diff --git a/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/OpenFlowSwitch.java b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/OpenFlowSwitch.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f16bb88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openflow/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/OpenFlowSwitch.java
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.of.controller;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFFactory;
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFMessage;
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFPortDesc;
+
+/**
+ * Represents to provider facing side of a switch.
+ */
+public interface OpenFlowSwitch {
+
+    /**
+     * Writes the message to the driver.
+     *
+     * @param msg the message to write
+     */
+    public void sendMsg(OFMessage msg);
+
+    /**
+     * Writes to the OFMessage list to the driver.
+     *
+     * @param msgs the messages to be written
+     */
+    public void sendMsg(List<OFMessage> msgs);
+
+    /**
+     * Handle a message from the switch.
+     * @param fromSwitch the message to handle
+     */
+    public void handleMessage(OFMessage fromSwitch);
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the role for this switch.
+     * @param role the role to set.
+     */
+    public void setRole(RoleState role);
+
+    /**
+     * Fetch the role for this switch.
+     * @return the role.
+     */
+    public RoleState getRole();
+
+    /**
+     * Fetches the ports of this switch.
+     * @return unmodifiable list of the ports.
+     */
+    public List<OFPortDesc> getPorts();
+
+    /**
+     * Provides the factory for this OF version.
+     * @return OF version specific factory.
+     */
+    public OFFactory factory();
+
+    /**
+     * Gets a string version of the ID for this switch.
+     *
+     * @return string version of the ID
+     */
+    public String getStringId();
+
+    /**
+     * Gets the datapathId of the switch.
+     *
+     * @return the switch dpid in long format
+     */
+    public long getId();
+
+    /**
+     * fetch the manufacturer description.
+     * @return the description
+     */
+    public String manfacturerDescription();
+
+    /**
+     * fetch the datapath description.
+     * @return the description
+     */
+    public String datapathDescription();
+
+    /**
+     * fetch the hardware description.
+     * @return the description
+     */
+    public String hardwareDescription();
+
+    /**
+     * fetch the software description.
+     * @return the description
+     */
+    public String softwareDescription();
+
+    /**
+     * fetch the serial number.
+     * @return the serial
+     */
+    public String serialNumber();
+
+    /**
+     * Disconnects the switch by closing the TCP connection. Results in a call
+     * to the channel handler's channelDisconnected method for cleanup
+     */
+    public void disconnectSwitch();
+
+}