PlantUMLLanguage specificationnwdiag
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Network diagram (nwdiag)

nwdiag has been created by Takeshi Komiya and allows to quickly draw network diagrams. So we thank him for his creation!

Since the syntax is clear and simple, this has been integrated within PlantUML. We reuse here the examples that Takeshi has documented.

Simple diagram

@startuml
nwdiag {
  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;
  }
}
@enduml

Define multiple addresses

@startuml
nwdiag {
  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;
  }
}
@enduml

Grouping nodes

Define group inside network definitions

@startuml
nwdiag {
  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;
    }
  }
}
@enduml

Define group outside of network definitions

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

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

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

Define several groups on same network

Example with 2 group

@startuml
nwdiag {
  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 ;
  }
}
@enduml

[Ref. QA-12663]

Example with 3 groups

@startuml
nwdiag {
  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;
  }
}
@enduml

[Ref. QA-13138]

Extended Syntax (for network or group)

Network

For network or network's component, you can add or change:
  • addresses (separated by comma ,);
  • color;
  • description;
  • shape.

@startuml
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;
    }
  }
}
@enduml

Group

For a group, you can add or change: 

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

    web01;
    web02;
    db01;
  }

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

[Ref. QA-12056]

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. 

@startuml
!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"];
  }
}
@enduml

[Ref. QA-11862]

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: 

@startuml

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"];
  }
}
@enduml

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. 

@startuml
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;
  }

}
@enduml

Peer networks

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

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

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

Peer networks and group

Without group

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

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

Group on first

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

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

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }

    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
}
@enduml

Group on second

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

    network proxy {
        router;
        app;
    }

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

    network default {
    	app;
        db;
    }
}
@enduml

FIXME
Why the line on proxy for 'db'? ('db' must be only on 'default network') [See example without group]

Group on third

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

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

FIXME
[Ref. Issue#408 and QA-12655]
Not totally fixed

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

@startuml

header some header

footer some footer

title My title

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

legend
The legend
end legend

caption This is caption
@enduml

[Ref. QA-11303 and Common commands]

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:
  • without

@startuml
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" ]
 }
}
@enduml

  • only the first

@startuml
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" ]
 }
}
@enduml

  • the first and the second

@startuml
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" ]
 }
}
@enduml

  • all the network (with same full width)

@startuml
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" ]
 }
}
@enduml

Other internal networks

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

  • Without adress or type

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

  • With adress or type

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

[Ref. QA-12824]