Network Maps

Overview

Network maps allow you to build a network diagram that spans across any set of devices in your network, regardless of location. A custom network map can help document a service, capture an area of management, or share a focused diagram of any device groups a team manages. Unlike location-based topology views, Network maps let you create custom network diagrams without relying on external tools.

With flexible node placement and powerful appearance tools, Network maps let you build audit-ready topology views for image export. Network maps are dynamic and stay in sync with your network. Device data, links, and interface details refresh with every Snapshot, so the map always reflects the current network state.

Creating a new Network Map

1. From the left navigation, open Network Maps.
2. Click New network map.
3. Enter a unique Name for the map and optionally select a Parent directory where you would like to save the map. Click Next.
4. Select the network devices to include. Use the search and filter options to find devices by name, tags, type, or location. Devices from any location can be added to the same map. Click Add devices after selecting the devices and then click Next.
5. Select synthetic nodes to include in the map and click Next. (Optional)
6. Select the device attributes to display next to each device on the map, such as vendor, OS version, or collection IP. Click Next.
7. Select the interface attributes to display next to interface endpoints on the map, such as interface name, speed, or IP address. Click Create Map. The newly created map opens with all the selected devices and links between them.

Create a map from a location

You can create a network map directly from a location's topology view. This is a fast way to start a map when you have already arranged a layout for that location.

1. Open the location in the topology view.
2. Click the Create Network Map of this location action in the top-right corner.
3. Enter a Name for the map. A map name cannot contain a slash (/).
4. Choose a Directory for the map. (Optional)
5. Click Create & open in network maps.

The new map keeps the layout you arranged for the location, so you can start annotating right away. The new map opens in Network Maps after creation.

note

If the location has more than 100 devices, creating a map from it can significantly increase processing time.

Editing the Map Layout

Network maps use the same layout tools as the topology diagram to edit the layout.

1. Open the map and click edit in the toolbar on the right.
2. Select one or more devices and drag them to reposition them.
3. Use the alignment, distribution, and rotation tools to organize device nodes.
4. Click Save to keep your changes.

Selecting Multiple Elements

You can select more than one element at a time to move them together. This works for both devices and annotations.

• Shift + click to add elements to your selection one by one.
• Shift + click and drag to draw a box and select every element inside the area.

Keep holding Shift to keep expanding your selection. You can mix both methods: clicking some elements and dragging over others. Once your elements are selected, drag any one of them to move the whole group at once.

Annotating the Map

Network maps support the same annotation tools as the topology view. You can add text, rectangles, circles, and lines to highlight parts of the map and adjust their color, thickness, and style. For details on the available annotation tools, see Topology Annotation.

Customizing the Map

Network maps can be customized by opening the Map Customization option in edit mode in the toolbar on the right.

Map customization offers the following:

• Add or remove devices from the network map.
• Edit device cards by changing the selection of device attributes.
• Edit interface cards by changing the selection of interface attributes.
• Turn on the BGP layer and choose the labels it displays.
• Configure links and link appearances, including BGP link appearances.

Add or Remove Devices

You can also customize network maps by adding or removing devices.

1. In edit mode, open Map customization and go to Modeled Devices.
2. Click on Add devices to reopen the add devices wizard that we used while creating a new network map.
3. To remove devices from a map, click the Bin icon in front of the listed device's name.

Edit Device Cards

Each device on the map shows a device card with the attributes you selected when creating the map (for example, vendor, OS version, and collection IP). You can set the attributes for the whole map, or for a single device.

note

If a device attribute toggle is on but the attribute does not appear on the device card, the device has no value for that attribute. Only attributes with a value appear on the device card.

Set attributes for the whole map

1. Open Map customization in edit mode.
2. Update the device attributes selection or disable device cards by toggling the Show device attributes option and click Done.

These attributes become the map default. They apply to every device on the map, including devices that are added later.

Set attributes for a single device

You can override the map default for one device. This is useful when you want to show different details for a specific device.

1. In edit mode, click the device on the map to open its settings.

2. Use the Show toggles to choose which attributes appear on that device's card. The column on the right shows whether each attribute uses the map default. Once you override an attribute for a device, that choice persists and changes to the map default do not affect this device.

   

3. To revert to the map default, select Reset to defaults.

The device now shows its own attributes, which may differ from the map default.

Repositioning Device Cards

By default, device cards display at the top of the device, but you can move a card away from its device node for a cleaner layout. To move a device card, click it and drag it to a new position.

The map keeps the card's position relative to its device node. When you move the node, the card moves with it and stays in the same spot next to the node. This helps you space out cards and produce cleaner, easier-to-read network maps.

Edit Interface Cards

Each link can show interface attributes at both ends. By default, a link shows the interface name, speed, and IP address. You choose which attributes appear on the link, and you can show extra attributes in an interface card next to each interface. As with device cards, you can set the attributes for the whole map or for a single interface.

note

If an interface attribute toggle is on but the attribute does not appear on the interface card, that interface has no value for it. Only attributes with a value appear on the interface card.

Set interface attributes for the whole map

1. In edit mode, open Map customization and go to Interface Attributes.
2. Choose the attributes to show on the link, such as interface name or speed. These attributes appear in the small box on the link.
3. To show more details, choose attributes for the interface card, such as type or status. An interface card extends from the interface and shows the selected attributes adjacent to the interface endpoint.

These attributes become the map default and apply to every interface on the map.

Set interface attributes for a single interface

You can override the map default for one interface.

1. In edit mode, click the gear icon at the interface endpoint to open the list of interface attributes.

2. Use the Show toggles to choose which attributes appear for that interface. The column on the right shows whether each attribute uses the map default. Once you override an attribute for an interface, that choice sticks and changes to the map default do not affect this interface.

   

3. To go back to the map default, select Reset to defaults.

Repositioning Interface Cards

An interface card anchors to the end of its link. To move a card, click it and drag it to a new position. The card then stays fixed at that position relative to the interface, and the map no longer repositions it automatically.

Enable or Disable BGP Layer

The BGP layer shows BGP sessions on the map alongside the physical links. The BGP layer works in the same way as in the topology view. Turning the BGP layer on does not move any nodes. The map keeps your existing layout and displays the BGP sessions over it.

BGP layer toggle

1. In edit mode, open Map customization and go to Map layer attributes.
2. Turn on Show BGP layer toggle.
3. Choose which labels to show on BGP links:
   • ASN: the autonomous system number. On by default.
   • Router ID: the BGP router ID. On by default.

Once enabled, BGP links render next to the physical links on the map. To style and override the default BGP link appearance, see Edit Links and Link Appearances.

To disable the BGP layer, turn off the Show BGP layer toggle.

Control BGP link visibility

The toolbar on the right shows the BGP link appearance rules. Use it to:

• Show or hide iBGP and eBGP links.
• Filter links by AS number. Click the gear icon that displays Manage AS numbers visibility when you hover over it. A panel with the list of AS numbers is displayed. Select which ones to show and which to hide. By default, all AS numbers are shown.

When you export the map as an image, the export includes only the currently visible BGP links. See Exporting a Network Map as an Image.

Edit Links and Link Appearances

By default, each link displays the connecting interface names, IP address and, when known, the interface speed. Links can be styled with custom appearance rules to highlight specific link types on the map.

The Link & map layer appearances tab has two sub-tabs: Physical links and BGP layer. While you can always edit the physical link appearances, to edit BGP link appearances, you must first enable the Show BGP layer toggle from Map layer attributes.

Physical link appearances

1. In edit mode, open Map customization, go to Link & map layer appearances, and select the Physical links sub-tab.
2. Click Add appearance to create a custom link appearance.
3. Define the appearance rule by specifying match conditions. Pick at least one link characteristic: link type or link speed. (For example, Physical 1 Gbps links). Next, pick at least one link appearance option: color, style, or thickness. (For example, a Purple solid line).
4. Click Save to save the rule and click Done.

Links matching a rule are highlighted on the map with the configured style. Each rule is shown on the right toolbar, along with the number of links it matches.

You can define multiple such rules and set their priority in case more than one rule matches the defined link. Rules are applied from top to bottom based on this order.

BGP link appearances

The BGP layer sub-tab styles BGP links. To edit BGP link appearances, you must enable the Show BGP layer toggle. While disabled, the settings under this sub-tab are grayed out, and the sub-tab displays the message: "To modify the BGP layer appearance, enable the BGP layer in Map layer attributes." See Enable or Disable BGP Layer to enable it.

Two default appearance rules, one for iBGP links and one for eBGP links, use the same colors as the topology view. You can override these or add your own rules:

1. On the BGP layer sub-tab, click Add appearance.
2. Choose the peering type to match: eBGP or iBGP.
3. Set at least one appearance option: color, style, or thickness.
4. Click Save to save the rule and click Done.

Organizing Maps in Directories

You can group network maps in directories to keep the Network Maps list organized. Directories can be nested, so you can build a hierarchy that matches how your team works.

Managing directories requires the same permission as editing network maps. There are no separate access settings for individual directories.

Creating a new directory

1. From the left navigation, open Network Maps.
2. Select the New directory option at the top of the Maps panel on the left. Alternatively, select the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over an existing directory and choose the New directory option from the list.
3. Enter a name for the new directory and select the Parent directory where it should be created. Click Save and the new directory will appear in the Maps panel. A directory name cannot contain a slash (/). Every directory name must be unique.

Adding maps to a directory

You can add a map to a directory in a few ways:

• When you create a map, choose a Parent directory in the create-map wizard.
• Click the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over a directory and select the New network map option.
• After you create a map, move an existing map into a directory (see below).

Moving a map or directory

1. Click the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over a map or directory and select the Move to… option.
2. In the Select a directory to move to panel that opens on the right, choose the destination directory.
3. Click Move.

A directory cannot be moved into itself or into one of its subdirectories.

Other directory actions

From the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over a directory you can also:

• Edit directory which allows you to Rename a directory as well as edit its parent directory.
• Delete a directory using Delete directory. You cannot delete a directory containing subdirectories until you remove them first. Deleting a directory also permanently deletes all maps in it. This can't be undone.

And from the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over a map you can also:

• Rename a map using Rename map.
• Pin to top, lists the map at the top of its directory. Pinned maps show Unpin from top instead.
• Duplicate a map. The copy is created in the same directory.
• Delete a map using Delete. This can't be undone.

Searching maps and directories

Use the Search maps field at the top of the Maps panel to filter maps and directories by name. The list updates as you type.

Pinning a Network Map

You can pin network maps to keep a selected map near the top for faster access. In the Maps panel open the 3-dot menu that appears when you hover over a map and select the Pin to top option. This keeps the pinned map at the top of the list within its directory, making it easier to access. Pinned maps show a pin icon, and their 3-dot menu shows the Unpin from top option.

Exporting a Network Map as an Image

To use a map outside the platform, click the Export as an image button on the map view. The browser renders the map to a high-resolution PNG and downloads it to your local machine. This is the same export behavior offered with the topology view. For more details on the export feature, see Export Topology as Image.