Network Topology
The Network Topology page provides a visual map of your Proxmox infrastructure, showing how nodes, clusters, and network bridges are interconnected. Instead of reading through configuration files, you get an interactive diagram that represents your actual network layout.
Overview
ProxCenter reads the network configuration from every connected Proxmox node and renders a topology graph. Clusters appear as groups, with nodes inside them and their network bridges, bonds, and VLANs displayed as connected elements.
The topology map is generated automatically -- there is nothing to configure. As long as your Proxmox connections are active, the map reflects the current state.
Prerequisites
- At least one active Proxmox VE connection.
- API permissions to read node and network configuration.
- Working inventory synchronization for the connected cluster.
- For multi-cluster views, each cluster should be added as a separate connection.
If the map is empty, verify the connection health first, then check that the connected token can read node network interfaces.
Graph Elements
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Cluster | A boundary grouping all nodes that belong to the same Proxmox cluster |
| Node | An individual Proxmox VE hypervisor, shown with its hostname and status |
| Bridge | Linux bridges (e.g., vmbr0, vmbr1) with their CIDR and connected interfaces |
| Bond | Network bonds with their mode (balance-rr, active-backup, LACP, etc.) |
| VLAN | VLAN-tagged interfaces, displayed with their VLAN ID |
Nodes are color-coded by status: green for online, red for offline, and orange for nodes with high resource usage.
Interactions
- Zoom and pan -- Scroll to zoom in/out, click and drag to pan around the map
- Click a node -- Opens a side panel with the node's network interfaces, IP addresses, and connected storage
- Click a bridge -- Highlights all VMs and containers attached to that bridge
- Hover -- Displays a tooltip with quick details (IP, uptime, connected guests count)
Layout Modes
The topology view supports two layout algorithms:
- Hierarchical -- Arranges clusters at the top, nodes below, and bridges at the bottom. Best for understanding the logical structure.
- Force-directed -- Uses physics simulation to position elements based on their connections. Better for spotting isolated or densely connected components.
Switch between layouts using the toggle in the top-right corner of the map.
Use Cases
- Onboarding -- Quickly understand the network design of a Proxmox environment you did not build
- Troubleshooting -- Visually trace network paths to find misconfigurations or missing bridges
- Documentation -- Export the topology as an image for infrastructure documentation
The topology map updates in real time. If you add a new bridge or change a bond configuration on a Proxmox node, the map reflects the change after the next data refresh cycle (typically a few seconds).
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| Empty map | Connection status, token permissions, inventory sync state |
| Missing bridges | Proxmox API permissions on nodes and network interfaces |
| Stale labels | Wait for the next inventory refresh or trigger a manual refresh |
| Incorrect cluster grouping | Confirm that each PVE cluster has a unique connection and stable node names |
Permissions
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
node.view | Required to view the topology map and node details |
network.view | Required to see bridge and VLAN details |