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Add a Network Controller to design

In this guide, you'll learn how to add and configure a Network Controller in your E-lighthouse Network Planner (ENP) network design.

✅ Prerequisite: Ensure that a network design is loaded and active in the Topology View. If not, start with the Create a Network Design tutorial.

🧠 What is a Network Controller?

In ENP, a Network Controller represents an external SDN controller that governs a subset of nodes and links within a network domain. These controllers can manage behaviors such as routing logic, traffic engineering, and real-time monitoring — typically in IP/MPLS environments.

ENP acts as a multi-domain orchestration platform, meaning it can also connect to optical SDN controllers, enabling unified design and analysis across both packet and transport layers.

When you perform a Topology Discovery, ENP queries the controller’s live state, imports its internal topology view, and integrates it into your design. This may include:

  • Discovered nodes, links, and ports

  • Protocol or configuration metadata

  • Domain boundaries and control scopes

This feature allows ENP to align your network model with real-world controller data — across IP, MPLS, and optical transport domains — providing a foundation for full-stack simulation and orchestration.

⚙️ Step 1: Open the Controller Menu

  1. In the Topology View, right-click anywhere on the canvas to open the context menu.
  2. Select the “Network Controller” option.
Right click > Network controller
Right-click > Select "Network Controller" option

📝 Step 2: Complete the Controller Form

After selecting the option, a configuration form will appear.

Fill in the necessary controller parameters:

  • Controller type (e.g., IETF, TAPI, etc.)
  • Name
  • Description (optional)
  • IP address. This is the controller's management IP address.
  • Port number. The port used for communication with the controller.
  • Authentication (if required)
  • Username and password (if applicable)
Form to complete to create a network controller
Form to configure the network controller

✅ Step 3: Confirm Controller Creation

Once the form is complete, submit it to create the controller. You’ll receive a confirmation message upon successful creation.

Network controller created
Confirmation: Network controller successfully created

🌐 Step 4: Perform Topology Discovery

To visualize the controller’s managed topology:

  1. From the Topology View, in the left panel, locate the "Network Controller" section.
  2. Click the "Topology Discovery" option from the controller context panel.
  3. ENP will connect to the controller and import its internal topology, displaying the discovered elements on the canvas.
Clicked the option "Topology discovery" to display the network controller on the canvas
Using "Topology Discovery" to import controller data

✅ Summary

You’ve successfully added and visualized a Network Controller by:

  • Accessing the contextual menu in the Topology View
  • Providing key configuration parameters
  • Using Topology Discovery to import the controller's internal view of the network

This enables real-time SDN integration and enhances the modeling of dynamic and intelligent networks.