diff --git a/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/IOFSwitchManager.java b/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/IOFSwitchManager.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0acb321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/of/ctl/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/of/controller/impl/IOFSwitchManager.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.of.controller.impl;
+
+import org.projectfloodlight.openflow.protocol.OFVersion;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.of.controller.impl.registry.IControllerRegistry;
+
+/**
+ * Interface to passed to controller class in order to allow
+ * it to spawn the appropriate type of switch and furthermore
+ * specify a registry object (ie. ZooKeeper).
+ *
+ */
+public interface IOFSwitchManager {
+
+    /**
+     * Given a description string for a switch spawn the
+     * concrete representation of that switch.
+     *
+     * @param mfr manufacturer description
+     * @param hwDesc hardware description
+     * @param swDesc software description
+     * @param ofv openflow version
+     * @return A switch of type IOFSwitch.
+     */
+    public IOFSwitch getSwitchImpl(String mfr, String hwDesc, String swDesc, OFVersion ofv);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the mastership registry used during controller-switch role election.
+     * @return the registry
+     */
+    public IControllerRegistry getRegistry();
+
+}