diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/BUCK b/protocols/lisp/api/BUCK
index 2b27800..7e70e4e 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/api/BUCK
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/BUCK
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 COMPILE_DEPS = [
     '//lib:CORE_DEPS',
+    '//lib:netty-transport',
+    '//protocols/lisp/msg:onos-protocols-lisp-msg',
 ]
 
 osgi_jar_with_tests (
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/pom.xml b/protocols/lisp/api/pom.xml
index 4e7506b..6772669 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/api/pom.xml
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/pom.xml
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@
             <artifactId>netty-transport</artifactId>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
-            <groupId>io.netty</groupId>
-            <artifactId>netty-transport-native-epoll</artifactId>
-            <version>${netty4.version}</version>
+            <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
+            <artifactId>onos-lisp-msg</artifactId>
+            <version>${project.version}</version>
         </dependency>
     </dependencies>
 
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispController.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispController.java
index be9141d..5c47109 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispController.java
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispController.java
@@ -21,4 +21,47 @@
  */
 public interface LispController {
 
+    /**
+     * Obtains all LISP routers known to this LISP controller.
+     *
+     * @return Iterable of LISP router elements
+     */
+    Iterable<LispRouter> getRouters();
+
+    /**
+     * Obtains the actual router for the given LispRouterId.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router to fetch
+     * @return the interface to this router
+     */
+    LispRouter getRouter(LispRouterId routerId);
+
+    /**
+     * Registers a router listener to track router status.
+     * (e.g., router add and removal)
+     *
+     * @param listener the listener to notify
+     */
+    void addRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener);
+
+    /**
+     * Unregisters a router listener.
+     *
+     * @param listener the listener to unregister
+     */
+    void removeRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener);
+
+    /**
+     * Registers a listener for all LISP message types.
+     *
+     * @param listener the listener to notify
+     */
+    void addMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener);
+
+    /**
+     * Unregisters a listener.
+     *
+     * @param listener the listener to unregister
+     */
+    void removeMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener);
 }
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispMessageListener.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispMessageListener.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffc540c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispMessageListener.java
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+import org.onosproject.lisp.msg.protocols.LispMessage;
+
+/**
+ * Notifies providers about all LISP messages.
+ */
+public interface LispMessageListener {
+
+    /**
+     * Handles all incoming LISP messages.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router where the message generated
+     * @param msg      raw LISP message
+     */
+    void handleIncomingMessage(LispRouterId routerId, LispMessage msg);
+
+    /**
+     * Handles all outgoing LISP messages.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router where the message to be sent
+     * @param msg      raw LISP message
+     */
+    void handleOutgoingMessage(LispRouterId routerId, LispMessage msg);
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouter.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6fa99f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+import io.netty.channel.Channel;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.msg.protocols.LispMessage;
+import org.onosproject.net.Device;
+
+/**
+ * Represents to provider facing side of a router.
+ */
+public interface LispRouter {
+
+    /**
+     * Writes the LISP control message to the channel.
+     *
+     * @param msg the message to be written
+     */
+    void sendMessage(LispMessage msg);
+
+    /**
+     * Handles the LISP control message from the channel.
+     *
+     * @param msg the message to be handled
+     */
+    void handleMessage(LispMessage msg);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the router device type.
+     *
+     * @return device type
+     */
+    Device.Type deviceType();
+
+    /**
+     * Identifies the channel used to communicate with the router.
+     *
+     * @return string representation of the connection to the device
+     */
+    String channelId();
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the associated Netty channel for this router.
+     *
+     * @param channel the Netty channel
+     */
+    void setChannel(Channel channel);
+
+    /**
+     * Obtains a string version of the ID for this router.
+     *
+     * @return string representation of the device identifier
+     */
+    String stringId();
+
+    /**
+     * Obtains an IpAddress version of the ID for this router.
+     *
+     * @return raw IP address of the device identifier
+     */
+    IpAddress routerId();
+
+    /**
+     * Checks if the router is connected.
+     *
+     * @return whether the router is connected
+     */
+    boolean isConnected();
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAgent.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAgent.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bdafa86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAgent.java
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+import org.onosproject.lisp.msg.protocols.LispMessage;
+
+/**
+ * Responsible for keeping track of the current set of
+ * routers connected to the system.
+ */
+public interface LispRouterAgent {
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a router that has just connected to the system.
+     * We try to add the router into connectedRouter pool when the router is
+     * initially sending Map-Register message to the controller.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the routerId to add
+     * @param router   the actual router object
+     * @return true if added, false otherwise
+     */
+    boolean addConnectedRouter(LispRouterId routerId, LispRouter router);
+
+    /**
+     * Clears all state in controller router maps for a router that has
+     * disconnected from the local controller. Also release control for that
+     * router from the global repository. Notify router listener.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the routerId to rmove
+     */
+    void removeConnectedRouter(LispRouterId routerId);
+
+    /**
+     * Processes a message coming from a router. Notifies message listeners on
+     * all incoming message event.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the routerId of a router where the message comes from
+     * @param message  the message to process
+     */
+    void processUpstreamMessage(LispRouterId routerId, LispMessage message);
+
+    /**
+     * Processes a message going to a router. Notifies message listeners on
+     * all outgoing message event.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the routerId of a router where the message goes to
+     * @param message  the message to process
+     */
+    void processDownstreamMessage(LispRouterId routerId, LispMessage message);
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterId.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterId.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6b3c9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterId.java
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
+import org.onlab.util.Identifier;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.net.URISyntaxException;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+
+/**
+ * The class representing a network router identifier.
+ * This class is immutable.
+ */
+public final class LispRouterId extends Identifier<IpAddress> {
+
+    private static final String SCHEME = "lisp";
+    private static final IpAddress UNKNOWN = IpAddress.valueOf("0.0.0.0");
+
+    /**
+     * A default constructor.
+     */
+    public LispRouterId() {
+        super(UNKNOWN);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * A constructor with an IpAddress value specified.
+     *
+     * @param value the value to use
+     */
+    public LispRouterId(IpAddress value) {
+        super(value);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * A constructor with a String value specified.
+     *
+     * @param value the value to use
+     */
+    public LispRouterId(String value) {
+        super(IpAddress.valueOf(value));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns LispRouterId created from a given device URI.
+     *
+     * @param uri device URI
+     * @return object of LispRouterId
+     */
+    public static LispRouterId routerId(URI uri) {
+        checkArgument(uri.getScheme().equals(SCHEME), "Unsupported URI scheme");
+        return new LispRouterId(IpAddress.valueOf(uri.getSchemeSpecificPart()));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Produces a device URI from the given LispRouterId.
+     *
+     * @param routerId device identifier
+     * @return device URI
+     */
+    public static URI uri(LispRouterId routerId) {
+        return uri(routerId.id());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Produces device URI from the given device IpAddress.
+     *
+     * @param ipAddress device ip address
+     * @return device URI
+     */
+    public static URI uri(IpAddress ipAddress) {
+        try {
+            return new URI(SCHEME, ipAddress.toString(), null);
+        } catch (URISyntaxException e) {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterListener.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterListener.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7a7857
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterListener.java
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+/**
+ * Allows for providers interested in Router events to be notified.
+ */
+public interface LispRouterListener {
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies that the router was added.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router where the event occurred
+     */
+    void routerAdded(LispRouterId routerId);
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies that the router was removed.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router where the event occurred
+     */
+    void routerRemoved(LispRouterId routerId);
+
+    /**
+     * Notifies that the router has changed in some way.
+     *
+     * @param routerId the router that changed
+     */
+    void routerChanged(LispRouterId routerId);
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispControllerAdapter.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispControllerAdapter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c096131
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispControllerAdapter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+/**
+ * Test adapter for the LISP controller interface.
+ */
+public class LispControllerAdapter implements LispController {
+    @Override
+    public Iterable<LispRouter> getRouters() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public LispRouter getRouter(LispRouterId routerId) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void addRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void removeRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void addMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void removeMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener) {
+
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAdapter.java b/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAdapter.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dcc736
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/lisp/api/src/test/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/LispRouterAdapter.java
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2016-present Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.onosproject.lisp.ctl;
+
+import io.netty.channel.Channel;
+import org.onlab.packet.IpAddress;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.msg.protocols.LispMessage;
+import org.onosproject.net.Device;
+
+/**
+ * Test adapter for the LISP router interface.
+ */
+public class LispRouterAdapter implements LispRouter {
+    @Override
+    public void sendMessage(LispMessage msg) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void handleMessage(LispMessage msg) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Device.Type deviceType() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String channelId() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setChannel(Channel channel) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String stringId() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public IpAddress routerId() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isConnected() {
+        return false;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/ctl/pom.xml b/protocols/lisp/ctl/pom.xml
index 0bfc6ba..c8954bb 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/ctl/pom.xml
+++ b/protocols/lisp/ctl/pom.xml
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@
             <version>${project.version}</version>
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
+            <groupId>io.netty</groupId>
+            <artifactId>netty-transport-native-epoll</artifactId>
+            <version>${netty4.version}</version>
+        </dependency>
+        <dependency>
             <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
             <artifactId>onos-api</artifactId>
             <classifier>tests</classifier>
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerImpl.java b/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerImpl.java
index e8dae2c..0d1bdf0 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerImpl.java
+++ b/protocols/lisp/ctl/src/main/java/org/onosproject/lisp/ctl/impl/LispControllerImpl.java
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 import org.onosproject.cfg.ComponentConfigService;
 import org.onosproject.core.CoreService;
 import org.onosproject.lisp.ctl.LispController;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.ctl.LispMessageListener;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.ctl.LispRouter;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.ctl.LispRouterId;
+import org.onosproject.lisp.ctl.LispRouterListener;
 import org.onosproject.lisp.msg.authentication.LispAuthenticationConfig;
 import org.onosproject.net.device.DeviceService;
 import org.osgi.service.component.ComponentContext;
@@ -131,4 +135,34 @@
         }
         authConfig.updateLispAuthKeyId(lispAuthKeyId);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public Iterable<LispRouter> getRouters() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public LispRouter getRouter(LispRouterId routerId) {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void addRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void removeRouterListener(LispRouterListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void addMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener) {
+
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void removeMessageListener(LispMessageListener listener) {
+
+    }
 }
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/msg/BUCK b/protocols/lisp/msg/BUCK
index 0db2688..b1251f2 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/msg/BUCK
+++ b/protocols/lisp/msg/BUCK
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 COMPILE_DEPS = [
     '//lib:CORE_DEPS',
-    '//protocols/lisp/api:onos-protocols-lisp-api',
     '//lib:netty-buffer'
 ]
 
diff --git a/protocols/lisp/msg/pom.xml b/protocols/lisp/msg/pom.xml
index 835dec8..04cfac0 100644
--- a/protocols/lisp/msg/pom.xml
+++ b/protocols/lisp/msg/pom.xml
@@ -36,11 +36,6 @@
         </dependency>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
-            <artifactId>onos-lisp-api</artifactId>
-            <version>${project.version}</version>
-        </dependency>
-        <dependency>
-            <groupId>org.onosproject</groupId>
             <artifactId>onos-api</artifactId>
             <classifier>tests</classifier>
             <scope>test</scope>