Allow promoting LLDP/WebCRT placeholder NEs to real device types.

Accept generic/linux on update, expose them in the device-type meta list, and auto-pick zte_zxros when vendor changes from a placeholder type.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

netx_api/managed_ne_router.py

@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ def api_list_managed_ne(
 
 @router.get("/meta/device-types")
 def api_device_types():
-    return {"device_types": list(SUPPORTED_DEVICE_TYPES), "vendors": list(SUPPORTED_VENDORS)}
+    # Include generic/linux so LLDP/WebCRT placeholders can be edited without a bogus select value.
+    from .device_types import WEBCRT_DEVICE_TYPES
+
+    return {"device_types": list(WEBCRT_DEVICE_TYPES), "vendors": list(SUPPORTED_VENDORS)}
 
 
 @router.get("/meta/credentials-configured")

netx_api/ne_service_crud.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from fastapi import HTTPException
 from sqlalchemy import or_
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
-from .device_types import LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE, SUPPORTED_DEVICE_TYPES, SUPPORTED_VENDORS
+from .device_types import LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE, SUPPORTED_DEVICE_TYPES, SUPPORTED_VENDORS, WEBCRT_DEVICE_TYPES
 from .models import ManagedNE
 from .ne_crypto import encrypt_secret
 from .ne_hop_templates import default_bastion_username_template, default_hop_command_template
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ from .ne_service_common import (
     row_to_out,
 )
 
+# Inventory create stays strict; updates must also accept WebCRT/LLDP placeholder types
+# (generic/linux) so operators can open the form and promote them to zte_zxros etc.
+_ALLOWED_UPDATE_DEVICE_TYPES = frozenset(WEBCRT_DEVICE_TYPES)
+
 def list_managed_ne(
     db: Session,
     *,
@@ -135,9 +139,10 @@ def update_managed_ne(db: Session, ne_id: str, body: ManagedNeUpdate) -> Managed
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="ip_address_exists")
         row.ip_address = ip
     if "device_type" in data:
-        if data["device_type"] not in SUPPORTED_DEVICE_TYPES:
+        dt = str(data["device_type"] or "").strip()
+        if dt not in _ALLOWED_UPDATE_DEVICE_TYPES:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="unsupported_device_type")
-        row.device_type = data["device_type"]
+        row.device_type = dt
     if "vendor" in data:
         v = str(data["vendor"] or "").strip()
         row.vendor = v if v in SUPPORTED_VENDORS else "Other"

web/src/pages/NePage.tsx

@@ -410,7 +410,12 @@ export function NePage() {
   });
 
   const vendors = metaQuery.data?.vendors ?? [];
-  const deviceTypes = metaQuery.data?.device_types ?? [];
+  const deviceTypes = useMemo(() => {
+    const base = metaQuery.data?.device_types ?? [];
+    const cur = String(form.device_type || "").trim();
+    if (cur && !base.includes(cur)) return [cur, ...base];
+    return base;
+  }, [metaQuery.data?.device_types, form.device_type]);
   const credsOk = metaQuery.data?.credentials_configured ?? false;
 
   const allSelected = useMemo(() => {
@@ -921,7 +926,22 @@ export function NePage() {
               </label>
               <label>
                 <FormLabel required>{t("managedNe.col.vendor")}</FormLabel>
-                <select required value={form.vendor} onChange={(e) => setForm({ ...form, vendor: e.target.value })}>
+                <select required value={form.vendor} onChange={(e) => {
+                  const vendor = e.target.value;
+                  setForm((prev) => {
+                    const next = { ...prev, vendor };
+                    const dt = String(prev.device_type || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+                    // LLDP/WebCRT placeholders use generic — pick a sensible driver when vendor is set.
+                    if (!dt || dt === "generic" || dt === "other" || dt === "linux") {
+                      if (vendor === "ZTE") next.device_type = "zte_zxros";
+                      else if (vendor === "Huawei") next.device_type = "huawei";
+                      else if (vendor === "Cisco") next.device_type = "cisco_ios";
+                      else if (vendor === "Juniper") next.device_type = "juniper_junos";
+                      else if (vendor === "Nokia") next.device_type = "nokia_sros";
+                    }
+                    return next;
+                  });
+                }}>
                   {vendors.map((v) => (
                     <option key={v} value={v}>
                       {v}