# IT cabling diagram software? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283 "2012-03-09T15:56:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/1 "2012-03-09T15:56:19Z")
Yes I Googled but I am new to this and would like expert advice… If I need to instruct someone how to rack and cable computer hardware – Is there good software that will help me diagram this? Something that will let me show exactly which ports to connect, etc.? I am thinking something like [this](http://creately.com/Online-Network-Diagram-Software) (see rack diagram at bottom), but will let me show actual h/w models with their actual ports, etc. Not some generic thing and not some high-level thing. p.s. – Something like [Figure 3-8](http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/telepresence/cts_hardware_options_upgrades/cts_Hdware_O_and_U_1000.html) on this page, but more complex, like for a SAN network. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/2 "2012-03-09T16:02:57Z")
I would imagine you could use Visio for that. I’m sure someone has created templates for the equipment icons. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/3 "2012-03-09T16:13:03Z")
Or, if you’re on a tight budget, maybe [Dia](http://projects.gnome.org/dia/). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/4 "2012-03-09T17:00:38Z")
What I’ve seen come out of Visio is a diagram showing how various computers connect. But the OP wanted something very detailed showing how everything is patched on the rack. Can you do that in Visio or any other program? ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/5 "2012-03-09T17:35:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What I’ve seen come out of Visio is a diagram showing how various computers connect. But the OP wanted something very detailed showing how everything is patched on the rack. Can you do that in Visio or any other program? Yes. There are templates for network equipment that can be used as a starting point but Visio is a CAD program, you can create anything you want. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cabling-diagram-software/615283/7 "2012-03-10T08:57:02Z")
reported post#6