Custom Diagrams using the NetZoom Visio Add-in

Creating diagrams using the NetZoom Visio Add-in is as easy as dragging and dropping your favorite equipment shapes into Microsoft Visio. Complicated diagrams can be created in minutes using the equipment in your data center sites and inventory or using models and SmartBuilds to represent future plans.

1. Launch Microsoft Visio and start a new diagram using any template you wish.
2. Click the ADD-INStab.
3. Click NetZoom Visio Add-in. You will be prompted to log into NetZoom.
4. Enter your login information and click OK. The Visio Add-in will be opened within Microsoft Visio.
5. Once your project template is open, you may navigate to or search for equipment shapes within the NetZoom Visio Add-in.
6. Drag and drop the desired view of the equipment shape into your diagram template.
7. Repeat the last two steps to create your entire diagram.
8. All NetZoom shapes are made as scalable vector graphics, therefore you can scale any shape to any size without losing image quality. To scale an image, click any boundary connection point and drag your mouse away from the boundary. Dragging from the corner will maintain the aspect ratio.
9. You can further enhance your diagram using any feature of Microsoft Visio such as: connectivity, text labels, data graphics, header/footer, title blocks, backgrounds, and much more.

 

Creating Rack Elevations with RackBuilder

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Rack elevations can be created easily using RackBuilder, which will design front and rear views of a rack simultaneously, cutting your work time in half. You can populate racks with various devices such as servers, switches, storage systems, etc. from the devices in the Inventory tab.

1. Launch Microsoft Visio and select New->Categories->NetZoom18 for data centers->NetZoom RackBuilder.

2. Once your project template is open, be sure to save the project file.

Note: There will be two Microsoft Visio pages: Front and Rear, representing the front and rear views of the rack elevation. You may diagram either view since the opposite view will be built automatically.

3. The RackBuilder template can only be used for creating the rack elevation of a single rack. If there is not already a rack present in the diagram, search for the desired rack or cabinet, and drag and drop the front view into the Front page. The Rear page will automatically be populated.
4. Next, search for the rack mountable devices.
5. Find the desired rack mountable equipment, select the preferred view of the device, and drag and drop it into the rack cabinet. For best results, be sure the shape clicks into the rack.
6. If your rack mountable equipment has available open slots, you may further configure these devices drag and dropping shapes from basic models into the slots.
7. Repeat the last three steps to add as many rack mountable devices as you want to your rack elevation. As you build your rack elevation, the opposite view of the rack will be automatically built simultaneously behind the scenes and can be viewed by selecting the ‘Rear’ page tab.

Note: You may also choose to see both front and rear views of the rack side-by-side by right-clicking on the rack and clicking Show Rack Views Side by Side. To revert back, use the

8. Be sure to save the rack elevation file.

You can also create Rack elevation diagrams for racks already configured in your NetZoom data center by dragging the Front view of the rack into the Front page of the RackBuilder template. This will create a composite front view of the rack in which the devices cannot be moved and automatically populate the rear view, also.