diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/topology/DefaultTopologyVertex.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/topology/DefaultTopologyVertex.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bc231e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/topology/DefaultTopologyVertex.java
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.net.topology;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.net.DeviceId;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+/**
+ * Implementation of the topology vertex backed by a device id.
+ */
+public class DefaultTopologyVertex implements TopologyVertex {
+
+    private final DeviceId deviceId;
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new topology vertex.
+     *
+     * @param deviceId backing infrastructure device identifier
+     */
+    public DefaultTopologyVertex(DeviceId deviceId) {
+        this.deviceId = deviceId;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public DeviceId deviceId() {
+        return deviceId;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(deviceId);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (obj instanceof DefaultTopologyVertex) {
+            final DefaultTopologyVertex other = (DefaultTopologyVertex) obj;
+            return Objects.equals(this.deviceId, other.deviceId);
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return deviceId.toString();
+    }
+
+}
+