AbstractA Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (L1‐VPN) has two models for service management: the resource‐partition based model and the domain‐service based model. In this paper, we present a network management tool for resource‐partition based L1‐VPNs. A Transaction Language One (TL1) proxy is designed to achieve resource partitioning at the network element level. Building on top of a TL1 proxy, we implemented a User‐Controlled LightPath (UCLP) system to support physical network brokers to assign and allocate virtually dedicated resources to customers, and to enable customers to directly manage their resources. With such a capability, customers are able to create wide area networks based on their traffic pattern, and to adjust their traffic pattern based on available resources. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.