I am looking for a bit of inspiration (it is Friday afternoon, so I am probably not alone here).

As a developer of OpenAudit,(http://www.open-audit.org/) I added some code to this network auditing application that allows it to generate network diagrams from the data stored from the network audits performed by OpenAudit.

It (naturally) uses SVGs and Inkscape. I was looking for a bit of inspiration in this regard, since the diagrams are in my opinion a little bit bland (read mind boringly dull). The application uses the Tango icon set, and php, and I was wondering how best to give the diagrams a bit of Zing.

The idea would be to use the PHP backend to generate the SVG file, (which it currently does), and also if possible to add in backgrounds, links, web clouds, pretty pictures, text, flashy lights, bells and whistles of the sort that will impress "Boardoom" types.

Its a tall order, I know... Interesting Network Diagrams... in fact probably a contradiction in terms, but if anybody can do it, the Inkscape Forum can... (OK I think I went a little far with the motivational nonsense there).

All comments (including go away and get a life) welcome.

Do you have examples of how these diagrams look now?

I'll post this as source, so you can see the structure of the SVG generated by the PHP page.
I can also post the PHP if you like.

The basic idea is to select a list of machines (for example all machines on a particular subnet), click a link under the list and have the PHP generate a diagram form the list. Several diagrams can then be pasted together in Inkskape, but as I say, there is a distinct lack of glitz in the output.

Functional, but dull would be my description (and I wrote the code, so I wont be offending anyone with that remark).

... and the PHP, bit of a mashup, could do with being broken down in to distinct functional blocks.

Its a bit difficult to read out of context, but all those includes set up access to database and include the configuration necessary to set things up.

The rest creates output based on the data returned from the selection made on the page which calls this one.

The result is a set of images, with text titles underneath. Each has a handle which can be used to link the images all together.

All of the parts of a machine (text and titles) are grouped, and the whole diagram is further grouped as one item to make cutting and pasting between diagrams easier.

You are perhaps helping us to help you with the information your provding. The harder you make it to help, the less likely you'll get help.

If are asking how to give your SVG pages a "bit of zing" then all we need to see is an example of what you pages look like now, not the raw SVG code or PHP. The SVG code you provided doesn't appear complete... there's a bunch of embeded images missing. Can you provide a complete SVG file that we can view quickly and easily?

The two bits of code are there simply to give those who want to know, an idea of how the thing works.



This is an example of the raw output, sorry for the delay and confusion. The above is a jpg, but the script outputs .svg and loads this directly in to Inkscape.

(On the web page, under the list is a button marked Create Inkscape Diagram, which when clicked creates the SVG file, and throws it back to the browser to be opened by whichever SVG editor is installed, in most cases this will obviously be Inkscape).

I want the diagram to be as close to complete as possible, so the user doesn't need to do much work on it in order to "impress the boardroom types".

You can't upload images directly to this forum, but you can display them here - Where can I upload my images?

Sorry if I sounded a bit short in my previous post.

Just stuck a .jpg in Photobucket for the time being, see the previous post. The above is the raw output from the web page, which can then be stiched together and worked on to produce a usable diagram.

The diagram pictures are generated from jpgs of the original Tango Icon set (although any images can be used). The Tango icons are also available as SVGs and I will eventually parse these into the diagram, rather than linking in the jpgs (so we can scale things).

As you can see, there is nothing particularly eye catching about the result, functional but boring would be my analysis. What I am looking for is something that makes the whole thing stand out.

I thought about some sort of 3d effect, possibly laying out the items on a perspective grid. The latest Inkscape version seems to lend itself quite well to this.

Other ideas include "fancy wiring" i.e. having the script link everything together with rounded coloured "wires", stretchable coloured links (perhaps even with RJ45 ends on them). "Network clouds", high-tec background watermarks, and various other probably impossible tweaks.

It is possible to do most of this stuff by hand, ... see http://www.open-audit.org/network_maps/map_wan.html but I would like to make the script do most of the hard work, and also produce the output as an SVG file, to keep the high quality. Something more like ...



(Diagram created mainly by hand, with a mix of Tango Icons and other open source SVGs)

For those of you who would like a look at the Tango Icons, see... http://tango.freedesktop.org/Tango_Icon_Library

I don't think I could suggest any improvements. I honestly think it looks great. Very professional. I tend to think with stuff like this, you don't want bells and whistles. I think they can sometimes cheapen the diagram.

Yes it does look good, the only trouble is this is the "hand made" version, I would like a few tips, for example, how can I create a "wire" which will scale well, and how can I create my own handles for the ends of the wire.

What about laying out items in a grid with automatic connection of all the items together with these "wires".

What would people like to see on their "ideal" network diagram, and how can I design this.

I'm not clear on what you're asking or what you don't know.

You're not using Inkscape are you? You're creating an SVG with PHP? So your questions about handles on wires is kinda confusing me. I assume a "wire" is the line between the images. As the question stands I would think the answer is that you just create an SVG object for the line, and then an object for each end of the line that will be the handles.

If your asking how do you create a diagram like you provided dynamically (using PHP), based on details provided by a user, you might be better off asking on a programming forum. Writing a PHP application that can intelligently layout a diagram would be quite a feat.

Actually, what I do, is design something in Inkscape which I like the look of, then edit the SVG file with SciEdit to see how the XML is formatted. I then take the XML apart, and create PHP code to re-create similar XML.

For example if I wanted to add a drop shadow to each icon, or a blue fluffy cloud as a background, I would create a mock up of what I want in Inkscape, and then edit the resultant SVG file to see how it is done. I then code some php to create lots of similar XML using the contents of the database as my text, the Tongo icons for my pictures, a bit of hight school maths to place everything neatly on the page. Result lots of computers with fluffy backgrounds, drop shadows, and whatever else I require.

Where I require the inspiration is in creating just the right level of "bling" to make things look really slick without going overboard.

I'm looking for artistic inspiration rather than technical, so thats where I turn to you guys...

Ah, well, like I said, I like the original one you posted for it clean lines and simple design. I don't like the one you just posted because it's the opposite. Unless the different coloured lines have different meanings, I wouldn't use different colours.

ahull wrote:
(Diagram created mainly by hand, with a mix of Tango Icons and other open source SVGs)

For those of you who would like a look at the Tango Icons, see... http://tango.freedesktop.org/Tango_Icon_Library

Hi,

Let's refresh this old topic.
I tried my best to find your open source svg for Dell servers or 3Com switches. No way.
Does anyone have some source for these specific svg icons ?
If you have other sources for network, servers and other devices, your are welcome.

Now, here are resources i found to do network diagrams with Inkscape :
- Open Security Architecture (based on Tango)
http://www.opensecurityarchitecture.org ... on-library
- Quantum Bits (for Tango or others applications)
http://quantum-bits.org/?page_id=3
http://quantum-bits.org/?p=48
http://www.quantum-bits.org/?p=57

Thank you in advance.

Paoh.