I would like to see some enhancements for the map layouts. I am currently mapping 89 devices, which includes only our cisco devices (core and switches). I mapped them using each of the map layouts to see which one provided the best map. I'm only showing the link speed and layer 2. I attached the map navigators for each style.
1) Radial diagram is pretty much useless. I makes one nice circle for most of the devices (when I included the servers). The other devices are far off to the right and most of them are bunched on top of each other. They need to be spread out so the device names are legible. The devices appear to be in columns, but the columns are so far apart.
2) Symmetrical - This is the most useful, although there are still several lines that cross. With some manually moving, they can be eliminated. I also find myself trying to compact the devices as some of them are spread out farther than needed. They need moved closer to the device they're connect to, then the entire subgroup needs shifted farther left and upward.
3) Orthogonal - Too many lines overlap and you can't tell what's connected to what. It's so spread out the map navigator icon is so small you can't grab it to move it around.
4) Layered Graph - (This is the one I really wanted to use for this drawing.)
a. Too many lines overlap so you can't tell what's connected to what. It would help of devices that were connected were side-by-side (starting with the farthest points).
b. When lines cross at 90 degrees, it's not clear if they are jumping over or are connected. Can you use a line that uses the "jumper" symbol?
c. The drawing is just too wide and short. Can devices be stair-stepped on the lower levels (indented under each other) so it's not so wide?
Overall suggestions
5) "Summarize" devices by certain criteria once space becomes too cramped; perhaps by machine type and optionally location. For example, group 5 devices into 1 symbol. The text for the symbol could be "5 machine type - node 1, node 2, node 3, node 4, node 5). Perhaps an option whether to include the names or not. I'm sure people will want to add their own names and choose which ones are grouped or not. So, also add a way to group or ungroup devices while manually adjusting the map.
6) Allow scrolling while dragging a symbol to a different area of the map (that is currently not in view). Now I have to zoom far out to move something across pages ... or ... move it to the left, scroll, move to left, scroll, repeat, repeat, repeat.
7 ) Device names are including the domain name. It would be nice to have an option to only use the name up-to the first period (.). If you're going to leave it so long, the name needs wrapped to more closely match the width of the symbol.
8) Link speed - add a legend for each color / thickness
9) Once manually adjustments are made. Save the devices locations on the map. So, when you rescan the network, you don' t have to re-adjust everything AGAIN!
10) Retain the filters chosen on the Network Tree View. Currently, I selected some by machine type. But, I might also want to go into subnet and exclude some of them. Currently, which I switch between different "group by" fields, the application is re-selecting everything and loosing my changes.
I realize each one of these should probably be a different suggestions. I would recommend starting with retaining the manually changes, then enhance the auto-generation features later.
My current goal is to generate drawings that are exportable to Visio for compliance and can be automatically updated quickly (without any manually adjustments). Ideally, a comparison of different versions of the same map, showing the delta's would be ideal, which I saw was already suggested. Maybe you could also view/export it several different ways .. the entire map, the adds, the removals, or just the changes. For maps showing the adds and removals, they could be color coded, with a grey shadow-like color for devices removed).
Great product so far. I think it has a lot of potential.