Phase 1: Design Canvas

Creating a scenario in Rogue Architect follows a logical sequence: build your network topology first, then configure each machine with plugins that define what gets installed and configured during the build.

The canvas is a visual drag-and-drop workspace. You’ll drag items from the sidebar onto the canvas, connect them, and configure their settings through slide-out panels.

The Design Flow

1. Create VLANs — Drop VLAN containers onto the canvas to define your network segments
2. Add Machines — Drag machine templates into VLANs to add virtual machines
3. Add Plugins — Attach Ansible plugins to machines to define what gets installed
4. Configure Plugin Parameters — Set the required and optional parameters on each plugin
5. Launch Your Build — Run pre-checks, configure build options, and start your build

Canvas Basics

• Drag and drop items from the sidebar onto the canvas
• Double-click a machine to enter machine edit mode and manage its plugins
• Draw connections between VLANs to enable network routing between them
• Right-click items for context menu options (clone, delete, etc.)
• The Help Me! panel (gold icon in the left rail) provides a guided walkthrough of the entire lifecycle

Collaboration

Multiple users can work on the same canvas simultaneously. You’ll see other users’ cursors in real time, and changes sync automatically via WebSocket.