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Create Your First Network Design

In this walkthrough, you'll build a minimal working network design using the E-Lighthouse Network Planner (ENP) Web Client. We'll create a topology with three router nodes and connect them using IP links.

This tutorial assumes you've already created and loaded a new design. If not, please start with:
👉 How to Create a New Network Design

🧱 Step 1: Open the Topology View

Once your design is loaded, you should see the Topology View window — your workspace for constructing and visualizing network topologies.

Topology View
Topology View window

🧩 Step 2: Add Three Router Nodes

Use the right-click context menu to add nodes to your topology.

  1. Right-click on the map where you want to place the first router.
  2. Click the "Node" button (usually a "+" icon).
  3. Select "Add node of type IP Router".
  4. In the properties panel, set the Node name to R1.
  5. Repeat this process to create nodes R2 and R3.

💡 Tip: If your nodes are not visible on the map, check the "Hide non-connected nodes" toggle at the bottom-left corner of the map. Disabling this will reveal all nodes, including those not yet linked.

Adding nodes
Three router nodes placed on the topology canvas

Now, let’s connect the routers using IP links.

  1. Right-click on the origin node (e.g., R1) and choose "Create a new link".
  2. Click the destination node (e.g., R2). A link configuration panel will appear.
  3. Choose "Add IP link over virtual transport connection".
  4. Set the following link properties:
  5. Link name: R1-R2
  6. Nominal rate: 100 Mbps
  7. Repeat the process to add:
  8. A link from R2 to R3
  9. A link from R3 to R1

At this point, you should have a triangle topology connecting all three routers.

Connecting routers
Routers connected via IP links

You can use the Control Window to inspect and fine-tune node and link attributes.

  1. Open the Control Window from the top menu.
  2. Navigate to the Network View & Analysis section.
  3. Check the Nodes table for information on node metadata.
  4. In the IP/MPLS folder, go to the Links & Ports subfolder.
  5. Select the IP Links table to review and edit your created links.

All changes are automatically saved within the current session.

💾 Step 5: Save the Design

Click Save Design in the top menu to persist your changes.

Your design is now ready for simulation or further enhancements.

✅ Summary

You’ve successfully created your first functional network design:

  • 🧱 3 IP router nodes
  • 🔗 Connected with IP links forming a triangle topology
  • 🗺️ Fully visualized in the Topology View

This forms the foundation for exploring simulations, analytics, and network behavior modeling.