Nexus Control is a comprehensive network monitoring and Docker management system that provides real-time visibility into your network devices and Docker containers. It enables network scanning, performance monitoring, Docker container management, and secure SSH connections from a unified web interface.

May 2025

• Enhanced network topology visualization with gateway-switch relationships
• Added support for designating a main gateway with visual indicators
• Improved connection visualization between network devices
• Added tooltips and visual indicators for device relationships
• Updated hierarchical view to properly display the network hierarchy

• Advanced network scanning with SSH detection
• Interactive network topology visualization with multiple view options (circular, hierarchical, timeline)
• Device grouping by vendor, category, or scan source
• SSH connectivity to network devices directly from the interface
• Gateway and switch relationship visualization with parent-child connections
• Main gateway designation with visual indicators across all topology views

• Real-time latency, bandwidth, and uptime monitoring
• Historical performance data tracking and visualization
• System uptime monitoring for SSH-enabled devices
• Customizable monitoring intervals

• Real-time Docker container status monitoring
• Start, stop, restart, and delete containers
• Create new containers with custom configurations
• Port mapping and volume configuration

• Customizable device information (names, categories, colors, icons)
• Persistent data storage between sessions
• Responsive design for various screen sizes
• SSH terminal access directly from the browser

• Frontend: Next.js, React, TailwindCSS, Chart.js, D3.js
• Backend: Node.js, Express, Socket.IO
• Docker: Dockerode for Docker API interactions
• Network Tools: Nmap (via Docker), SSH2 for SSH connectivity

• jonlabelle/network-tools - Used for network scanning and performance monitoring
• Your application containers that you manage via the dashboard

• Node.js 14+ and npm
• Docker (remote or local)
• Network with devices to scan

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/nexus-control.git
cd nexus-control

2. Install dependencies

npm install

3. Configure the application

   • Update any hardcoded IP addresses in server files
   • Configure Docker connection settings as needed

4. Start the development server

npm run dev

If you want to connect to a remote Docker host, follow these steps:

1. Set up /etc/docker/daemon.json on the remote host

sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json

Paste this:

{
  "hosts": ["unix:///var/run/docker.sock", "tcp://0.0.0.0:2375"]
}

Save and exit.

2. Override systemd to use the config

sudo systemctl edit docker

Paste this:

[Service]
ExecStart=
ExecStart=/usr/bin/dockerd

Then run:

sudo systemctl daemon-reexec
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

3. Restart Docker & enable on boot

sudo systemctl restart docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

4. Test from another machine

DOCKER_HOST=tcp://<your-server-ip>:2375 docker ps

1. Home Dashboard: Displays Docker container status and quick access links

2. Network Scan:

   • Set IP range and click "Start Network Scan"
   • View discovered devices in topology view
   • Click on devices for detailed information
   • Connect to SSH-enabled devices directly
   • Right-click on devices to edit properties or set network roles (gateway, switch)
   • Designate a main gateway for hierarchical network visualization
   • View gateway-switch connections with visual indicators

3. Performance Monitoring:

   • Select devices to monitor
   • Choose auto-refresh interval
   • View real-time and historical performance data
   • Monitor latency, bandwidth, and uptime

4. Docker Management:

   • View all containers and their status
   • Perform container operations (start, stop, restart, delete)
   • Create new containers with custom settings

Nexus Control uses a client-server architecture:

• Backend Servers:
  • server-network.js: Handles network scanning and performance monitoring
  • server-docker.js: Manages Docker container operations
• Frontend: Next.js application with React components
• Communication: Socket.IO for real-time data exchange

• This dashboard exposes Docker's API on port 2375 without TLS encryption
• For production environments, consider adding TLS certificates
• Limit network access to the Docker API port using firewalls
• Consider implementing authentication for the dashboard

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

Nexus Control provides multiple ways to visualize your network:

• Circular View: Displays devices in a radial layout, grouped by category, vendor, or scan source
• Hierarchical View: Shows network relationships in a tree structure with the main gateway as the root
• Geographic View: Places devices on a world map based on location data
• Timeline View: Visualizes network changes over time, showing when devices appear or disappear

• Device Roles: Designate devices as gateways, switches, or regular devices
• Main Gateway: Set a primary gateway that serves as the root node in the hierarchical view
• Connection Visualization:
  • Switches connected to gateways are displayed with green borders
  • Main gateway is highlighted with gold borders and a star icon
  • Parent-child relationships are visually indicated

• Context Menu: Right-click on devices to view detailed information or edit properties
• Tooltips: Hover over devices to see connection relationships
• Visual Legend: Legend shows all device types and relationship indicators
• Customization: Edit device names, categories, colors, and icons

This project is licensed under the terms of the license included in the repository.