Layer-2 Data Dictionary for Visio 2000 Enterprise

Published: October 1, 2000

By Jeff Yarnell

Applies to:

• Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition

• Layer-2 Database Schema Version 1.06

Summary: Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition offers several networking templates, including AutoDiscovery and Layout. This add-on solution performs network AutoDiscovery, and stores information about network systems and topology in a pair of databases. The Layer-2 Data Dictionary helps users and administrators use the layer-2 connectivity database with conventional relational database tools, such as query and report writing applications.

On This Page

Introduction
Data Dictionary
Layer-2 Database Schema Version 1.06

Introduction

The Microsoft® Visio® AutoDiscovery database is designed to hold network configuration information, most of which is automatically obtained and stored in the database by the AutoDiscovery engine. The AutoDiscovery database is designed to store information about the network devices, as well as information about how they are connected.

While most information is stored in a Microsoft® SQL Server/Microsoft® Data Engine (MSDE) database, information regarding layer-2 connectivity and protocols is stored in a separate Microsoft® Access database. The layer-2 database is named using the name of the main AutoDiscovery database. However, because it is a Jet database, it has an .MDB extension. For example, the default database created when AutoDiscovery and Layout.vst is used for the first time is ADL. Therefore, the main AutoDiscovery database file is named ADL.MDF, while the layer-2 database is named ADL.MDB.

The Visio AutoDiscovery engine manages the two databases slightly differently. The AutoDiscovery (layer-3) database is updated to reflect the current state of a discovered network device when network AutoDiscovery is performed. Therefore, as network device changes are discovered, their corresponding representation in the database is changed. Depending on the change, database records may be updated, added, or marked as deleted.

On the other hand, the layer-2 database uses an AutoDiscovery session identifier to mark current records. The LastDiscovery table contains information describing the ID (DiscoveryID) and time (DiscoveryDate) of the most recent AutoDiscovery session. When AutoDiscovery is performed, records are either added or updated so that their DiscoveryID value matches that of the current AutoDiscovery session. Therefore, layer-2 database records with a DiscoveryID value less than that of the most recent in the LastDiscovery table should be considered as historical, out-of-date information.

This data dictionary is intended to help users and administrators wishing to use the layer-2 Jet database with conventional relational database tools such as query and report writing applications.

Caution: The Visio AutoDiscovery and Layout solution depends upon the integrity of the database schema and contents. End users should not insert records into or delete records from the database.

For more information on the AutoDiscovery (layer-3) database, see AutoDiscovery Data Dictionary for Visio 2000 Enterprise.

Data Dictionary

Devices

Table 1 Devices table

The Devices table contains information about devices discovered on the network by the AutoDiscovery engine.

Interfaces

Table 2 Interfaces table

The Interfaces table contains an entry for each physical interface on a given network device.

DevicePorts

Table 3 DevicePorts table

The DevicePorts table contains information that represents the ports of a network device, usually a bridge or switch. Ports typically correspond one-to-one with a physical interface.

SpanningTree

Table 4 SpanningTree table

The SpanningTree table contains information regarding the state of a spanning tree relative to a particular device at the time the AutoDiscovery engine discovered the device.

SpanningTreePort

Table 5 SpanningTreePort table

The SpanningTreePort table contains information about the state of a spanning tree relative to a particular device port at the time the AutoDiscovery engine discovered the device.

Vlans

Table 6 Vlans table

The Vlans table contains information about virtual LANs present on the network.

PortVlans

Table 7 PortVlans table

The PortVlans table contains fields that reference a row in the Vlans table and DevicePorts table, thereby enabling a many-to-many relationship between DevicePorts and Vlans.

Media

Table 8 Media table

The Media table contains entries representing the connection between two device ports.

LastDiscovery

Table 9 LastDiscovery table

The LastDiscovery table contains the date at which AutoDiscovery was run and the database version. The table is updated each time the AutoDiscovery engine is run.

Layer-2 Database Schema Version 1.06