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PlantUML Language specification nwdiag

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Network Diagram with nwdiag

A network diagram is a visual representation of a computer or telecommunications network. It illustrates the arrangement and interconnections of network components, including servers, routers, switches, hubs, and devices. Network diagrams are invaluable tools for network engineers and administrators to understand, set up, and troubleshoot networks. They are also essential for visualizing the structure and flow of data in a network, ensuring optimal performance and security.

nwdiag, developed by Takeshi Komiya, provides a streamlined platform to swiftly sketch network diagrams. We extend our gratitude to Takeshi for this innovative tool!

Given its intuitive syntax, nwdiag has been seamlessly integrated into PlantUML. The examples showcased here are inspired by the ones documented by Takeshi.

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Simple diagram

Define a network

To make the process more efficient, it is now possible to bypass the nwdiag { ... } wrapper. You can define your network directly within the PlantUML tags.

Standard approach:

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network dmz {
    address = "210.x.x.x/24"
  }
}
@endnwdiag

Simplified approach: We have introduced this to simplify the syntax and reduce boilerplate code:

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@startnwdiag
network dmz {
  address = "210.x.x.x/24"
}
@endnwdiag

Define some elements or servers on a network

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@startnwdiag
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2"];
  }
@endnwdiag

Full example

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@startnwdiag
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2"];
  }
  network internal {
      address = "172.x.x.x/24";

      web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
      db01;
      db02;
  }
@endnwdiag

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Define multiple addresses

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@startnwdiag
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      // set multiple addresses (using comma)
      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1, 210.x.x.20"];
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2"];
  }
  network internal {
      address = "172.x.x.x/24";

      web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
      db01;
      db02;
  }
@endnwdiag

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Grouping nodes

Define group inside network definitions

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@startnwdiag
  network Sample_front {
    address = "192.168.10.0/24";

    // define group
    group web {
      web01 [address = ".1"];
      web02 [address = ".2"];
    }
  }
  network Sample_back {
    address = "192.168.20.0/24";
    web01 [address = ".1"];
    web02 [address = ".2"];
    db01 [address = ".101"];
    db02 [address = ".102"];

    // define network using defined nodes
    group db {
      db01;
      db02;
    }
  }
@endnwdiag

Define group outside of network definitions

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@startnwdiag
  // define group outside of network definitions
  group {
    color = "#FFAAAA";

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

  network dmz {
    web01;
    web02;
  }
  network internal {
    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
    db02;
  }
@endnwdiag

Define several groups on same network

Example with 2 group

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@startnwdiag
  group {
    color = "#FFaaaa";
    web01;
    db01;
  }
  group {
    color = "#aaaaFF";
    web02;
    db02;
  }
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2"];
  }
  network internal {
      address = "172.x.x.x/24";

      web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
      db01 ;
      db02 ;
  }
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-12663]

Example with 3 groups

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@startnwdiag
  group {
    color = "#FFaaaa";
    web01;
    db01;
  }
  group {
    color = "#aaFFaa";
    web02;
    db02;
  }
  group {
    color = "#aaaaFF";
    web03;
    db03;
  }

  network dmz {
      web01;
      web02;
      web03;
  }
  network internal {
      web01;
      db01 ;
      web02;
      db02 ;
      web03;
      db03;
  }
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-13138]

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Extended Syntax (for network or group)

Network

For network or network's component, you can add or change:

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network Sample_front {
    address = "192.168.10.0/24"
    color = "red"

    // define group
    group web {
      web01 [address = ".1, .2", shape = "node"]
      web02 [address = ".2, .3"]
    }
  }
  network Sample_back {
    address = "192.168.20.0/24"
    color = "palegreen"
    web01 [address = ".1"]
    web02 [address = ".2"]
    db01 [address = ".101", shape = database ]
    db02 [address = ".102"]

    // define network using defined nodes
    group db {
      db01;
      db02;
    }
  }
}
@endnwdiag

Group

For a group, you can add or change:

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  group {
    color = "#CCFFCC";
    description = "Long group description";

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

  network dmz {
    web01;
    web02;
  }
  network internal {
    web01;
    web02;
    db01 [address = ".101", shape = database];
  }
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-12056]

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Using Sprites

You can use all sprites (icons) from the Standard Library or any other library.

Use the notation <$sprite> to use a sprite, \n to make a new line, or any other Creole syntax.

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
!include <office/Servers/application_server>
!include <office/Servers/database_server>

nwdiag {
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      // set multiple addresses (using comma)
      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1, 210.x.x.20",  description = "<$application_server>\n web01"]
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2",  description = "<$application_server>\n web02"];
  }
  network internal {
      address = "172.x.x.x/24";

      web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
      db01 [address = "172.x.x.100",  description = "<$database_server>\n db01"];
      db02 [address = "172.x.x.101",  description = "<$database_server>\n db02"];
  }
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-11862]

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Using OpenIconic

You can also use the icons from OpenIconic in network or node descriptions.

Use the notation <&icon> to make an icon, <&icon*n> to multiply the size by a factor n, and \n to make a newline:

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@startnwdiag

nwdiag {
  group nightly {
    color = "#FFAAAA";
    description = "<&clock> Restarted nightly <&clock>";
    web02;
    db01;
  }
  network dmz {
      address = "210.x.x.x/24"

      user [description = "<&person*4.5>\n user1"];
      // set multiple addresses (using comma)
      web01 [address = "210.x.x.1, 210.x.x.20",  description = "<&cog*4>\nweb01"]
      web02 [address = "210.x.x.2",  description = "<&cog*4>\nweb02"];

  }
  network internal {
      address = "172.x.x.x/24";

      web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
      db01 [address = "172.x.x.100",  description = "<&spreadsheet*4>\n db01"];
      db02 [address = "172.x.x.101",  description = "<&spreadsheet*4>\n db02"];
      ptr  [address = "172.x.x.110",  description = "<&print*4>\n ptr01"];
  }
}
@endnwdiag

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Same nodes on more than two networks

You can use same nodes on different networks (more than two networks); nwdiag use in this case 'jump line' over networks.

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  // define group at outside network definitions
  group {
    color = "#7777FF";

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

  network dmz {
    color = "pink"

    web01;
    web02;
  }

  network internal {
    web01;
    web02;
    db01 [shape = database ];
  }

  network internal2 {
    color = "LightBlue";

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

}
@endnwdiag

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Peer networks

Peer networks are simple connections between two nodes, for which we don't use a horizontal "busbar" network

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  inet [shape = cloud];
  inet -- router;

  network {
    router;
    web01;
    web02;
  }
}
@endnwdiag

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Peer networks and group

Without group

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
    internet [ shape = cloud];
    internet -- router;

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }
    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
}
@endnwdiag

Group on first

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
    internet [ shape = cloud];
    internet -- router;

    group {
      color = "pink";
      app;
      db;
    }

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }

    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
}
@endnwdiag

Group on second

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
    internet [ shape = cloud];
    internet -- router;

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }

    group {
      color = "pink";
      app;
      db;
    }

    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
}
@endnwdiag

Group on third

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
    internet [ shape = cloud];
    internet -- router;

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }
    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
    group {
      color = "pink";
      app;
      db;
    }
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. Issue#408 and QA-12655]

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Add title, caption, header, footer or legend on network diagram

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@startnwdiag

header some header

footer some footer

title My title

nwdiag {
  network inet {
      web01 [shape = cloud]
  }
}

legend
The legend
end legend

caption This is caption
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-11303 and Common commands]

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With or without shadow

With shadow (by default)

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network nw {
    server;
    internet;
  }
  internet [shape = cloud];
}
@endnwdiag

Without shadow

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
<style>
root {
 shadowing 0
}
</style>
nwdiag {
  network nw {
    server;
    internet;
  }
  internet [shape = cloud];
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-14516]

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Change width of the networks

You can change the width of the networks, especially in order to have the same full width for only some or all networks.

Here are some examples, with all the possibilities.

First example

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network NETWORK_BASE {
   dev_A [address = "dev_A" ]
   dev_B [address = "dev_B" ]
  }
  network IntNET1 {
   dev_B [address = "dev_B1" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M1" ]
  }
  network IntNET2 {
   dev_B [address = "dev_B2" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M2" ]
 }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network NETWORK_BASE {
   width = full
   dev_A [address = "dev_A" ]
   dev_B [address = "dev_B" ]
  }
  network IntNET1 {
   dev_B [address = "dev_B1" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M1" ]
  }
  network IntNET2 {
   dev_B [address = "dev_B2" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M2" ]
 }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network NETWORK_BASE {
   width = full
   dev_A [address = "dev_A" ]
   dev_B [address = "dev_B" ]
  }
  network IntNET1 {
   width = full
   dev_B [address = "dev_B1" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M1" ]
  }
  network IntNET2 {
   dev_B [address = "dev_B2" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M2" ]
 }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network NETWORK_BASE {
   width = full
   dev_A [address = "dev_A" ]
   dev_B [address = "dev_B" ]
  }
  network IntNET1 {
   width = full
   dev_B [address = "dev_B1" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M1" ]
  }
  network IntNET2 {
   width = full
   dev_B [address = "dev_B2" ]
   dev_M [address = "dev_M2" ]
 }
}
@endnwdiag

Second example

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  e1
  network n1 {
    e1
    e2
    e3
  }

  network n2 {
    e3
    e4
    e5
  }

  network n3 {
    e2
    e6
  }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  e1
  network n1 {
    width = full
    e1
    e2
    e3
  }

  network n2 {
    e3
    e4
    e5
  }

  network n3 {
    e2
    e6
  }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  e1
  network n1 {
    width = full
    e1
    e2
    e3
  }

  network n2 {
    width = full
    e3
    e4
    e5
  }

  network n3 {
    e2
    e6
  }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  e1
  network n1 {
    width = full
    e1
    e2
    e3
  }

  network n2 {
    width = full
    e3
    e4
    e5
  }

  network n3 {
    width = full
    e2
    e6
  }
}
@endnwdiag

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Other internal networks

You can define other internal networks (TCP/IP, USB, SERIAL,...).

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network LAN1 {
     a [address = "a1"];
  }
  network LAN2 {
     a [address = "a2"];
     switch;
  }
  switch -- equip;
  equip -- printer;
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network LAN1 {
     a [address = "a1"];
  }
  network LAN2 {
     a [address = "a2"];
     switch [address = "s2"];
  }
  switch -- equip;
  equip [address = "e3"];
  equip -- printer;
  printer [address = "USB"];
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-12824]

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Using (global) style

Without style (by default)

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network DMZ {
      address = "y.x.x.x/24"
      web01 [address = "y.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "y.x.x.2"];
  }

   network Internal {
    web01;
    web02;
    db01 [address = "w.w.w.z", shape = database];
  } 

    group {
    description = "long group label";
    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }
}
@endnwdiag

With style

You can use style to change rendering of elements.

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
<style>
nwdiagDiagram {
  network {
    BackGroundColor green
    LineColor red
    LineThickness 1.0
    FontSize 18
    FontColor navy
  }
  server {
    BackGroundColor pink
    LineColor yellow
    LineThickness 1.0
    ' FontXXX only for description or label
    FontSize 18
    FontColor #blue
  }
  arrow {
    ' FontXXX only for address 
    FontSize 17
    FontColor #red
    FontName Monospaced
    LineColor black
  }
  group {
    BackGroundColor cadetblue
    LineColor black
    LineThickness 2.0
    FontSize 11
    FontStyle bold
    Margin 5
    Padding 5
  }
}
</style>
nwdiag {
  network DMZ {
      address = "y.x.x.x/24"
      web01 [address = "y.x.x.1"];
      web02 [address = "y.x.x.2"];
  }

   network Internal {
    web01;
    web02;
    db01 [address = "w.w.w.z", shape = database];
  } 

    group {
    description = "long group label";
    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }
}
@endnwdiag

[Ref. QA-14479]

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Appendix: Test of all shapes on Network diagram (nwdiag)

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@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network Network {
    Actor       [shape = actor]       
    Agent       [shape = agent]       
    Artifact    [shape = artifact]    
    Boundary    [shape = boundary]    
    Card        [shape = card]        
    Cloud       [shape = cloud]       
    Collections [shape = collections] 
    Component   [shape = component]   
  }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network Network {
    Control     [shape = control]     
    Database    [shape = database]    
    Entity      [shape = entity]      
    File        [shape = file]        
    Folder      [shape = folder]      
    Frame       [shape = frame]       
    Hexagon     [shape = hexagon]     
    Interface   [shape = interface]   
  }
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
  network Network {
    Label       [shape = label]       
    Node        [shape = node]        
    Package     [shape = package]     
    Person      [shape = person]      
    Queue       [shape = queue]       
    Stack       [shape = stack]       
    Rectangle   [shape = rectangle]   
    Storage     [shape = storage]     
    Usecase     [shape = usecase]     
  }
}
@endnwdiag

FIXME
  1. Overlap of label for folder
  2. Hexagon shape is missing

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
network Network {
Folder [shape = folder]
Hexagon [shape = hexagon]
}
}
@endnwdiag

🎉 Copied! 

@startnwdiag
nwdiag {
network Network {
Folder [shape = folder, description = "Test, long long label\nTest, long long label"]
Hexagon [shape = hexagon, description = "Test, long long label\nTest, long long label"]
}
}
@endnwdiag

FIXME