Do More With Less: How Network Documentation Streamlined Our Operations

Speaker: Adrian Cassidy and Ryan Geldart

Effective network documentation is often overlooked, yet it remains one of the most powerful tools for improving operational efficiency, supporting troubleshooting, and enabling seamless collaboration across technical teams.

In this session, Adrian and Ryan will share their multi‑year journey toward building comprehensive, accurate, and user‑friendly network documentation, and how that journey has transformed the way their team works. Through a guided, PowerPoint‑led discussion enhanced with real-time demonstrations, attendees will see concrete examples of how purposeful documentation supported major infrastructure initiatives, streamlined workflows, and improved service outcomes.

The presenters will highlight recent projects where enhanced documentation played a central role, including Layer 2/3 network upgrades, demo switch design and consolidation, reduction and cleanup of campus switching infrastructure, and planning documentation for new campus builds. Additional examples will include the lifecycle of a full core rack replacement and the design and implementation process behind a 100‑Gig MPLS ring.

This session is intended to be an open, discussion-driven forum. Attendees will be encouraged to share experiences, challenges, and practical strategies to foster a community conversation around documentation practices that support scalable, resilient network environments.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand how structured network documentation improves workflow efficiency, troubleshooting, and project execution.
  2. Identify practical documentation strategies that support major infrastructure upgrades and replacement initiatives.
  3. Evaluate real-world examples of documentation used in campus redesigns, network consolidations, and new‑build planning.
  4. Apply lessons learned to develop or enhance documentation processes within their own technical environment.
  5. Engage in collaborative discussion to exchange best practices and common challenges in maintaining reliable, scalable network documentation.

Speaker Bio:

Adrian Cassidy is a seasoned IT infrastructure professional with over 25 years of experience at the Nova Scotia Community College. Throughout his career, he has played a central role in shaping, maintaining, and modernizing the college’s network environment across multiple campuses. Adrian’s expertise spans network design, campus switching architectures, documentation standards, and operational support, with a strong emphasis on long‑term sustainability and service excellence.

Ryan Geldart has been part of the Nova Scotia Community College since 2016, contributing a decade of hands‑on experience in campus infrastructure, network lifecycle management, and process improvement. Ryan is known for his collaborative, process-focused approach, emphasizing clarity, standardization, and repeatable practices that benefit both new and experienced team members.