How to map out a switch network manually

Question

Hi, I have a remote data centre that I'm trying to map out, without visiting the site and tracing cables. Given that I can access the address table on each switch, what's the easiest way to find out if switch A is connected to switch B? the switches in my DC are stacked, which complicates matters slightly. For example when I look at my MAC address table, almost all of my switches have a single MAC per port, apart the channel port (I believe this is a link aggregate port) which shows MAC addresses belonging to Dell, Cisco and other devices. How do I know where the channel port plugs into directly? Whether it goes to a Dell switch or say a Cisco switch? Thanks

aetius80 · Accepted Answer

Just in case anyone else needs this, I found out the following tools invaluable:

Use the web browser on each switch to view LLDP nieghbors (gives actual switch ports and can also show the advertised details on non Dell kit)
Use the "show mac" and "show bridge" commands
Show isdp neighbors is also helpful (depends on switch firmware)
Open Network Manager wasn't as intelligent as I was hoping for example, with the SNMP strings to two directly connected switches, I couldn't find a way for ONM to give the actual link ports

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