The main objective of this project is to design and implement a virtual network control plane architecture to allow the users to utilise effectively all the network resources at L2. As a first step, an analysis of current state-of-the-art management and control architectures for resource virtualization must be done, for the purpose of providing operational support for the user of the virtual network infrastructure at L2. This project also develops a tool-bench composed by basic components for managing the slicing and virtualized network provision at L2. The control plane of the tool-bench will interact with devices at layer 2 so that end-to-end virtual network services may be offered at this level. The tool-bench will be used to manage the network infrastructure and may eventually allow the users to create and configure their own dedicated and customized network slice at L2. A slice is defined as a network that has been customized to fit the needs of a specific user, and that is running on top of the physical infrastructure, sharing it with other parallel slices. Activities: * Analyse the status and advances in Network Control and Management Plane for virtual network infrastructures. * Define the basic components of the architecture (elements, interfaces) which provide virtualized network resources at L2. Define the interfaces of the control plane and of each basic component. * Define a set of services that the L2 virtualized network will be provided to end users. * Implement the L2 tool-bench.