Topology Canvas

The Topology Canvas is Complinist's visual editor for creating network diagrams. This guide covers all the tools and features available.

Canvas Overview

The canvas is your workspace for building network topology diagrams. It includes:

• Left Toolbar: Device library and tools
• Top Navigation: Project, save, export, and view options
• Canvas Area: Where you build your diagram
• Properties Panel: Edit selected device details (right side)

Adding Devices

Using the Device Library

1. Click Add Device in the left toolbar
2. Browse categories:
   • Azure - Azure cloud resources
   • AWS - Amazon Web Services resources
   • IT Categories - General IT infrastructure
   • Network Layers - OSI model layers
3. Search for specific devices using the search bar
4. Click on a device to add it to the canvas

Device Types Include

• Servers (web, application, database)
• Network devices (routers, switches, firewalls)
• Load balancers
• Storage systems
• Cloud services (VMs, containers, serverless)
• Security appliances

Adding Security Boundaries

Boundaries represent security zones, network segments, or authorization boundaries.

1. Click Add Boundary in the left toolbar
2. Draw a rectangle on the canvas to define the boundary area
3. Drag devices inside the boundary to associate them
4. Name your boundary (e.g., "DMZ", "Internal Network", "Authorization Boundary")

Boundary Uses

• Authorization Boundaries - Define ATO scope
• Network Segments - Separate VLANs or subnets
• Security Zones - DMZ, internal, external
• Compliance Boundaries - PCI DSS, HIPAA zones

Connecting Devices

Creating Connections

1. Hover over a device to see connection points
2. Click and drag from one device to another
3. Release to create the connection

Connection Types

• Network connections - Data flow between devices
• Management connections - Administrative access
• Dependency connections - Service dependencies

Editing Connections

• Click on a connection to select it
• Use the properties panel to add labels, change connection style, or add notes

Selecting and Moving

Single Selection

• Click on any device or boundary to select it
• Selected items show resize handles

Multi-Selection

• Click and drag on empty canvas to create selection box
• Ctrl+Click (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Click (Mac) to add to selection
• Selected items can be moved together

Moving Items

• Drag selected items to reposition
• Use arrow keys for precise movement
• Hold Shift while dragging to constrain to axis

Editing Device Properties

When a device is selected, the Properties Panel shows:

General Properties

• Name - Display name on the diagram
• Device Type - Category and type
• Description - Detailed description

Network Properties

• IP Address - IPv4 or IPv6
• MAC Address - Physical address
• Hostname - DNS name

Security Properties

• Device Status - Active, Inactive, Maintenance
• Tags - Custom labels for organization
• Notes - Additional information

SSP Properties

• Security Controls - Linked NIST controls
• Data Classification - Sensitivity level
• System Component - Role in the system

Canvas Tools

Zoom and Pan

• Mouse wheel - Zoom in/out
• Click and drag on empty space - Pan the canvas
• Fit to view button - Show entire diagram

Alignment Tools

1. Select multiple items
2. Click Alignment & Styling in the toolbar
3. Choose alignment option: align left, center, right, top, middle, bottom, or distribute

Keyboard Shortcuts

Best Practices

Organizing Your Diagram

1. Use boundaries to group related devices
2. Align devices for a clean appearance
3. Label connections to show data flow
4. Use consistent naming conventions

For SSP Generation

1. Add all system components - Include everything in your authorization boundary
2. Define boundaries clearly - Show security zones
3. Document connections - Show how data flows
4. Include device details - IP addresses, hostnames, etc.

Performance Tips

• For large diagrams (100+ devices), use zoom to fit to see overview
• Group devices by function or location
• Use boundaries to organize sections

Exporting Your Diagram

See Export Options for PNG image export, JSON topology export, CSV device list export, and including diagrams in SSP PDFs.