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Welcome to TOPHAT

Welcome to the official documentation for TOPHAT – a more flexible labbing infrastructure.

Overview

TOPHAT is an open-source Topology Orchestration Platform that transforms digital network topologies into physical connections. Its user-friendly interface lets you design and manage network topologies, with node-to-node links that create real-time physical connections. Built for enterprise and educational environments, TOPHAT combines the ease of virtual networking solutions with the reliability of physical infrastructure, making it ideal for network simulations, cybersecurity testing, and professional development.

Why TOPHAT?

The core purpose behind TOPHAT's approach is to enable seamless remote creation of physical links between devices, eliminating the need for manual intervention at the Layer 1 hardware level. This is crucial for several reasons:

  • Remote Connectivity:
    By combining existing common-place network protocols with network automation, administrators can establish and modify physical connections from anywhere. There's no need to be physically present to re-cable devices, which simplifies management and speeds up deployment.

  • Seamless Integration of Virtual and Physical:
    The tunneling mechanism allows virtual equipment to bridge seamlessly with physical lab devices. This hybrid environment offers the flexibility of virtual networks combined with the reliability and realism of physical infrastructure.

  • Enhanced Flexibility for Labs and Enterprises:
    In educational and enterprise settings, the ability to simulate direct physical connections without the logistics of physical cabling provides significant operational advantages. This setup supports network simulations, cybersecurity testing, and professional development without the constraints of a traditional lab environment.

  • Simplified Network Automation:
    With the interconnects handling protocol encapsulation, network automation becomes more straightforward. Users can focus on designing and managing network topologies, while the underlying hardware dynamically establishes the required physical links.

How It Works

TOPHAT leverages standard and point-to-point Layer 2 Protocol Tunneling (L2PT) to simulate physical Layer 1 links in real time. By encapsulating various typically point-to-point protocols within Dot1Q headers, TOPHAT facilitates virtual links that behave like real physical connections through integrated network automation.

This automation wraps each protocol in a Dot1Q header, allowing TOPHAT to create simulated Layer 1 links between devices. This means that even though the connection is initiated virtually, its behavior mimics that of a direct physical cabling setup.

Role of Interconnects

All lab devices are cabled to the TOPHAT infrastructure hardware devices called Interconnects. These Interconnects are the workhorses that are automated for the tunneling process. They are responsible for:

  • Executing the Tunneling: Upon receiving API commands from the TOPHAT platform, Interconnects apply the appropriate commands to encapsulate the protocols.
  • Facilitating Connections: The Interconnects bridge lab devices by creating simulated physical links, ensuring that the devices operate as if they were directly connected.
  • Maintaining Transparency: Lab devices are completely unaware of the underlying tunneling process. They simply function as they normally would, benefiting from realistic network connections.

Real-Time Connections

When a user creates a node-to-node link on the TOPHAT canvas:

  1. API Call: The change triggers calls to the Interconnects.
  2. Tunneling Activation: The interconnects execute the required tunneling commands, encapsulating the specified protocols.
  3. Simulated Link: A virtual link is established that behaves like a real physical connection.
  4. Seamless Integration: Lab devices interact as if they were connected via traditional cabling, with the interconnects managing the complex tunneling process in the background.

This approach allows TOPHAT to provide an environment that combines the ease of digital network design with the reliability and realism of physical connectivity.

Key Features

  • Open-Source: Fully transparent and community-driven.
  • Real-Time Physical Connections: Transform your virtual links into simulated Layer 1 network links.
  • Enterprise & Educational Ready: Tailored for both professional and learning environments.
  • Versatile Use Cases: Ideal for network simulations, cybersecurity testing, and professional development.

Moving Forward

Ready to get started with TOPHAT? Check out our Installation Guide to get started.

Happy Labbing!