Glossary · Engineering, integration and validation
Network topology diagram
Also known as: Network diagram, Network architecture drawing
German: Netzwerktopologieplan
In industrial automation, a network topology diagram shows the communication networks of a machine or plant: devices, switches, routers, firewalls, network segments, connections and their addresses or names. It documents how components communicate and where networks are separated.
- Validation
- OT security
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
A network topology diagram shows the devices, switches, firewalls, segments and connections of a machine or plant network.
Example
The network topology diagram shows the line's PROFINET ring, the managed switches, the firewall to the plant network and the remote access gateway.
How it applies
- Engineering: Engineers design the network structure, such as line, star or ring, and plan addresses, device names and redundancy. The diagram is the basis for the Hardware configuration of network devices.
- Security: In IEC 62443-based risk assessments, the topology is used to define Security zones and Conduits and to identify entry points such as Remote access.
- Maintenance: Technicians use the diagram to locate faults and to replace devices with the correct settings. An outdated diagram is a common source of errors.
- Documentation: The documentation team keeps the diagram as a controlled document and decides who may receive it, because detailed network information can be sensitive. Customer documentation may need a reduced version.
Network topology diagram vs. zone and conduit diagram
The topology diagram shows the physical and logical network. A zone and conduit diagram groups assets by security requirements and shows the controlled communication paths between groups. The second is usually derived from the first.