Abstract: An apparatus for controlling network switches which includes a central network controller node having a call task for booking and executing calls by setting up the switches that interconnect a first terminal and a second terminal and a switch master task for receiving commands to control all of the switches in the network, maintaining status information for all of the switches and distributing requests for particular connections, a switch controller task for converting control commands for a generic switch into commands that control a hardware switch and a codec connected to a port thereof, wherein in response to a client request, the central network controller communicates with the switch controller task to create a generic switch and to convert commands for the generic switch to commands for the switch and the codec so as to permit communication between a digital terminal and an analogue terminal.