> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.nfh.global/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.nfh.global/build/creating-a-network.md).

# Creating a network

The operator track for standing up an open network on NFH fabric — environment, participant onboarding, policies, and building consumer and provider nodes.

This is the hands-on track for a **Network Facilitator Organisation (NFO)** standing up an open network on NFH fabric, and for **Network Participants (NPs)** joining one. It walks from a blank environment through onboarding, policy, and building the nodes that transact.

{% hint style="info" %}
These guides use the **Beckn Protocol** (the wire spec keeps its name) over NFH fabric services — [REGISTR](/product-documentation/products/registr.md) / [DeDi](https://docs.nfh.global/dedi) for identity, [Catalog Publishing and Discovery](/build/creating-a-network/catalog-publishing-and-discovery.md) + [DISCOVR](/product-documentation/products/discovr.md) for catalogs and discovery, and [ONIX](/product-documentation/products/onix.md) for the protocol adapter.
{% endhint %}

## The path

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Set up the network environment

The infrastructure and services an NFO stands up first. → [Setting up the network environment](/build/creating-a-network/environment.md)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Onboard network participants

Register identities, keys, and callback URLs in DeDi. → [Onboarding network participants](/build/creating-a-network/onboarding-participants.md)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Publish and discover catalogs

Self-host and self-sign a catalog, and see how a Discovery Service crawls and verifies it. → [Catalog Publishing and Discovery](/build/creating-a-network/catalog-publishing-and-discovery.md)
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Configure network policies

Express the network's rules. → [Configuring network policies](/build/creating-a-network/network-policies.md) — the [network manifest](/build/creating-a-network/network-policies/network-manifest.md), [Rego policy artifacts](/build/creating-a-network/network-policies/rego-policies.md), and [signing a file](/build/creating-a-network/network-policies/signing-files.md).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Build the nodes that transact

Stand up the consumer (buyer-side) and provider (seller-side) applications using [ONIX](/product-documentation/products/onix.md) as the protocol adapter, then run the [Getting started with NFH fabric](/build/getting-started-with-fabric.md) walkthrough end-to-end.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Just want to try NFH fabric first?** See [Getting started with NFH fabric](/build/getting-started-with-fabric.md) for a guided, runnable walkthrough before standing up a full network.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.nfh.global/build/creating-a-network.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.