diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/behaviour/SoftwareUpgrade.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/behaviour/SoftwareUpgrade.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6cdb44
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+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/behaviour/SoftwareUpgrade.java
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2018-present Open Networking Foundation
+ *
+ * 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.net.behaviour;
+
+import com.google.common.annotations.Beta;
+
+import org.onosproject.net.driver.HandlerBehaviour;
+
+import java.net.URI;
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+
+/**
+ * Behaviour that upgrades the software on a device.
+ *
+ */
+@Beta
+public interface SoftwareUpgrade extends HandlerBehaviour {
+
+    /**
+     * Completion status of upgrade.
+     */
+    public enum Status {
+        /**
+         * Indicates a successfully completed upgrade.
+         */
+        SUCCESS,
+
+        /**
+         * Indicates an aborted upgrade.
+         */
+        FAILURE
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Configures the uri from where the upgrade will be pulled.
+     *
+     * @param uri uri of the software upgrade location
+     * @return boolean true if the uri was properly configured
+     */
+    boolean configureUri(URI uri);
+
+    /**
+     * Performs an upgrade.
+     *
+     * @return A future that will be completed when the upgrade completes
+     */
+    CompletableFuture<Status> upgrade();
+}