation Accountability Performance Web Site Links |
Can authorized people learn why the network is configured the way it is? Documentation seems to be the evil bane of network administrators. Sometimes it doesn't exist. Other times there is so much that it is unreadable. Most often, it is outdated. It's not that admins don't have good intentions; they just keep getting distracted by problems. Also, documentation takes longer than you would think it should. A couple of techniques can help with documentation. First, manage the network from the start. If the network is functioning properly, the administrator will not be as distracted and will be able to create good documentation. Second, develop forms or a database for documenting routine information. Group creations, trust relationships, adding, removing, and modifying users are all types of information that can be recorded in special fields right in Active Directory or NT. Third, computer configuration changes can be recorded in simple databases or by using specialized software. At the least, create a template of information including appropriate screen shots for each type of computer.
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