NetVis

40 - Integration Surface & Diagnostics

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The Concept

Network visualization often fails at scale because layout algorithms treat all nodes and edges equally, producing cluttered “hairball” diagrams. NetVis treats topologies as hierarchical structures and uses domain-aware layout constraints—including isometric views and edge bundling—to reflect engineering intent.

Quick Facts

What This Is

A Rust-based network topology layout and visualization engine that transforms complex multi-layer networks into clear, information-dense renderings. Advanced layout algorithms minimize visual complexity while preserving structural clarity.

Key Features

• Advanced Layout Algorithms:
  • Force-directed layout with configurable parameters
  • Hierarchical layout for tree-like topologies
  • Geographic layout for physical infrastructure
  • Edge bundling to reduce visual clutter
• Multi-Layer Support: Visualize L2, L3, and logical layers simultaneously
• Static Output Formats: SVG, PDF, PNG (v1 focus)
• High-Quality Rendering: Anti-aliased, publication-ready graphics
• Topology Awareness: Uses petgraph for graph analysis

Example: Quick Start

Input topology (simple-network.yaml):

nodes:
  - name: r1
    type: router
  - name: r2
    type: router
  - name: s1
    type: switch
  - name: s2
    type: switch
  - name: h1
    type: host
  - name: h2
    type: host

edges:
  - src: r1
    dst: s1
  - src: r1
    dst: s2
  - src: r2
    dst: s1
  - src: r2
    dst: s2
  - src: s1
    dst: h1
  - src: s2
    dst: h2
  - src: s1
    dst: s2

Render with CLI:

$ netvis render simple-network.yaml \
    --layout force-directed \
    --output output.svg \
    --width 800 \
    --height 600

Loaded topology: 6 nodes, 7 edges
Applying force-directed layout...
Layout converged in 245 iterations
Rendering to SVG...
Written: output.svg (6.5 KB)

Integration with ank_pydantic

ank_pydantic topologies export directly to NetVis format:

# NetVis
topo.export_for_netvis(
    "output.json",
    layout="hierarchical",
    node_metadata=True  # Include device types, roles for styling
)

NetVis reads the exported topology and applies advanced layout algorithms, producing publication-quality diagrams that reflect the logical structure captured in ank_pydantic.

Current Status

Core layout algorithms implemented, refining edge bundling and multi-layer rendering. Interactive browser embedding planned for v2.

Tech Stack

Rust, petgraph for graph algorithms, SVG/PDF rendering libraries