If you ran a IP address collection tool you have pinned down the Routers, Switches and Wireless devices.
Those are the active parts of your network infrastructure, but you also have Cables, Patch panels and Patch Cabinets and Outlets on the work floor.
It is a good practice to start with the documentation of the first items and then expand to the later as the active components are the ones that need to be monitored and they need to be in a change management cycle to record any changes made on them.
For Routers you need to document:
- IP Address
- Hostname (Label)
- Brand and Model Type
- Administrator password
- Specifics of the connection: Like User name and Password for Internet Access, ISP Vendor data and Help-desk numbers
- Settings that are different from any standards (like port forwarding)
- Location of the device
For Switches document at least:
- IP Address
- Hostname (Label)
- Make and Model
- Number of Ports
- Administrator password
- Location of the Device
- Special device connections like: Server12 is on Port 24 100 MB Full Duplex
For Wireless Devices:
- IP Address
- Hostname (Label)
- Make and Model
- Administrator password
- Location of the Device
- SSID
- Wep or even better WAP Key and Encryption level
- Max Connection Speed
- Connection type (Bridge, Repeater, Infrastructure)
Cables, Patch panels and Patch Cabinets and Outlets go into a separate document where you can layout current connections and changes made to them. This will be the hardest one to maintain…. a cable is easily patched without updating the documentation…. at least try to update the document after you made a change!