u work on a large chunk of the final documentation before the equipment arrives. I create a spreadsheet for every device, and, sometimes, for every module in a device. It doesn't need to be anything elaborate. A simple list of the ports, the devices con- nected, and maybe the IP or VLAN to be configured (such as the list in Figure 33-3) suffices. Physical VLAN/Trunk/IP Device Remote Interface VLAN 10 Internet Router Reserved VLAN 777 Core-2 FWSM Failover link-1 VLAN 777 Core-2 FWSM Failover link-2 Figure 33-3. Sample port allocation spreadsheet If you have planned your network to this level, when the equipment arrives, all you have to do is install it in the racks, and cable together the devices according to the plan. IP and VLAN Spreadsheets Along with the physical planning of equipment and port allocation, you'll need to plan the IP network and VLAN layouts. I like to make pretty detailed spreadsheets of this information, just as I did for the physical devices, modules, and ports. In Figure 33-4, I've allocated my IP networks. I'm allocating a /23 network for each VLAN, and reserving the /23 beyond each allocation for future expansion. I create a spreadsheet for each IP network I'll be using, and populate it with specific information regarding every device on the network. This is an excellent exercise that will force you to once again think about every device you'll be connecting. Figure 33-5 shows a sample IP address layout spreadsheet. Chapter 33: Designing Networks Network Description 10.1.0.0 10.1.1.0 10.1.2.0 10.1.3.0 10.1.4.0 10.1.5.0 10.1.6.0 10.1.7.0 10.1.8.0 255.255.254.0 VLAN 10 Internet DMZ 10.1.9.0 10.1.10.0 reserved for expansion 10.1.11.0 reserved for expansion 10.1.12.0 255.255.254.0 VLAN 100 VLAN 100 10.1.13.0 10.1.14.0 reserved for expansion 10.1.15.0 reserved for expansion Figure 33-4. IP network layout sheet Navigation: Master IP spreadsheet IP address Subnet mask Description 10.1.32.0 HQ Networks 10.1.32.1 255.255.254.0 VLAN 130 Default Gateway (HSRP VIP) 10.1.32.2 255.255.254.0 VLAN 130 Cor