NeDi is network discovery and management software that builds an inventory of devices and connected nodes, maps topology, and supports reporting, monitoring, and configuration-related tasks. It is a fit to evaluate when you can provide reliable SNMP read access to your equipment and are prepared to configure discovery targets and a server-side software stack.
What NeDi does
NeDi discovers network devices and connected end nodes, associates nodes with switch ports, and presents the results through inventory, topology, reporting, monitoring, and asset-management functions. Its documented GUI includes device and node views, topology maps, asset management, event analysis, real-time graphs, and reports. NeDi’s GUI documentation lists these capabilities.
For topology and neighbor discovery, NeDi works best when core equipment supports CDP, FDP, or LLDP. These protocols improve what it can learn; they are not absolute prerequisites. The vendor guide says discovery and topology visualization can still be used without them. NeDi documentation and the NeDi Guide describe these qualifications.
What access and configuration does NeDi need?
Provide read access and unique device names
NeDi’s documented discovery prerequisite is SNMP read access to network hardware. More access can enable more collection: privileged CLI access can be used to read MAC address tables on IOS-based switches and collect device configurations. Those additional capabilities depend on the equipment and on deliberately configuring credentials and permissions; they should not be assumed from SNMP access alone. NeDi also requires unique device names because the device name is the database’s primary key. The official documentation and the NeDi Guide cover these requirements.
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Prepare nedi.conf and discovery targets
Before discovery, configure nedi.conf for device access, discovery boundaries or targets, backend settings, monitoring and messaging, node handling, and GUI preferences. Discovery can begin from a seed list or the default gateway. Documented command-line options can add seeds, use dynamic discovery protocols, or use route information. Skip policies let administrators limit what is collected; test and debug modes help diagnose access or discovery issues. See NeDi’s configuration and discovery documentation for the available settings and options.
Add location data only if you need location-aware maps
For views organized by building, floor, room, rack, and rack unit, NeDi can use location levels encoded in the SNMP location string. This is optional preparation for location-aware visualization, not a basic discovery requirement. The documentation describes the location format.
What server environment is required?
NeDi’s documented installation approach uses a web server, PHP, a database, Perl modules, SNMP libraries, and RRDtool when graphing is wanted. The installation page describes Debian/Ubuntu and Red Hat family systems, but its specific package names and PHP dependencies may be dated. Confirm the requirements for the NeDi release and operating system you intend to use rather than treating that page as a current compatibility matrix or copying its package list unverified. NeDi’s installation page provides the vendor’s outline.
The same page gives example sizing figures: one 2 GHz core and 1 GB of RAM for a network with 500 devices and 10,000 nodes; up to 150 MB of RAM for a discovery run; and about 200 KB of storage per interface for the described RRDtool use. NeDi does not show a publication year for these figures, and they are vendor guidance rather than independently validated benchmarks. Use them only as rough planning references and measure resource use on your own network.
How should discovery be scheduled?
NeDi documentation estimates discovery at around 20 devices per minute, depending on device types, discovery settings, and network connection. Treat this as a vendor ballpark, not a throughput guarantee. The same documentation gives hourly discovery as an example recommendation for a simple setup with around 500 devices and says the rrdstep should match the schedule. If you change the discovery interval, the instructions warn that you may need to delete and recreate RRD data. See the discovery documentation and validate cadence and performance in your environment.
Is NeDi free, and what does NeDi+ add?
The vendor’s download page describes free NeDi with community forum support and a paid NeDi+ offering starting at 1,000 per year in CHF, USD, or EUR. Listed NeDi+ benefits include the latest NeDi+ version, premium modules, and support; the page directs prospective subscribers to contact the vendor for an official offer or order. Because price and package details can change, check the current NeDi download page before making a decision. The customer area describes subscriber access to NeDi+ packages and updates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide whether NeDi fits your network
- It may fit if you need device and node inventory, switch-port relationships, topology views, and related reporting or monitoring, and can maintain the server-side dependencies.
- Check access first by confirming SNMP read access across the intended devices. Decide separately whether you need privileged CLI collection for configuration or MAC-table data, and configure the required access accordingly.
- Test discovery quality against your network’s device mix and protocols. CDP, FDP, or LLDP on core devices can improve results, but the vendor says NeDi remains usable without them.
- Compare alternatives on evidence: device-vendor coverage, SNMP/CLI/API collection and privileges, topology accuracy, configuration backup, alerting and monitoring scope, deployment dependencies, update cadence, support, and total cost. The available NeDi materials do not establish a current, fair comparison against named alternatives.
NeDi’s installation page carries this vendor warning: “This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; We will not take any responsibility, if you mess up your network with NeDi!” Treat discovery and configuration collection as operational changes that deserve a controlled deployment and appropriate safeguards. The disclaimer appears on NeDi’s installation page.
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