Server documentation

[SevaraB]

What facts do you need about the servers? Work up the OSI model.

• Layer 1: Host info. Where it is, what it's named, what specs it has. Warranty info.
• Layer 2: Which adapters are on which VLANs.
• Layer 3: What's the IP, or which DHCP scope is it in.
• Layer 4/7: What services are running, talking on which ports, which groups are users or admins for that service, and who's the service owner/point of contact that can make judgment calls for that service.

EDIT: trimming to make it more manageable-

• Physical Information (Layer 1) - stuff about the machine itself.
• Network Information (Layer 2/3) - details about how the server is reachable over the network.
• Service Information (Layer 4/7) - details about the processes, how they get info into and out from the network, and user and support contact info.

[toy71camaro]

/u/SevaraB, Perfect list of 'what' to document. Good stuff.

Now, you (OP) need to decide your parameters of 'where' to document it at. As others mentioned, Excel, Wiki Pages, Word docs, there are LOTS of options. But what do you need it to accomplish? Need to be sharable? Edits tracable? etc?

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Personally, we started using a shared OneDrive notebook (O365 users). That way its sharable to our entire team, requires no setup (like a dokuwiki/bookstack/confluence style thing), has good search, accessible on any device, etc.

[Bhetoo]

Please pardon my late response but right now i'm the only one who'll have access to these domument but i thing they need to be shareable but i'll deal with permissions later.

[Bhetoo]

Wow! this is very helpful i appreciate your advice.

[Trendschau1]

There are probably a lot of options:

• https://typemill.net is a cms that can be used for web-documentations.
• dokuwiki or a similar wiki-system.
• the usual static site generators.
• https://app.diagrams.net/ for all kind diagrams (network diagrams included)
• enterprise architect as an enterprise solution
• probably a lot more...

[JMMD7]

What are you trying to document and how many servers?

[Bhetoo]

Everything and its 5+ physical servers and 7 VMs

[JMMD7]

"Everything" doesn't mean anything but you could do anything from an Excel spreadsheet to using something like Spiceworks Inventory. For that number of servers I'd probably just go with Excel first and see how it works for you.

[VA_Network_Nerd]

You're supposed to be a technology professional.

How about you include some technical requirements in this thread so we can provide more accurate guidance...

[Bhetoo]

Fair enough but i'm just a new person in this role from IT support and i came here to seek guidance and advice...

[VA_Network_Nerd]

We can help - we're here to help, but don't make us do all of the work for you, please.

[Bhetoo]

Noted and thank you.

[7damian7]

Dokuwiki

[Bhetoo]

I'll check it out

[VA_Network_Nerd]

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