A method for managing OpenFlow communications between an OpenFlow Agent and an OpenFlow Controller is disclosed. The method involves extending the command line interface (CLI) based on distributed management task force (DTMF) server management command line protocol (SM CLP) exposed by an integrated Lights Out Management (LOM) software preexisting in enterprise class network equipment to support a plurality of OpenFlow targets, a plurality of verbs, and a plurality of properties, adding a managed element configured to provide handlers for each of the plurality of OpenFlow targets, registering the managed element for the plurality of OpenFlow targets with a manageability access point (MAP) entity, and configuring at least one of the plurality of properties to facilitate communication between an OpenFlow Agent and an OpenFlow Controller within the enterprise class network equipment using the plurality of OpenFlow targets, the plurality of verbs, and the plurality of properties.