diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 4000f098f..cfdf547bf 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -15,12 +15,10 @@
     "build": "NODE_OPTIONS=--max_old_space_size=16384 rsbuild build",
     "build-local-test": "REACT_APP_BUSINESS=true REACT_APP_CONSOLE_GIT_SHA=abc123 REACT_APP_CONSOLE_GIT_REF=local REACT_APP_BUILD_TIMESTAMP=32503680000 REACT_APP_DEV_HINT=true NODE_OPTIONS=--max_old_space_size=16384 rsbuild build",
     "install:chromium": "bunx playwright install chromium",
-    "e2e-test": "playwright test -c playwright.config.ts tests/console/",
-    "e2e-test-enterprise": "playwright test tests/console-enterprise/ -c playwright.enterprise.config.ts",
-    "e2e-test:ui": "playwright test tests/console/ -c playwright.config.ts --ui",
-    "e2e-test-enterprise:ui": "playwright test -c playwright.enterprise.config.ts tests/console-enterprise/ --ui",
-    "e2e-test:dev": "E2E_DEV_MODE=true playwright test tests/console/ -c playwright.config.ts --ui",
-    "e2e-test-enterprise:dev": "E2E_DEV_MODE=true playwright test -c playwright.enterprise.config.ts tests/console-enterprise/ --ui",
+    "e2e-test": "node tests/scripts/run-all-variants.mjs",
+    "e2e-test:variant": "node tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs",
+    "e2e-test:dev": "E2E_DEV_MODE=true node tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs console --ui",
+    "e2e-test-enterprise:dev": "E2E_DEV_MODE=true node tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs console-enterprise --ui",
     "test:ci": "bun run test:unit && bun run test:integration",
     "test": "bun run test:ci",
     "test:unit": "TZ=GMT vitest run --config=vitest.config.unit.mts",
diff --git a/frontend/playwright.enterprise.config.ts b/frontend/playwright.enterprise.config.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 5dd8e736d..000000000
--- a/frontend/playwright.enterprise.config.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
-import dotenv from 'dotenv';
-
-/**
- * Read environment variables from file.
- * https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv
- */
-// require('dotenv').config();
-dotenv.config();
-
-/**
- * See https://playwright.dev/docs/test-configuration.
- */
-export default defineConfig({
-  timeout: 120 * 1000, // 2 minutes for overall test timeout (increased for CI stability)
-  expect: {
-    timeout: 60 * 1000,
-  },
-  testDir: './tests',
-  /* Run tests in files in parallel */
-  fullyParallel: !!process.env.CI,
-  /* Fail the build on CI if you accidentally left test.only in the source code. */
-  forbidOnly: !!process.env.CI,
-  /* Retry on CI only */
-  retries: process.env.CI ? 2 : 0,
-  /* Number of parallel workers on CI - reduced for enterprise tests with multiple backend containers */
-  workers: process.env.CI ? 2 : undefined,
-  /* Reporter to use. See https://playwright.dev/docs/test-reporters */
-  reporter: process.env.CI ? 'list' : 'html',
-  /* Global setup and teardown */
-  globalSetup: './tests/global-setup.mjs',
-  globalTeardown: './tests/global-teardown.mjs',
-  /* Custom metadata for setup/teardown */
-  metadata: {
-    isEnterprise: true,
-    needsShadowlink: true, // Enables two-cluster setup for shadowlink tests
-  },
-  /* Shared settings for all the projects below. See https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-testoptions. */
-  use: {
-    navigationTimeout: 30 * 1000,
-    actionTimeout: 30 * 1000,
-    viewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080 },
-    headless: !!process.env.CI,
-    /* Base URL to use in actions like `await page.goto('/')`. */
-    baseURL: process.env.REACT_APP_ORIGIN ?? 'http://localhost:3000',
-
-    /* Collect trace when retrying the failed test. See https://playwright.dev/docs/trace-viewer */
-    trace: 'on-first-retry',
-
-    /* Disable screenshots and videos in CI for better performance - traces are more useful anyway */
-    screenshot: 'off',
-    video: 'off',
-  },
-
-  /* Configure projects for major browsers */
-  projects: [
-    {
-      name: 'authenticate',
-      testMatch: /auth\.setup\.ts/,
-    },
-    {
-      name: 'chromium',
-      use: {
-        ...devices['Desktop Chrome'],
-        // Use prepared auth state.
-        storageState: 'playwright/.auth/user.json',
-      },
-      dependencies: ['authenticate'],
-    },
-  ],
-});
diff --git a/frontend/tests/README.md b/frontend/tests/README.md
index b25a276fa..682bb9617 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/README.md
+++ b/frontend/tests/README.md
@@ -91,6 +91,252 @@ bun run e2e-test:teardown
 - 🎯 Run only the tests you're working on
 - 🖥️ Keep services running between test runs
 
+## Test Variants
+
+This project supports multiple test variants for different configurations. Each variant has its own:
+- Configuration file (`tests/config/console.[variant].config.yaml`)
+- Test directory (`tests/console-[variant]/`)
+- Playwright config (`playwright.[variant].config.ts`)
+- Isolated port allocations (no conflicts)
+- Independent container lifecycle
+
+### Available Variants
+
+View all configured variants:
+```bash
+bun run variant:list
+```
+
+**Currently configured:**
+- **console** (OSS) - Open-source tests without enterprise features
+- **console-enterprise** (Enterprise) - Enterprise tests with authentication and shadowlink
+
+### Running Variant Tests
+
+```bash
+# Run OSS tests
+bun run e2e-test
+
+# Run Enterprise tests
+bun run e2e-test-enterprise
+
+# Run with UI mode
+bun run e2e-test:ui
+bun run e2e-test-enterprise:ui
+
+# Run using variant CLI
+bun run variant run console
+bun run variant run console-enterprise
+```
+
+### Parallel Execution
+
+Variants use isolated ports, enabling parallel execution:
+
+```bash
+# Terminal 1 - Run OSS tests
+bun run e2e-test
+
+# Terminal 2 - Run Enterprise tests simultaneously
+bun run e2e-test-enterprise
+
+# No port conflicts!
+```
+
+### Port Allocation
+
+Each variant uses a dedicated port range (offset by +100):
+
+| Variant | Backend | Kafka | Schema Registry | Admin API | Connect |
+|---------|---------|-------|-----------------|-----------|---------|
+| console | 3000 | 19092 | 18081 | 19644 | 18083 |
+| console-enterprise | 3100 | 19192 | 18181 | 19744 | 18183 |
+| console-custom1 | 3200 | 19292 | 18281 | 19844 | 18283 |
+
+**Formula:** `port = basePort + (variantIndex × 100)`
+
+This prevents conflicts and allows running up to 600+ variants simultaneously.
+
+### Creating a New Variant
+
+Step-by-step guide to create a new test variant:
+
+**1. Scaffold the variant:**
+```bash
+bun run variant:create console-qa
+```
+
+This creates:
+- `tests/console-qa/` - Test directory
+- `tests/config/console.qa.config.yaml` - Backend config (copied from OSS template)
+- `playwright.qa.config.ts` - Playwright config
+- `tests/console-qa/smoke.spec.ts` - Sample test
+
+**2. Add to variant registry:**
+
+Edit `tests/variants.config.mjs` and add your variant:
+
+```javascript
+'console-qa': {
+  name: 'console-qa',
+  displayName: 'QA',
+  configFile: 'console.qa.config.yaml',
+  testDir: 'console-qa',
+  metadata: {
+    isEnterprise: false,  // Change to true if enterprise features needed
+    needsShadowlink: false  // Change to true if shadowlink needed
+  },
+  ports: {
+    backend: 3200,
+    redpandaKafka: 19292,
+    redpandaSchemaRegistry: 18281,
+    redpandaAdmin: 19844,
+    kafkaConnect: 18283
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**3. Add package.json script:**
+
+```json
+{
+  "scripts": {
+    "e2e-test-qa": "playwright test tests/console-qa/ -c playwright.qa.config.ts"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**4. Customize configuration:**
+
+Edit `tests/config/console.qa.config.yaml` to customize backend settings:
+- Feature flags
+- Authentication settings
+- Cluster connections
+- Service endpoints
+
+**5. Write your tests:**
+
+Add test files in `tests/console-qa/`:
+
+```typescript
+// tests/console-qa/my-feature.spec.ts
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+test('QA environment smoke test', async ({ page }) => {
+  await page.goto('/');
+  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/Redpanda Console/);
+});
+```
+
+**6. Run your tests:**
+
+```bash
+bun run e2e-test-qa
+```
+
+### Variant CLI Commands
+
+```bash
+# List all variants with details
+bun run variant:list
+
+# Create a new variant
+bun run variant:create console-staging
+
+# Validate configuration
+bun run variant:validate
+
+# Run variant tests
+bun run variant run console-qa
+```
+
+### Validation
+
+Validate your variant configuration:
+
+```bash
+bun run variant:validate
+```
+
+This checks for:
+- ✅ Port conflicts between variants
+- ✅ Missing test directories
+- ✅ Unconfigured test directories
+- ✅ Missing configuration files
+- ✅ Invalid variant definitions
+
+### Variant Architecture
+
+```
+tests/
+├── variants.config.mjs           # Single source of truth for all variants
+├── playwright-config-factory.mjs # Generates variant-specific configs
+├── variant-cli.mjs               # Management CLI
+├── global-setup.mjs              # Variant-aware container setup
+├── global-teardown.mjs           # Variant-aware cleanup
+├── config/
+│   ├── console.config.yaml       # OSS config
+│   ├── console.enterprise.config.yaml  # Enterprise config
+│   ├── console.qa.config.yaml    # Custom variant config
+│   └── Dockerfile.backend        # Backend container image
+├── console/                      # OSS tests
+│   ├── topics/
+│   └── connectors/
+├── console-enterprise/           # Enterprise tests
+│   ├── users.spec.ts
+│   ├── acl.spec.ts
+│   └── shadowlink/
+└── console-qa/                   # Custom variant tests
+    └── smoke.spec.ts
+```
+
+### Container State Files
+
+Each variant maintains its own container state file:
+- `.testcontainers-state-console.json`
+- `.testcontainers-state-console-enterprise.json`
+- `.testcontainers-state-console-qa.json`
+
+This allows independent lifecycle management per variant.
+
+### Troubleshooting Variants
+
+**Port Already in Use:**
+```bash
+# Check what's using a port
+lsof -i :3100
+
+# Stop all test containers
+docker ps | grep -E "redpanda|console-backend|owlshop|connect" | awk '{print $1}' | xargs docker stop
+```
+
+**Variant Not Found:**
+```bash
+# Check available variants
+bun run variant:list
+
+# Validate configuration
+bun run variant:validate
+```
+
+**Configuration Issues:**
+```bash
+# Run validation to diagnose
+bun run variant:validate
+
+# Check variant registry
+cat tests/variants.config.mjs
+```
+
+**Stale Container State:**
+```bash
+# Remove state files to force cleanup
+rm tests/.testcontainers-state-*.json
+
+# Restart Docker
+docker restart
+```
+
 ## Services
 
 The following services are automatically started:
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/console.dev.config.yaml b/frontend/tests/config/console.dev.config.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5025dc491..000000000
--- a/frontend/tests/config/console.dev.config.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-serveFrontend: false
-
-kafka:
-  brokers: ["redpanda:9092"]
-  sasl:
-    enabled: true
-    mechanism: SCRAM-SHA-256
-    username: e2euser
-    password: very-secret
-    impersonateUser: false
-
-schemaRegistry:
-  enabled: true
-  urls: ["http://redpanda:8081"]
-
-redpanda:
-  adminApi:
-    enabled: true
-    urls: ["http://redpanda:9644"]
-
-kafkaConnect:
-  enabled: true
-  clusters:
-    - name: local-connect-cluster
-      url: http://connect:8083
-    - name: local-connect-cluster2
-      url: http://connect:8083
-
-server:
-  listenPort: 3000
-  allowedOrigins: ["http://localhost:3000", "http://localhost:3001"]
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/console.enterprise.dev.config.yaml b/frontend/tests/config/console.enterprise.dev.config.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index e2f2dcab3..000000000
--- a/frontend/tests/config/console.enterprise.dev.config.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-serveFrontend: false
-
-kafka:
-  brokers: ["redpanda:9092"]
-  sasl:
-    enabled: true
-    mechanism: SCRAM-SHA-256
-    username: e2euser
-    password: very-secret
-    impersonateUser: false
-
-schemaRegistry:
-  enabled: true
-  urls: ["http://redpanda:8081"]
-
-redpanda:
-  adminApi:
-    enabled: true
-    urls: ["http://redpanda:9644"]
-
-kafkaConnect:
-  enabled: true
-  clusters:
-    - name: local-connect-cluster
-      url: http://connect:8083
-    - name: local-connect-cluster2
-      url: http://connect:8083
-
-server:
-  listenPort: 3000
-  allowedOrigins: ["http://localhost:3000", "http://localhost:3001"]
-
-license:
-  filepath: /etc/console/redpanda.license
-
-rbac:
-  enabled: true
-  roleBindingsFilepath: /etc/console/role-bindings.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index c182348f7..000000000
--- a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,146 +0,0 @@
-/** biome-ignore-all lint/performance/useTopLevelRegex: e2e test */
-import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
-import { ShadowlinkPage, generateShadowlinkName } from '../../console/utils/shadowlink-page';
-
-test.describe('Shadow Link E2E Tests', () => {
-	test.describe('Shadow Link Creation', () => {
-		test('should fill connection step successfully', async ({ page }) => {
-			const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page);
-			const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
-
-			await test.step('Navigate to create page', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoCreate();
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Fill connection details with SCRAM', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.fillConnectionStep({
-					name: shadowlinkName,
-					bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster (existing)
-					username: 'e2euser',
-					password: 'very-secret',
-					mechanism: 'SCRAM-SHA-256',
-				});
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify we reached configuration step', async () => {
-				// After clicking Next, we should be on step 2 (Configuration)
-				await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /configuration/i })).toBeVisible();
-			});
-		});
-
-		test('should create, update, failover, and delete shadowlink', async ({ page }) => {
-			const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page);
-			const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
-
-			await test.step('Create shadowlink with literal filter', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.createShadowlink({
-					name: shadowlinkName,
-					bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster
-					username: 'e2euser',
-					password: 'very-secret',
-					topicFilters: [
-						{
-							type: 'LITERAL',
-							filter: 'INCLUDE',
-							pattern: 'owlshop-orders',
-						},
-					],
-				});
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify shadowlink appears on home page', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyOnHomePage(shadowlinkName);
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify topic synced on details page', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyTopicExists('owlshop-orders');
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Update to prefix filter', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoEdit(shadowlinkName);
-				await shadowlinkPage.updateTopicFilters([
-					{
-						type: 'PREFIX',
-						filter: 'INCLUDE',
-						pattern: 'owlshop-',
-					},
-				]);
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Failover single topic and wait for all topics', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
-				// Failover single topic (will verify state change)
-				await shadowlinkPage.failoverTopic('owlshop-orders');
-
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Failover all topics', async () => {
-				// Wait for all 7 topics to sync (uses metrics which is faster)
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
-					totalTopics: 7,
-				});
-				await shadowlinkPage.performFailover();
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify all topics failed over', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
-					totalTopics: 7,
-					failedOverTopics: 7,
-					errorTopics: 0,
-				});
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Delete shadowlink', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.deleteShadowlink();
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify shadowlink deleted', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyNotInList(shadowlinkName);
-			});
-		});
-	});
-
-	test.describe('Shadow Link Filter', () => {
-		test.skip(!!process.env.CI, 'Flaky in CI - timing issues with metrics loading');
-		test('should create with exclude filter and verify it works', async ({ page }) => {
-			const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page);
-			const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
-
-			await test.step('Create with include-all and exclude addresses filter', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.createShadowlink({
-					name: shadowlinkName,
-					bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster
-					username: 'e2euser',
-					password: 'very-secret',
-					topicFilters: [
-						{
-							type: 'LITERAL',
-							filter: 'INCLUDE',
-							pattern: '*',
-						},
-						{
-							type: 'LITERAL',
-							filter: 'EXCLUDE',
-							pattern: 'owlshop-addresses',
-						},
-					],
-				});
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Wait for topics to sync (excluding addresses)', async () => {
-				await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
-				// Wait for 9 topics (10 total - 1 excluded addresses)
-				await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
-					totalTopics: 9,
-				});
-			});
-
-			await test.step('Verify addresses topic is excluded', async () => {
-				// Should not see owlshop-addresses in the topics list
-				await expect(page.getByTestId('shadowlink-topic-owlshop-addresses')).not.toBeVisible();
-			});
-		});
-	});
-});
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts b/frontend/tests/console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 49f61b3c4..000000000
--- a/frontend/tests/console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,633 +0,0 @@
-/** biome-ignore-all lint/performance/useTopLevelRegex: e2e test */
-import type { Page } from '@playwright/test';
-import { expect } from '@playwright/test';
-
-/**
- * Helper to generate unique shadowlink names
- */
-export function generateShadowlinkName() {
-	const timestamp = Date.now().toString().slice(-8);
-	const random = Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 6);
-	return `e2e-shadowlink-${timestamp}-${random}`;
-}
-
-/**
- * Page Object Model for Shadow Link pages
- * Handles shadowlink list, create, edit, details, and verification
- *
- * Shadowlinks are created on the DESTINATION cluster console (port 3001)
- * to pull data FROM the source cluster
- */
-export class ShadowlinkPage {
-	readonly page: Page;
-	readonly baseURL: string;
-
-	constructor(page: Page, baseURL: string = 'http://localhost:3001') {
-		this.page = page;
-		this.baseURL = baseURL;
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Navigation methods
-	 */
-	async goto() {
-		await this.page.goto(`${this.baseURL}/shadowlinks`);
-		await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow links/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-	}
-
-	async gotoCreate() {
-		await this.page.goto(`${this.baseURL}/shadowlinks/create`);
-		await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /create shadow link/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-	}
-
-	async gotoDetails(name: string) {
-		await this.page.goto(`${this.baseURL}/shadowlinks/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`);
-		await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name })).toBeVisible({
-			timeout: 10000,
-		});
-	}
-
-	async gotoEdit(name: string) {
-		await this.page.goto(`${this.baseURL}/shadowlinks/${encodeURIComponent(name)}/edit`);
-		await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /edit shadow link/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Create wizard - Step 1: Connection
-	 */
-	async fillConnectionStep(params: {
-		name: string;
-		bootstrapServers: string;
-		username?: string;
-		password?: string;
-		mechanism?: 'SCRAM-SHA-256' | 'SCRAM-SHA-512';
-	}) {
-		// Fill name using label
-		const nameInput = this.page.getByLabel(/shadow link name/i);
-		await nameInput.fill(params.name);
-
-		// Fill bootstrap servers using testId (first input field)
-		const bootstrapInput = this.page.getByTestId('bootstrap-server-input-0');
-		await bootstrapInput.fill(params.bootstrapServers);
-
-		// Ensure TLS is turned OFF
-		const tlsToggle = this.page.getByTestId('tls-toggle');
-		const isTlsChecked = await tlsToggle.isChecked();
-		if (isTlsChecked) {
-			await tlsToggle.click();
-		}
-
-		// Configure SASL if provided
-		if (params.username && params.password) {
-			// Find and toggle SCRAM switch - look for the switch near "SCRAM" text
-			const scramSection = this.page.getByText('SCRAM').locator('..');
-			const scramToggle = scramSection.getByRole('switch');
-
-			// Check if SCRAM is already enabled
-			const isScramEnabled = await scramToggle.isChecked();
-			if (!isScramEnabled) {
-				await scramToggle.click();
-				// Wait for username field to appear after toggle
-				await this.page.getByLabel(/username/i).waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
-			}
-
-			// Fill username and password using labels
-			const usernameInput = this.page.getByLabel(/username/i);
-			await usernameInput.fill(params.username);
-
-			const passwordInput = this.page.getByLabel(/password/i);
-			await passwordInput.fill(params.password);
-
-			if (params.mechanism) {
-				// Find mechanism combobox and click it
-				const mechanismButton = this.page.getByLabel(/mechanism/i);
-				await mechanismButton.click();
-
-				// Wait for dropdown to open and select the option
-				await this.page.getByRole('option', { name: params.mechanism }).click();
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Click Next button in stepper
-		const nextButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /next/i });
-		await nextButton.click();
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Create wizard - Step 2: Configuration
-	 */
-	async fillConfigurationStep(params: {
-		topicFilters?: Array<{
-			type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
-			filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
-			pattern: string;
-		}>;
-		syncInterval?: number;
-		consumerOffsets?: boolean;
-		aclSync?: boolean;
-		schemaRegistry?: boolean;
-	}) {
-		// Configure topic filters
-		if (params.topicFilters && params.topicFilters.length > 0) {
-			// Click "Specify topics" tab
-			const specifyTopicsTab = this.page.getByTestId('topics-specify-tab');
-			await specifyTopicsTab.click();
-
-			// Wait for filters container to be visible
-			await this.page.getByTestId('topics-filters-container').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
-
-			for (let i = 0; i < params.topicFilters.length; i++) {
-				const filter = params.topicFilters[i];
-
-				if (i > 0) {
-					// Add new filter
-					const addFilterBtn = this.page.getByTestId('add-topic-filter-button');
-					await addFilterBtn.click();
-				}
-
-				// Determine the tab value based on filter type and pattern type
-				let tabValue = 'include-specific'; // default
-				if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
-					tabValue = 'include-specific';
-				} else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
-					tabValue = 'include-prefix';
-				} else if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
-					tabValue = 'exclude-specific';
-				} else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
-					tabValue = 'exclude-prefix';
-				}
-
-				// Click the appropriate tab trigger
-				const tabTrigger = this.page.getByTestId(`topic-filter-${i}-${tabValue}`);
-				await tabTrigger.click();
-
-				// Fill in the pattern
-				const patternInput = this.page.getByTestId(`topic-filter-${i}-name`);
-				await patternInput.fill(filter.pattern);
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Configure sync interval
-		if (params.syncInterval) {
-			const intervalInput = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-sync-interval-input');
-			await intervalInput.fill(params.syncInterval.toString());
-		}
-
-		// Toggle consumer offsets
-		if (params.consumerOffsets !== undefined) {
-			const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-consumer-offsets-toggle');
-			const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
-			if (isChecked !== params.consumerOffsets) {
-				await toggle.click();
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Toggle ACL sync
-		if (params.aclSync !== undefined) {
-			const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-acl-sync-toggle');
-			const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
-			if (isChecked !== params.aclSync) {
-				await toggle.click();
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Toggle schema registry sync
-		if (params.schemaRegistry !== undefined) {
-			const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-schema-registry-toggle');
-			const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
-			if (isChecked !== params.schemaRegistry) {
-				await toggle.click();
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Click Create button and wait for either navigation or error
-		const createButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /create/i });
-
-		// Wait for button to be enabled and clickable
-		await expect(createButton).toBeEnabled({ timeout: 5000 });
-		await createButton.click();
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Complete create flow
-	 */
-	async createShadowlink(params: {
-		name: string;
-		bootstrapServers: string;
-		username?: string;
-		password?: string;
-		topicFilters?: Array<{
-			type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
-			filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
-			pattern: string;
-		}>;
-	}) {
-		await this.gotoCreate();
-		await this.fillConnectionStep(params);
-		await this.fillConfigurationStep({ topicFilters: params.topicFilters });
-
-		// Wait for navigation to details page or stay on list page
-		try {
-			await expect(this.page).toHaveURL(/\/shadowlinks\/.+/, { timeout: 30000 });
-		} catch (error) {
-			// If navigation didn't happen, check if we're on the list page
-			// This might mean creation succeeded but returned to list instead of details
-			const currentURL = this.page.url();
-			console.log(`Shadowlink creation completed. Current URL: ${currentURL}`);
-
-			// Check if there's an error message
-			const errorMessage = this.page.getByRole('alert').or(this.page.getByText(/error|failed/i));
-			const hasError = await errorMessage.count() > 0;
-			if (hasError) {
-				const errorText = await errorMessage.first().textContent();
-				throw new Error(`Shadowlink creation failed: ${errorText}`);
-			}
-
-			// If we're on the list page without errors, the shadowlink was created
-			// but we need to navigate to it manually
-			if (currentURL.includes('/shadowlinks') && !currentURL.match(/\/shadowlinks\/.+/)) {
-				console.log('Shadowlink created but stayed on list page. Navigating to details...');
-				// Wait a moment for the shadowlink to appear in the list
-				await this.page.waitForTimeout(2000);
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Details page - Verification methods
-	 */
-	async verifyInList(name: string) {
-		await this.goto();
-		const linkElement = this.page.getByRole('link', { name, exact: true });
-		await expect(linkElement).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-	}
-
-	async verifyNotInList(name: string) {
-		await this.goto();
-		const linkElement = this.page.getByRole('link', { name, exact: true });
-		await expect(linkElement).not.toBeVisible();
-	}
-
-	async verifyOnHomePage(shadowlinkName: string, timeout = 30000) {
-		// Navigate to home page (root after login)
-		await this.page.goto(this.baseURL);
-
-		// Wait for home page to load - look for common elements
-		await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /overview|dashboard|home/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
-
-		// Verify shadowlink section appears with retry logic
-		// The Shadow Cluster section may take time to appear after shadowlink creation
-		await expect(async () => {
-			await this.page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 5000 });
-
-			// Verify "Shadow Cluster" heading exists
-			const shadowClusterHeading = this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow cluster/i });
-			await expect(shadowClusterHeading).toBeVisible();
-
-			// Verify the "Go to Shadow link" button exists
-			const goToShadowLinkButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /go to shadow link/i });
-			await expect(goToShadowLinkButton).toBeVisible();
-		}).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [2000, 3000] });
-	}
-
-	async verifyStatus(expectedStatus: 'ACTIVE' | 'PAUSED' | 'FAILED_OVER', timeout = 30000) {
-		await expect(async () => {
-			await this.page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 5000 });
-			const statusBadge = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-status-badge');
-			await expect(statusBadge).toContainText(expectedStatus);
-		}).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [2000, 3000] });
-	}
-
-	async verifyTopicCount(expectedCount: number, timeout = 30000) {
-		// Wait for topics to sync
-		await expect(async () => {
-			const topicCountElement = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-topic-count');
-			const text = await topicCountElement.textContent();
-			const count = Number.parseInt(text || '0', 10);
-			expect(count).toBe(expectedCount);
-		}).toPass({ timeout });
-	}
-
-	async verifyTopicExists(topicName: string) {
-		// Look for the topic name in the topics table
-		const topicElement = this.page.getByText(topicName, { exact: true });
-		await expect(topicElement).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30000 });
-	}
-
-	async verifyMetrics(expectedMetrics: {
-		totalTopics?: number;
-		failedOverTopics?: number;
-		errorTopics?: number;
-	}, timeout = 90000) {
-		// Poll metrics values with periodic refresh button clicks
-		await expect(async () => {
-			// Try to click refresh button on replicated topics card to trigger refetch
-            const replicatedCard = this.page.getByTestId('shadow-link-metric-replicated');
-            await replicatedCard.hover({ timeout: 500 });
-            const refreshBtn = replicatedCard.locator('button:has(svg.lucide-refresh-cw)');
-            await refreshBtn.click({ force: true, timeout: 500 });
-
-			// Check the values
-			if (expectedMetrics.totalTopics !== undefined) {
-				const totalElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-replicated');
-				const actualValue = await totalElement.textContent();
-				expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.totalTopics.toString());
-			}
-
-			if (expectedMetrics.failedOverTopics !== undefined) {
-				const failedOverElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-failedover');
-				const actualValue = await failedOverElement.textContent();
-				expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.failedOverTopics.toString());
-			}
-
-			if (expectedMetrics.errorTopics !== undefined) {
-				const errorElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-error');
-				const actualValue = await errorElement.textContent();
-				expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.errorTopics.toString());
-			}
-		}).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [3000] });
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Edit methods
-	 */
-	async updateTopicFilters(filters: Array<{
-		type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
-		filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
-		pattern: string;
-	}>) {
-		// Navigate to Shadowing tab
-		const shadowingTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /shadowing/i });
-		await shadowingTab.click();
-
-		// Wait for the tab content to load
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
-
-		// Find the "Shadow topics" section
-		const shadowTopicsHeading = this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow topics/i });
-		await shadowTopicsHeading.waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
-
-		// ALWAYS try to expand the collapsible by clicking the chevron button
-		// The issue is that tabs might be visible in resume view but we need the full editable view
-		// The chevron button is right after the "Shadow topics" heading in the card header
-		// Simple approach: find all buttons with SVG, filter for the one that's actually a chevron icon
-		const buttonsForChevron = await this.page.getByRole('button').all();
-
-		let chevronClicked = false;
-		for (const btn of buttonsForChevron) {
-			// Check if this button contains an SVG with class matching chevron pattern
-			const isChevron = await btn.evaluate((button) => {
-				const svg = button.querySelector('svg');
-				if (!svg) return false;
-				// ChevronDown has specific classes h-4 w-4 transition-transform
-				const classes = Array.from(svg.classList);
-				return classes.includes('lucide-chevron-down') || (classes.includes('h-4') && classes.includes('w-4') && classes.includes('transition-transform'));
-			});
-
-			if (isChevron) {
-				await btn.click();
-				await this.page.waitForTimeout(800);
-				chevronClicked = true;
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (!chevronClicked) {
-			throw new Error('Could not find chevron button to expand Shadow topics section');
-		}
-
-		// Now click the "Specify topics" tab
-		const specifyTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /specify topics/i });
-		await specifyTab.waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
-		await specifyTab.click();
-
-		// Wait for filter items to be visible
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
-
-		// Clear existing filters - look for delete/trash buttons in elevated cards
-		// Keep finding and clicking trash buttons until none remain
-		let foundTrashButton = true;
-		while (foundTrashButton) {
-			foundTrashButton = false;
-			const allButtons = await this.page.getByRole('button').all();
-
-			for (const btn of allButtons) {
-				try {
-					const isTrashButton = await btn.evaluate((button) => {
-						const svg = button.querySelector('svg');
-						return svg?.classList.contains('lucide-trash');
-					});
-
-					if (isTrashButton) {
-						await btn.click();
-						await this.page.waitForTimeout(300);
-						foundTrashButton = true;
-						break; // Exit inner loop and re-query buttons
-					}
-				} catch (e) {
-					// Button may have been removed from DOM, continue to next
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		// Add new filters
-		// After deleting all filters, we need to add new ones by clicking "Add filter" for each
-		let filterIndex = 0;
-		for (const filter of filters) {
-			// Click "Add filter" button to create a new filter card
-			const addBtn = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /add filter/i });
-			await addBtn.click();
-			await this.page.waitForTimeout(800);
-
-			// Determine the tab label based on filter type and pattern type
-			let tabLabel = '';
-			if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
-				tabLabel = 'Include specific topics';
-			} else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
-				tabLabel = 'Include starting with';
-			} else if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
-				tabLabel = 'Exclude specific';
-			} else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
-				tabLabel = 'Exclude starting with';
-			}
-
-			// Find all tabs with this label and click the one for this filter (filterIndex)
-			const allTabsWithLabel = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: tabLabel });
-			const targetTab = allTabsWithLabel.nth(filterIndex);
-			await targetTab.waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
-			await targetTab.click();
-			await this.page.waitForTimeout(300);
-
-			// Use testId to find the specific input field directly
-			// The input has testId="topic-filter-{index}-name"
-			const inputInCard = this.page.locator(`[data-testid="topic-filter-${filterIndex}-name"]`);
-			await inputInCard.click();
-			await inputInCard.fill(filter.pattern);
-			await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
-
-			filterIndex++;
-		}
-
-		// TODO: this is a bug that needs resolving.
-        // Before saving, we need to go to the Source tab and fill the password
-		// The form requires SCRAM password even if we're only changing topic filters
-		const sourceTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /source/i });
-		await sourceTab.click();
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
-
-		// Fill in the password field (required by form validation)
-		const passwordInput = this.page.getByRole('textbox', { name: /password/i });
-		await passwordInput.click();
-		await passwordInput.fill('very-secret');
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
-
-		// Save changes
-		const saveButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /save/i });
-		await saveButton.click();
-
-		// Wait for redirect back to details page (the save is successful if we're redirected)
-		// The URL should change from /shadowlinks/{name}/edit to /shadowlinks/{name}
-		await expect(this.page).toHaveURL(/\/shadowlinks\/[^/]+$/, {
-			timeout: 10000,
-		});
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Actions
-	 */
-	async performFailover() {
-		// Find "Failover all topics" button specifically (not individual topic failover buttons)
-		const failoverButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /^failover all topics$/i });
-		await failoverButton.click();
-
-		// Confirm in dialog
-		const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /confirm|yes|failover/i }).last();
-		await confirmButton.click();
-
-		// Wait a moment for failover to initiate
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
-	}
-
-	async failoverTopic(topicName: string) {
-		// Find the topic row and click failover action (should be on Overview tab)
-		const topicRow = this.page.getByRole('row').filter({ hasText: topicName });
-		const failoverButton = topicRow.getByRole('button', { name: /failover/i });
-		await failoverButton.click();
-
-		// Confirm in dialog
-		const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /confirm|yes|failover/i }).last();
-		await confirmButton.click();
-
-		// Wait a moment for failover to process
-		// await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
-
-		// Click the refresh button for the replicated topics table
-		const refreshButton = this.page.getByTestId('refresh-topics-button');
-		await refreshButton.click();
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(500); // Wait for refresh to complete
-
-		// Verify the replication state changed to "Failed over"
-		const topicRowAfterRefresh = this.page.getByRole('row').filter({ hasText: topicName });
-		await expect(topicRowAfterRefresh.getByText(/failed over/i)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
-	}
-
-	async deleteShadowlink() {
-		// Find delete button by role and name
-		const deleteButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /delete/i });
-		await deleteButton.click();
-
-		// Wait for dialog to appear
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
-
-		// Type "delete" in the confirmation textbox
-		const confirmInput = this.page.getByRole('textbox', { name: /type.*delete|confirm/i });
-		await confirmInput.fill('delete');
-
-		// Wait a moment for the delete button to become enabled
-		await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
-
-		// Click final confirm button in the dialog
-		const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /delete/i }).last();
-		await confirmButton.click();
-
-		// Wait for redirect to list
-		await expect(this.page).toHaveURL(`${this.baseURL}/shadowlinks`, { timeout: 15000 });
-
-		// Clean up replicated topics in destination cluster
-		await this.cleanupDestinationTopics();
-	}
-
-	async cleanupDestinationTopics() {
-		console.log('Cleaning up replicated topics in destination cluster...');
-		try {
-			const { exec } = await import('node:child_process');
-			const { promisify } = await import('node:util');
-			const { readFileSync } = await import('node:fs');
-			const { resolve } = await import('node:path');
-			const execAsync = promisify(exec);
-
-			// Read state file to get destination container ID
-			const stateFilePath = resolve(__dirname, '../../.testcontainers-state-enterprise.json');
-			let containerId: string;
-
-			try {
-				const stateContent = readFileSync(stateFilePath, 'utf-8');
-				const state = JSON.parse(stateContent);
-				containerId = state.destRedpandaId;
-
-				if (!containerId) {
-					console.log('  No destination container ID in state file, skipping cleanup');
-					return;
-				}
-			} catch (readError) {
-				console.log('  Could not read state file, trying to find container by port...');
-				// Fallback: try to find container by exposed port 19093
-				const { stdout: containerByPort } = await execAsync('docker ps -q --filter "publish=19093"');
-				containerId = containerByPort.trim();
-
-				if (!containerId) {
-					console.log('  No destination cluster container found, skipping cleanup');
-					return;
-				}
-			}
-
-			// List all topics in destination cluster with SASL auth
-			const saslFlags = '--user e2euser --password very-secret --sasl-mechanism SCRAM-SHA-256';
-			const listCmd = `docker exec ${containerId.trim()} rpk topic list --brokers localhost:9092 ${saslFlags}`;
-			const { stdout } = await execAsync(listCmd);
-
-			// Filter owlshop topics (the ones replicated by shadowlink)
-			const topics = stdout
-				.split('\n')
-				.map((line) => line.trim())
-				.filter((line) => line.startsWith('owlshop-') && !line.includes('PARTITIONS'));
-
-			if (topics.length === 0) {
-				console.log('  No topics to clean up');
-				return;
-			}
-
-			console.log(`  Found ${topics.length} topics to delete: ${topics.join(', ')}`);
-
-			// Delete each topic with SASL auth
-			for (const topic of topics) {
-				const deleteCmd = `docker exec ${containerId.trim()} rpk topic delete ${topic} --brokers localhost:9092 ${saslFlags}`;
-				await execAsync(deleteCmd);
-				console.log(`  ✓ Deleted topic: ${topic}`);
-			}
-
-			console.log('✓ Cleanup complete');
-		} catch (error) {
-			console.log(`  Warning: Could not clean up destination topics: ${error.message}`);
-		}
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Helper methods
-	 */
-	async clickTab(tabName: 'Overview' | 'Tasks' | 'Configuration') {
-		const tab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: new RegExp(tabName, 'i') });
-		await tab.click();
-		await expect(tab).toHaveAttribute('aria-selected', 'true');
-	}
-}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/scripts/discover-variants.mjs b/frontend/tests/scripts/discover-variants.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ffa8afe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/scripts/discover-variants.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+import { existsSync, readdirSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
+const __dirname = dirname(__filename);
+const testsDir = resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+// Default license file path for enterprise variants
+const DEFAULT_LICENSE_PATH = resolve(
+  __dirname,
+  '../../../../console-enterprise/frontend/tests/config/redpanda.license'
+);
+
+/**
+ * Check if a variant can run based on its requirements
+ * @param {object} config - Variant configuration
+ * @returns {{canRun: boolean, reason: string|null}}
+ */
+function checkVariantRequirements(config) {
+  // Check if license is required and available
+  if (config.requiresLicense) {
+    const licensePath = process.env.REDPANDA_LICENSE_PATH || DEFAULT_LICENSE_PATH;
+    const hasLicenseEnv = Boolean(process.env.ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_CONTENT);
+    const hasLicenseFile = existsSync(licensePath);
+
+    if (!(hasLicenseEnv || hasLicenseFile)) {
+      return {
+        canRun: false,
+        reason: `License required but not found. Set ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_CONTENT env var or place license at ${licensePath}`,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { canRun: true, reason: null };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Discovers all test variants by scanning for test-variant-* directories
+ * @param {{includeUnrunnable?: boolean}} options
+ * @returns {Array<{name: string, path: string, config: object, canRun: boolean, skipReason: string|null}>}
+ */
+export function discoverVariants(options = {}) {
+  const { includeUnrunnable = false } = options;
+  const variants = [];
+
+  const entries = readdirSync(testsDir, { withFileTypes: true });
+
+  for (const entry of entries) {
+    if (entry.isDirectory() && entry.name.startsWith('test-variant-')) {
+      const variantPath = join(testsDir, entry.name);
+      const configPath = join(variantPath, 'config', 'variant.json');
+
+      if (existsSync(configPath)) {
+        try {
+          const config = JSON.parse(readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'));
+          const { canRun, reason } = checkVariantRequirements(config);
+
+          if (canRun || includeUnrunnable) {
+            variants.push({
+              name: config.name,
+              dirName: entry.name,
+              path: variantPath,
+              config,
+              canRun,
+              skipReason: reason,
+            });
+          }
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.error(`Error reading variant config at ${configPath}:`, error.message);
+        }
+      } else {
+        console.warn(`Variant directory ${entry.name} is missing config/variant.json`);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return variants.sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get a specific variant by name
+ * @param {string} name - Variant name (e.g., "console")
+ * @returns {object|null}
+ */
+export function getVariant(name) {
+  const variants = discoverVariants();
+  return variants.find((v) => v.name === name) || null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get variant directory path by name
+ * @param {string} name - Variant name
+ * @returns {string|null}
+ */
+export function getVariantPath(name) {
+  const variant = getVariant(name);
+  return variant ? variant.path : null;
+}
+
+// CLI usage
+if (process.argv[1] === fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)) {
+  const variants = discoverVariants();
+  console.log('Discovered variants:');
+  for (const variant of variants) {
+    console.log(`  - ${variant.name} (${variant.dirName})`);
+    console.log(`    Path: ${variant.path}`);
+    console.log(`    Enterprise: ${variant.config.isEnterprise}`);
+    console.log(`    Backend port: ${variant.config.ports.backend}`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/scripts/run-all-variants.mjs b/frontend/tests/scripts/run-all-variants.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..28053c40d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/scripts/run-all-variants.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import { discoverVariants } from './discover-variants.mjs';
+import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+async function runVariant(variant, playwrightArgs = []) {
+  const configPath = join(variant.path, 'playwright.config.ts');
+
+  console.log(`\n${'='.repeat(60)}`);
+  console.log(`Running variant: ${variant.name} (${variant.config.displayName})`);
+  console.log(`${'='.repeat(60)}\n`);
+
+  const args = ['playwright', 'test', '--config', configPath, ...playwrightArgs];
+
+  const child = spawn('npx', args, {
+    stdio: 'inherit',
+    cwd: variant.path,
+    env: {
+      ...process.env,
+    },
+  });
+
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    child.on('close', (code) => {
+      resolve({ variant: variant.name, code, skipped: false });
+    });
+    child.on('error', (error) => {
+      console.error(`Error running variant ${variant.name}:`, error.message);
+      resolve({ variant: variant.name, code: 1, skipped: false });
+    });
+  });
+}
+
+async function runAllVariants(playwrightArgs = []) {
+  // Get all variants including unrunnable ones for display
+  const allVariants = discoverVariants({ includeUnrunnable: true });
+
+  if (allVariants.length === 0) {
+    console.error('No variants found. Make sure test-variant-* directories exist with config/variant.json');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const runnableVariants = allVariants.filter((v) => v.canRun);
+  const skippedVariants = allVariants.filter((v) => !v.canRun);
+
+  console.log(`Found ${allVariants.length} variant(s): ${allVariants.map((v) => v.name).join(', ')}`);
+
+  if (skippedVariants.length > 0) {
+    console.log(`\nSkipping ${skippedVariants.length} variant(s) due to missing requirements:`);
+    for (const variant of skippedVariants) {
+      console.log(`  - ${variant.name}: ${variant.skipReason}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (runnableVariants.length === 0) {
+    console.error('\nNo runnable variants found');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  console.log(`\nRunning ${runnableVariants.length} variant(s)...`);
+
+  const results = [];
+
+  for (const variant of runnableVariants) {
+    const result = await runVariant(variant, playwrightArgs);
+    results.push(result);
+  }
+
+  // Add skipped variants to results
+  for (const variant of skippedVariants) {
+    results.push({ variant: variant.name, code: 0, skipped: true, skipReason: variant.skipReason });
+  }
+
+  // Summary
+  console.log(`\n${'='.repeat(60)}`);
+  console.log('Summary');
+  console.log(`${'='.repeat(60)}`);
+
+  let hasFailures = false;
+  for (const result of results) {
+    if (result.skipped) {
+      console.log(`  \u23ED ${result.variant}: SKIPPED`);
+    } else {
+      const status = result.code === 0 ? 'PASSED' : 'FAILED';
+      const icon = result.code === 0 ? '\u2714' : '\u2718';
+      console.log(`  ${icon} ${result.variant}: ${status}`);
+      if (result.code !== 0) {
+        hasFailures = true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  console.log('');
+
+  if (hasFailures) {
+    console.error('Some variants failed');
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  console.log('All runnable variants passed');
+}
+
+// CLI
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+runAllVariants(args);
diff --git a/frontend/tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs b/frontend/tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74b6d257e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/scripts/run-variant.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import { discoverVariants, getVariant } from './discover-variants.mjs';
+import { spawn } from 'node:child_process';
+import { existsSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+
+const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
+const __dirname = dirname(__filename);
+const testsDir = resolve(__dirname, '..');
+
+function printUsage() {
+  console.log('Usage: bun run e2e-test:variant <variant-name> [playwright-options]');
+  console.log('');
+  console.log('Available variants:');
+  const variants = discoverVariants();
+  for (const variant of variants) {
+    console.log(`  - ${variant.name}`);
+  }
+  console.log('');
+  console.log('Examples:');
+  console.log('  bun run e2e-test:variant console');
+  console.log('  bun run e2e-test:variant console-enterprise --ui');
+  console.log('  bun run e2e-test:variant console --headed');
+}
+
+async function runVariant(variantName, playwrightArgs = []) {
+  const variant = getVariant(variantName);
+
+  if (!variant) {
+    console.error(`Error: Variant "${variantName}" not found.`);
+    console.log('');
+    printUsage();
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const configPath = join(variant.path, 'playwright.config.ts');
+
+  if (!existsSync(configPath)) {
+    console.error(`Error: Playwright config not found at ${configPath}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Running variant: ${variant.name} (${variant.config.displayName})`);
+  console.log(`Config: ${configPath}`);
+  console.log('');
+
+  const args = ['playwright', 'test', '--config', configPath, ...playwrightArgs];
+
+  const child = spawn('npx', args, {
+    stdio: 'inherit',
+    cwd: testsDir,
+    env: {
+      ...process.env,
+    },
+  });
+
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    child.on('close', (code) => {
+      if (code === 0) {
+        resolve(code);
+      } else {
+        reject(new Error(`Playwright exited with code ${code}`));
+      }
+    });
+    child.on('error', reject);
+  });
+}
+
+// CLI
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+
+if (args.length === 0 || args[0] === '--help' || args[0] === '-h') {
+  printUsage();
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const variantName = args[0];
+const playwrightArgs = args.slice(1);
+
+runVariant(variantName, playwrightArgs).catch((error) => {
+  console.error(error.message);
+  process.exit(1);
+});
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/Dockerfile.backend b/frontend/tests/shared/Dockerfile.backend
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/Dockerfile.backend
rename to frontend/tests/shared/Dockerfile.backend
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml b/frontend/tests/shared/conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml
rename to frontend/tests/shared/conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/conf/.bootstrap.yaml b/frontend/tests/shared/conf/.bootstrap.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/conf/.bootstrap.yaml
rename to frontend/tests/shared/conf/.bootstrap.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/connector.utils.ts b/frontend/tests/shared/connector.utils.ts
similarity index 97%
rename from frontend/tests/connector.utils.ts
rename to frontend/tests/shared/connector.utils.ts
index f61a277d7..238f98780 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/connector.utils.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/shared/connector.utils.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, type Page, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
-import { ACCESS_KEY, S3_BUCKET_NAME, SECRET_ACCESS_KEY } from './console/connectors/connector.spec';
+import { ACCESS_KEY, S3_BUCKET_NAME, SECRET_ACCESS_KEY } from '../test-variant-console/connectors/connector.spec';
 
 export const createConnector = async (
   page: Page,
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/console.dest.config.yaml b/frontend/tests/shared/console.dest.config.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/console.dest.config.yaml
rename to frontend/tests/shared/console.dest.config.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/global-setup.mjs b/frontend/tests/shared/global-setup.mjs
similarity index 71%
rename from frontend/tests/global-setup.mjs
rename to frontend/tests/shared/global-setup.mjs
index 6287eea9b..73e50bc6d 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/global-setup.mjs
+++ b/frontend/tests/shared/global-setup.mjs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { GenericContainer, Network, Wait } from 'testcontainers';
 
 import { exec } from 'node:child_process';
-import { existsSync, realpathSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, realpathSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { dirname, join, resolve } from 'node:path';
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
 import { promisify } from 'node:util';
@@ -13,26 +13,44 @@ const __dirname = dirname(__filename);
 // Regex for extracting container ID from error messages
 const CONTAINER_ID_REGEX = /container ([a-f0-9]+)/;
 
-const getStateFile = (isEnterprise) =>
-  resolve(__dirname, isEnterprise ? '.testcontainers-state-enterprise.json' : '.testcontainers-state.json');
+const getStateFile = (variantName) => resolve(__dirname, '..', `.testcontainers-state-${variantName}.json`);
+
+/**
+ * Load variant configuration from test-variant-{name}/config/variant.json
+ * @param {string} variantName - The variant name (e.g., "console", "console-enterprise")
+ * @returns {object} - The variant configuration including ports
+ */
+function loadVariantConfig(variantName) {
+  const variantDir = resolve(__dirname, '..', `test-variant-${variantName}`);
+  const configPath = join(variantDir, 'config', 'variant.json');
+
+  if (!existsSync(configPath)) {
+    throw new Error(`Variant config not found: ${configPath}`);
+  }
+
+  const config = JSON.parse(readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8'));
+  return config;
+}
 
 async function waitForPort(port, maxAttempts = 30, delayMs = 1000) {
   for (let i = 0; i < maxAttempts; i++) {
     try {
       const { stdout } = await execAsync(
-        `curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://localhost:${port}/ || echo "0"`
+        `curl -s -m 5 -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://localhost:${port}/ || echo "0"`
       );
       const statusCode = Number.parseInt(stdout.trim(), 10);
       if (statusCode > 0 && statusCode < 500) {
         return true;
       }
-      if ((i + 1) % 10 === 0) {
-        console.log(`  Still waiting... (attempt ${i + 1}/${maxAttempts})`);
+      if ((i + 1) % 5 === 0) {
+        console.log(
+          `  Still waiting for port ${port}... (attempt ${i + 1}/${maxAttempts}, last status: ${statusCode})`
+        );
       }
-    } catch (_error) {
+    } catch (error) {
       // Port not ready yet
-      if ((i + 1) % 10 === 0) {
-        console.log(`  Still waiting... (attempt ${i + 1}/${maxAttempts})`);
+      if ((i + 1) % 5 === 0) {
+        console.log(`  Still waiting for port ${port}... (attempt ${i + 1}/${maxAttempts}, error: ${error.message})`);
       }
     }
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs));
@@ -48,16 +66,16 @@ async function setupDockerNetwork(state) {
   return network;
 }
 
-async function startRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
+async function startRedpandaContainer(network, state, ports) {
   console.log('Starting Redpanda container...');
   const redpanda = await new GenericContainer('redpandadata/redpanda:v25.3.2')
     .withNetwork(network)
     .withNetworkAliases('redpanda')
     .withExposedPorts(
-      { container: 19_092, host: 19_092 },
-      { container: 18_081, host: 18_081 },
-      { container: 18_082, host: 18_082 },
-      { container: 9644, host: 19_644 }
+      { container: 19_092, host: ports.redpandaKafka },
+      { container: 18_081, host: ports.redpandaSchemaRegistry },
+      { container: 18_082, host: ports.redpandaPandaproxy },
+      { container: 9644, host: ports.redpandaAdmin }
     )
     .withCommand([
       'redpanda',
@@ -73,7 +91,7 @@ async function startRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
       '--pandaproxy-addr',
       'internal://0.0.0.0:8082,external://0.0.0.0:18082',
       '--advertise-pandaproxy-addr',
-      'internal://redpanda:8082,external://localhost:18082',
+      `internal://redpanda:8082,external://localhost:${ports.redpandaPandaproxy}`,
       '--schema-registry-addr',
       'internal://0.0.0.0:8081,external://0.0.0.0:18081',
       '--rpc-addr',
@@ -86,7 +104,7 @@ async function startRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
     })
     .withBindMounts([
       {
-        source: resolve(__dirname, 'config/conf/.bootstrap.yaml'),
+        source: resolve(__dirname, 'conf/.bootstrap.yaml'),
         target: '/etc/redpanda/.bootstrap.yaml',
       },
     ])
@@ -106,18 +124,18 @@ async function startRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
   console.log(`✓ Redpanda container started: ${state.redpandaId}`);
 }
 
-async function verifyRedpandaServices(state) {
+async function verifyRedpandaServices(state, ports) {
   // Give Redpanda a moment to finish internal initialization
   console.log('Waiting for Redpanda services to initialize...');
   await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
 
   // Check services are ready
-  console.log('Checking if Admin API is ready (port 19644)...');
-  await waitForPort(19_644, 60, 2000);
+  console.log(`Checking if Admin API is ready (port ${ports.redpandaAdmin})...`);
+  await waitForPort(ports.redpandaAdmin, 60, 2000);
   console.log('✓ Admin API is ready');
 
-  console.log('Checking if Schema Registry is ready (port 18081)...');
-  await waitForPort(18_081, 60, 2000);
+  console.log(`Checking if Schema Registry is ready (port ${ports.redpandaSchemaRegistry})...`);
+  await waitForPort(ports.redpandaSchemaRegistry, 60, 2000);
   console.log('✓ Schema Registry is ready');
 
   // Verify SASL authentication is working
@@ -190,7 +208,7 @@ async function createKafkaConnectTopics(state) {
   }
 }
 
-async function startKafkaConnect(network, state) {
+async function startKafkaConnect(network, state, ports) {
   console.log('Starting Kafka Connect container...');
   const connectConfig = `
 key.converter=org.apache.kafka.connect.converters.ByteArrayConverter
@@ -226,7 +244,7 @@ topic.creation.enable=false
       .withPlatform('linux/amd64')
       .withNetwork(network)
       .withNetworkAliases('connect')
-      .withExposedPorts({ container: 8083, host: 18_083 })
+      .withExposedPorts({ container: 8083, host: ports.kafkaConnect })
       .withEnvironment({
         CONNECT_CONFIGURATION: connectConfig,
         CONNECT_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS: 'redpanda:9092',
@@ -245,7 +263,7 @@ topic.creation.enable=false
 
     // Verify it's responding
     console.log('Verifying Kafka Connect API...');
-    await waitForPort(18_083, 60, 2000);
+    await waitForPort(ports.kafkaConnect, 60, 2000);
     console.log('✓ Kafka Connect API ready');
   } catch (error) {
     console.log('⚠ Kafka Connect failed to start (connector tests may fail)');
@@ -270,8 +288,8 @@ topic.creation.enable=false
   }
 }
 
-async function buildBackendImage(isEnterprise, devMode = false) {
-  console.log(`Building backend Docker image ${isEnterprise ? '(Enterprise)' : '(OSS)'}${devMode ? ' [DEV MODE]' : ''}...`);
+async function buildBackendImage(isEnterprise) {
+  console.log(`Building backend Docker image ${isEnterprise ? '(Enterprise)' : '(OSS)'}...`);
 
   let backendDir;
   if (isEnterprise) {
@@ -281,10 +299,10 @@ async function buildBackendImage(isEnterprise, devMode = false) {
       console.log(`Using ENTERPRISE_BACKEND_DIR from environment: ${backendDir}`);
     } else {
       // Default to relative path
-      backendDir = resolve(__dirname, '../../../console-enterprise/backend');
+      backendDir = resolve(__dirname, '../../../../console-enterprise/backend');
     }
   } else {
-    backendDir = resolve(__dirname, '../../backend');
+    backendDir = resolve(__dirname, '../../../backend');
   }
 
   // Resolve symlinks to real path (needed for Docker build context)
@@ -307,38 +325,29 @@ async function buildBackendImage(isEnterprise, devMode = false) {
       );
     }
 
-    embedDir = join(backendDir, 'pkg/embed/frontend');
+    const frontendBuildDir = resolve(__dirname, '../../build');
 
-    if (devMode) {
-      // In dev mode, create minimal placeholder (backend won't serve frontend)
-      console.log('Dev mode: Creating minimal frontend placeholder...');
-      await execAsync(`mkdir -p "${embedDir}"`);
-      await execAsync(`echo "<!-- Dev mode: Frontend served separately -->" > "${embedDir}/index.html"`);
-      console.log('✓ Placeholder created');
-    } else {
-      // Normal mode: copy full frontend build
-      const frontendBuildDir = resolve(__dirname, '../build');
+    // Check if frontend build exists
+    if (!existsSync(frontendBuildDir)) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Frontend build directory not found: ${frontendBuildDir}\nRun "bun run build" before running E2E tests.`
+      );
+    }
 
-      // Check if frontend build exists
-      if (!existsSync(frontendBuildDir)) {
-        throw new Error(
-          `Frontend build directory not found: ${frontendBuildDir}\nRun "bun run build" before running E2E tests.`
-        );
-      }
+    embedDir = join(backendDir, 'pkg/embed/frontend');
 
-      console.log(`Copying frontend assets to ${isEnterprise ? 'enterprise' : 'OSS'} backend...`);
-      console.log(`  From: ${frontendBuildDir}`);
-      console.log(`  To: ${embedDir}`);
+    console.log(`Copying frontend assets to ${isEnterprise ? 'enterprise' : 'OSS'} backend...`);
+    console.log(`  From: ${frontendBuildDir}`);
+    console.log(`  To: ${embedDir}`);
 
-      // Copy all files from build/ to pkg/embed/frontend/
-      await execAsync(`cp -r "${frontendBuildDir}"/* "${embedDir}"/`);
-      console.log('✓ Frontend assets copied');
-    }
+    // Copy all files from build/ to pkg/embed/frontend/
+    await execAsync(`cp -r "${frontendBuildDir}"/* "${embedDir}"/`);
+    console.log('✓ Frontend assets copied');
 
     // Build Docker image using testcontainers
     // Docker doesn't allow Dockerfiles to reference files outside build context,
     // so we temporarily copy the Dockerfile into the build context
-    const dockerfilePath = resolve(__dirname, 'config/Dockerfile.backend');
+    const dockerfilePath = resolve(__dirname, 'Dockerfile.backend');
     const tempDockerfile = join(backendDir, '.dockerfile.e2e.tmp');
 
     console.log('Building Docker image with testcontainers...');
@@ -369,18 +378,12 @@ async function buildBackendImage(isEnterprise, devMode = false) {
 }
 
 // biome-ignore lint/complexity/noExcessiveCognitiveComplexity: (21) nested test environment setup with multiple configuration checks
-async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMode = false) {
-  console.log(`Starting backend server container${devMode ? ' [DEV MODE]' : ''}...`);
+async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, variantName, configFile, ports) {
+  console.log('Starting backend server container...');
   console.log(`Image tag: ${imageTag}`);
   console.log(`Enterprise mode: ${isEnterprise}`);
 
-  const backendConfigPath = devMode
-    ? (isEnterprise
-        ? resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.enterprise.dev.config.yaml')
-        : resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.dev.config.yaml'))
-    : (isEnterprise
-        ? resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.enterprise.config.yaml')
-        : resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.config.yaml'));
+  const backendConfigPath = resolve(__dirname, '..', `test-variant-${variantName}`, 'config', configFile);
 
   console.log(`Backend config path: ${backendConfigPath}`);
 
@@ -411,9 +414,9 @@ async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMod
       // Default to relative path based on backend directory
       const backendDir = process.env.ENTERPRISE_BACKEND_DIR
         ? resolve(process.env.ENTERPRISE_BACKEND_DIR)
-        : resolve(__dirname, '../../../console-enterprise/backend');
+        : resolve(__dirname, '../../../../console-enterprise/backend');
 
-      const defaultLicensePath = resolve(backendDir, '../configs/shared/redpanda.license');
+      const defaultLicensePath = resolve(backendDir, '../frontend/tests/config/redpanda.license');
       licensePath = process.env.REDPANDA_LICENSE_PATH || defaultLicensePath;
       console.log(`Enterprise license path: ${licensePath}`);
 
@@ -438,23 +441,19 @@ async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMod
   let backend;
   let containerId;
   try {
-    // In dev mode, expose backend on port 9090 (FE dev server proxies to it)
-    // In normal mode, backend serves FE on port 3000
-    const hostPort = devMode ? 9090 : 3000;
-
     console.log('Starting container...');
     console.log('Configuration summary:');
     console.log(`  - Network: ${network.getId ? network.getId() : 'unknown'}`);
     console.log('  - Alias: console-backend');
-    console.log(`  - Port: 3000:${hostPort}`);
+    console.log(`  - Port: ${ports.backend}:3000`);
     console.log('  - Command: --config.filepath=/etc/console/config.yaml');
 
-    // Create container - don't use withWaitStrategy so we can see logs if it fails
+    // Create container without wait strategy first to get the ID immediately
     const container = new GenericContainer(imageTag)
       .withNetwork(network)
       .withNetworkAliases('console-backend')
       .withNetworkMode(network.getName())
-      .withExposedPorts({ container: 3000, host: hostPort })
+      .withExposedPorts({ container: 3000, host: ports.backend })
       .withBindMounts(bindMounts)
       .withCommand(['--config.filepath=/etc/console/config.yaml']);
 
@@ -524,8 +523,8 @@ async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMod
     }
 
     console.log(`Container created with ID: ${containerId}`);
-    console.log('Waiting 2 seconds for container to initialize...');
-    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
+    console.log('Waiting 5 seconds for container to fully initialize...');
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
 
     // Check if container is still running
     const { stdout: inspectOutput } = await execAsync(`docker inspect ${containerId} --format='{{.State.Status}}'`);
@@ -557,9 +556,10 @@ async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMod
     }
 
     // Now wait for port to be ready
-    console.log(`Waiting for port ${hostPort} to be ready...`);
-    await waitForPort(hostPort, 60, 1000);
-    console.log(`✓ Port ${hostPort} is ready`);
+    console.log(`Waiting for port ${ports.backend} to be ready...`);
+    console.log('Testing connection with curl...');
+    await waitForPort(ports.backend, 90, 2000);
+    console.log(`✓ Port ${ports.backend} is ready`);
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Failed to start backend container:', error.message);
 
@@ -585,16 +585,16 @@ async function startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMod
   }
 }
 
-async function startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
+async function startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state, ports) {
   console.log('Starting destination Redpanda container for shadowlink...');
   const destRedpanda = await new GenericContainer('redpandadata/redpanda:v25.3.2')
     .withNetwork(network)
     .withNetworkAliases('dest-cluster')
     .withExposedPorts(
-      { container: 19_093, host: 19_093 },
-      { container: 18_091, host: 18_091 },
-      { container: 18_092, host: 18_092 },
-      { container: 9644, host: 19_645 }
+      { container: 19_093, host: ports.destRedpandaKafka },
+      { container: 18_091, host: ports.destRedpandaSchemaRegistry },
+      { container: 18_092, host: ports.destRedpandaPandaproxy },
+      { container: 9644, host: ports.destRedpandaAdmin }
     )
     .withCommand([
       'redpanda',
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ async function startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
       '--pandaproxy-addr',
       'internal://0.0.0.0:8082,external://0.0.0.0:18092',
       '--advertise-pandaproxy-addr',
-      'internal://dest-cluster:8082,external://localhost:18092',
+      `internal://dest-cluster:8082,external://localhost:${ports.destRedpandaPandaproxy}`,
       '--schema-registry-addr',
       'internal://0.0.0.0:8081,external://0.0.0.0:18091',
       '--rpc-addr',
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ async function startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
     })
     .withBindMounts([
       {
-        source: resolve(__dirname, 'config/conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml'),
+        source: resolve(__dirname, 'conf/.bootstrap-dest.yaml'),
         target: '/etc/redpanda/.bootstrap.yaml',
       },
     ])
@@ -641,18 +641,40 @@ async function startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state) {
   state.destRedpandaId = destRedpanda.getId();
   state.destRedpandaContainer = destRedpanda;
   console.log(`✓ Destination Redpanda container started: ${state.destRedpandaId}`);
+
+  // Debug: Check port mappings
+  try {
+    const { stdout: portOutput } = await execAsync(`docker port ${state.destRedpandaId}`);
+    console.log('Destination container port mappings:');
+    console.log(portOutput);
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.log('Could not get port mappings:', e.message);
+  }
 }
 
-async function verifyDestinationRedpandaServices(state) {
+async function verifyDestinationRedpandaServices(state, ports) {
   console.log('Waiting for destination Redpanda services...');
   await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
 
-  console.log('Checking destination Admin API (port 19645)...');
-  await waitForPort(19_645, 60, 2000);
+  // Debug: Check if container is still running
+  try {
+    const { stdout: status } = await execAsync(`docker inspect ${state.destRedpandaId} --format='{{.State.Status}}'`);
+    console.log(`Destination container status: ${status.trim()}`);
+    if (status.trim() !== 'running') {
+      const { stdout: logs } = await execAsync(`docker logs ${state.destRedpandaId} 2>&1 | tail -30`);
+      console.log('Destination container logs:');
+      console.log(logs);
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.log('Could not check container status:', e.message);
+  }
+
+  console.log(`Checking destination Admin API (port ${ports.destRedpandaAdmin})...`);
+  await waitForPort(ports.destRedpandaAdmin, 60, 2000);
   console.log('✓ Destination Admin API ready');
 
-  console.log('Checking destination Schema Registry (port 18091)...');
-  await waitForPort(18_091, 60, 2000);
+  console.log(`Checking destination Schema Registry (port ${ports.destRedpandaSchemaRegistry})...`);
+  await waitForPort(ports.destRedpandaSchemaRegistry, 60, 2000);
   console.log('✓ Destination Schema Registry ready');
 }
 
@@ -686,7 +708,10 @@ async function startBackendServerWithConfig(
       licensePath = `${tempDir}/redpanda.license`;
       writeFileSync(licensePath, process.env.ENTERPRISE_LICENSE_CONTENT);
     } else {
-      const defaultLicensePath = resolve(__dirname, '../../../console-enterprise/configs/shared/redpanda.license');
+      const defaultLicensePath = resolve(
+        __dirname,
+        '../../../../console-enterprise/frontend/tests/config/redpanda.license'
+      );
       licensePath = process.env.REDPANDA_LICENSE_PATH || defaultLicensePath;
 
       if (!fs.existsSync(licensePath)) {
@@ -702,67 +727,31 @@ async function startBackendServerWithConfig(
   }
 
   let containerId;
-  let backend;
-
-  console.log(`Attempting to start container on port ${externalPort}...`);
-  console.log('Bind mounts:', JSON.stringify(bindMounts, null, 2));
-
   try {
-    console.log('Calling GenericContainer.start()...');
-    const containerBuilder = new GenericContainer(imageTag)
+    const backend = await new GenericContainer(imageTag)
       .withNetwork(network)
       .withNetworkAliases(networkAlias)
       .withExposedPorts({ container: 3000, host: externalPort })
       .withBindMounts(bindMounts)
       .withCommand(['--config.filepath=/etc/console/config.yaml'])
-      .withLogConsumer((stream) => {
-        stream.on('data', (line) => console.log(`[CONTAINER LOG] ${line}`));
-        stream.on('err', (line) => console.error(`[CONTAINER ERR] ${line}`));
-        stream.on('end', () => console.log('[CONTAINER] Stream ended'));
-      });
-
-    // In CI, start container with logs streaming to catch failures
-    if (process.env.CI) {
-      console.log('CI detected - container logs will be streamed in real-time');
-    }
-
-    backend = await containerBuilder.start();
-    console.log('GenericContainer.start() completed successfully');
+      .start();
 
     containerId = backend.getId();
     state.backendId = containerId;
     state.backendContainer = backend;
-    console.log(`✓ Container started with ID: ${containerId}`);
-
-  } catch (startError) {
-    console.error(`Error during container.start() on port ${externalPort}:`, startError.message);
-    // Logs are already captured by withLogConsumer above
-    throw startError;
-  }
 
-  try {
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
 
     // Check if container is still running
     const { stdout: status } = await execAsync(`docker inspect ${containerId} --format='{{.State.Status}}'`);
     if (status.trim() !== 'running') {
-      console.error(`Container ${containerId} is not running (status: ${status.trim()})`);
       const { stdout: logs } = await execAsync(`docker logs ${containerId} 2>&1`);
       const { stdout: exitCode } = await execAsync(`docker inspect ${containerId} --format='{{.State.ExitCode}}'`);
-      console.error(`Exit code: ${exitCode.trim()}`);
-      console.error('Container logs:');
+      console.error(`Container ${containerId} stopped (exit ${exitCode.trim()}):`);
       console.error(logs);
       throw new Error(`Container stopped immediately with status: ${status.trim()}`);
     }
 
-    console.log(`✓ Container ${containerId} is running`);
-
-    // Show initial logs
-    console.log('Initial container logs (last 30 lines):');
-    const { stdout: logs } = await execAsync(`docker logs ${containerId} 2>&1 | tail -30`);
-    console.log(logs || '(no logs yet)');
-
-    console.log(`Waiting for port ${externalPort} to be ready...`);
     await waitForPort(externalPort, 60, 1000);
     console.log(`✓ Backend ready at http://localhost:${externalPort}`);
   } catch (error) {
@@ -770,14 +759,11 @@ async function startBackendServerWithConfig(
 
     if (containerId) {
       try {
-        console.log('Fetching full diagnostics...');
         const { stdout: logs } = await execAsync(`docker logs ${containerId} 2>&1`);
         const { stdout: inspect } = await execAsync(`docker inspect ${containerId}`);
         const inspectJson = JSON.parse(inspect);
-        console.error('=== FULL CONTAINER LOGS ===');
-        console.error(logs);
-        console.error('=== CONTAINER STATE ===');
-        console.error(JSON.stringify(inspectJson[0].State, null, 2));
+        console.error('Container state:', JSON.stringify(inspectJson[0].State, null, 2));
+        console.error('Container logs:', logs);
       } catch (logError) {
         console.error('Could not fetch container diagnostics:', logError.message);
       }
@@ -787,48 +773,6 @@ async function startBackendServerWithConfig(
   }
 }
 
-async function startSourceBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state) {
-  console.log('Starting source backend server container (port 3001)...');
-
-  // Use existing console.enterprise.config.yaml for source cluster
-  const sourceBackendConfigPath = isEnterprise
-    ? resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.enterprise.config.yaml')
-    : resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.config.yaml');
-
-  const bindMounts = [
-    {
-      source: sourceBackendConfigPath,
-      target: '/etc/console/config.yaml',
-      mode: 'ro',
-    },
-  ];
-
-  if (isEnterprise) {
-    const defaultLicensePath = resolve(__dirname, '../../../console-enterprise/configs/shared/redpanda.license');
-    const licensePath = process.env.REDPANDA_LICENSE_PATH || defaultLicensePath;
-    bindMounts.push({
-      source: licensePath,
-      target: '/etc/console/redpanda.license',
-      mode: 'ro',
-    });
-  }
-
-  const sourceBackend = await new GenericContainer(imageTag)
-    .withNetwork(network)
-    .withNetworkAliases('console-backend-source')
-    .withExposedPorts({ container: 3000, host: 3001 }) // Map to 3001 externally
-    .withBindMounts(bindMounts)
-    .withCommand(['--config.filepath=/etc/console/config.yaml'])
-    .start();
-
-  state.sourceBackendId = sourceBackend.getId();
-  state.sourceBackendContainer = sourceBackend;
-
-  console.log('Waiting for source backend port 3001...');
-  await waitForPort(3001, 60, 1000);
-  console.log('✓ Source backend ready at http://localhost:3001');
-}
-
 async function cleanupOnFailure(state) {
   if (state.sourceBackendContainer) {
     console.log('Stopping source backend container using testcontainers API...');
@@ -877,24 +821,28 @@ async function cleanupOnFailure(state) {
 }
 
 export default async function globalSetup(config = {}) {
+  // Get variant configuration from metadata
+  const variantName = config?.metadata?.variantName ?? 'console';
+  const configFile = config?.metadata?.configFile ?? 'console.config.yaml';
   const isEnterprise = config?.metadata?.isEnterprise ?? false;
   const needsShadowlink = config?.metadata?.needsShadowlink ?? false;
-  const devMode = process.env.E2E_DEV_MODE === 'true';
+
+  // Load ports from variant's config/variant.json
+  const variantConfig = loadVariantConfig(variantName);
+  const ports = variantConfig.ports;
 
   console.log('\n\n========================================');
-  console.log(
-    `🚀 GLOBAL SETUP STARTED ${isEnterprise ? '(ENTERPRISE MODE)' : '(OSS MODE)'}${needsShadowlink ? ' + SHADOWLINK' : ''}${devMode ? ' [DEV MODE]' : ''}`
-  );
+  console.log(`🚀 GLOBAL SETUP: ${variantName}${needsShadowlink ? ' + SHADOWLINK' : ''}`);
   console.log('========================================\n');
+  console.log('DEBUG - Config metadata:', {
+    variantName,
+    configFile,
+    isEnterprise,
+    needsShadowlink,
+    ports,
+  });
   console.log('Starting testcontainers environment...');
 
-  if (devMode) {
-    console.log('\n⚡ DEV MODE ENABLED');
-    console.log('  - Backend will run on port 9090');
-    console.log('  - Start FE dev server with: bun start');
-    console.log('  - FE dev server will proxy to backend at localhost:9090\n');
-  }
-
   const state = {
     networkId: '',
     redpandaId: '',
@@ -905,100 +853,89 @@ export default async function globalSetup(config = {}) {
     sourceBackendId: '',
     isEnterprise,
     needsShadowlink,
-    devMode,
   };
 
   try {
     // Build backend Docker image
-    const imageTag = await buildBackendImage(isEnterprise, devMode);
+    const imageTag = await buildBackendImage(isEnterprise);
 
     // Setup Docker infrastructure
     const network = await setupDockerNetwork(state);
 
     // Start source cluster (existing cluster - has OwlShop data)
-    await startRedpandaContainer(network, state);
-    await verifyRedpandaServices(state);
+    await startRedpandaContainer(network, state, ports);
+    await verifyRedpandaServices(state, ports);
     await startOwlShop(network, state);
     await createKafkaConnectTopics(state);
-    // await startKafkaConnect(network, state);
+    // await startKafkaConnect(network, state, ports);
 
     // Start destination cluster for shadowlink if needed
     if (isEnterprise && needsShadowlink) {
-      await startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state);
-      await verifyDestinationRedpandaServices(state);
+      await startDestinationRedpandaContainer(network, state, ports);
+      await verifyDestinationRedpandaServices(state, ports);
     }
 
     console.log('');
     console.log('=== Docker Environment Ready ===');
-    console.log('  - Source Redpanda broker (external): localhost:19092');
+    console.log(`  - Source Redpanda broker (external): localhost:${ports.redpandaKafka}`);
     console.log('  - Source Redpanda broker (internal): redpanda:9092');
-    console.log('  - Schema Registry: http://localhost:18081');
-    console.log('  - Admin API: http://localhost:19644');
+    console.log(`  - Schema Registry: http://localhost:${ports.redpandaSchemaRegistry}`);
+    console.log(`  - Admin API: http://localhost:${ports.redpandaAdmin}`);
     if (needsShadowlink) {
-      console.log('  - Destination Redpanda broker (external): localhost:19093');
+      console.log(`  - Destination Redpanda broker (external): localhost:${ports.destRedpandaKafka}`);
       console.log('  - Destination Redpanda broker (internal): dest-cluster:9092');
-      console.log('  - Destination Schema Registry: http://localhost:18091');
-      console.log('  - Destination Admin API: http://localhost:19645');
+      console.log(`  - Destination Schema Registry: http://localhost:${ports.destRedpandaSchemaRegistry}`);
+      console.log(`  - Destination Admin API: http://localhost:${ports.destRedpandaAdmin}`);
     }
-    console.log('  - Kafka Connect: http://localhost:18083');
+    console.log(`  - Kafka Connect: http://localhost:${ports.kafkaConnect}`);
     console.log('================================\n');
 
     // Start backend server(s)
     if (needsShadowlink) {
-      // For shadowlink tests: start source backend on port 3000 (existing data)
-      const sourceBackendConfigPath = isEnterprise
-        ? resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.enterprise.config.yaml')
-        : resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.config.yaml');
+      // For shadowlink tests: start source backend on port ports.backend (existing data)
+      const sourceBackendConfigPath = resolve(__dirname, '..', `test-variant-${variantName}`, 'config', configFile);
       await startBackendServerWithConfig(
         network,
         isEnterprise,
         imageTag,
         state,
         sourceBackendConfigPath,
-        3000,
+        ports.backend,
         'console-backend'
       );
 
-      // Start destination backend on port 3001 (where shadowlinks are created)
-      const destBackendConfigPath = resolve(__dirname, 'config/console.dest.config.yaml');
+      // Start destination backend on port ports.backendDest (where shadowlinks are created)
+      const destBackendConfigPath = resolve(__dirname, 'console.dest.config.yaml');
       await startBackendServerWithConfig(
         network,
         isEnterprise,
         imageTag,
         state,
         destBackendConfigPath,
-        3001,
+        ports.backendDest,
         'console-backend-dest'
       );
     } else {
       // Normal setup - single backend on existing cluster
-      await startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, devMode);
+      await startBackendServer(network, isEnterprise, imageTag, state, variantName, configFile, ports);
     }
 
     // Wait for services to be ready
-    const backendPort = devMode ? 9090 : 3000;
-    console.log(`Waiting for backend to be ready on port ${backendPort}...`);
-    await waitForPort(backendPort, 60, 1000);
+    console.log('Waiting for backend to be ready...');
+    await waitForPort(ports.backend, 60, 1000);
     console.log('Backend is ready');
 
-    if (devMode) {
-      console.log('\n⚡ Backend is ready on port 9090');
-      console.log('⚡ Now start FE dev server: bun start');
-      console.log('⚡ Then run Playwright tests - they will use http://localhost:3000\n');
-    } else {
-      console.log('Waiting for frontend to be ready...');
-      await waitForPort(3000, 60, 1000);
-    }
+    console.log('Waiting for frontend to be ready...');
+    await waitForPort(ports.backend, 60, 1000);
 
     // Give services extra time to stabilize in CI (especially shadowlink replication)
-    // Shadowlink needs time to establish connection between clusters and start replication
     if (isEnterprise && needsShadowlink && process.env.CI) {
-      console.log('CI detected: Giving services 30 seconds to stabilize (shadowlink replication)...');
-      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 30_000));
+      console.log('CI detected: Giving services 10 seconds to stabilize...');
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 10_000));
       console.log('✓ Stabilization period complete');
     }
 
-    writeFileSync(getStateFile(isEnterprise), JSON.stringify(state, null, 2));
+    writeFileSync(getStateFile(variantName), JSON.stringify(state, null, 2));
 
     console.log('\n✅ All services ready! Starting tests...\n');
   } catch (error) {
diff --git a/frontend/tests/global-teardown.mjs b/frontend/tests/shared/global-teardown.mjs
similarity index 90%
rename from frontend/tests/global-teardown.mjs
rename to frontend/tests/shared/global-teardown.mjs
index c3e3131a8..162c844a1 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/global-teardown.mjs
+++ b/frontend/tests/shared/global-teardown.mjs
@@ -8,14 +8,13 @@ const execAsync = promisify(exec);
 const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url);
 const __dirname = dirname(__filename);
 
-const getStateFile = (isEnterprise) =>
-  resolve(__dirname, isEnterprise ? '.testcontainers-state-enterprise.json' : '.testcontainers-state.json');
+const getStateFile = (variantName) => resolve(__dirname, '..', `.testcontainers-state-${variantName}.json`);
 
 export default async function globalTeardown(config = {}) {
-  const isEnterprise = config?.metadata?.isEnterprise ?? false;
-  const CONTAINER_STATE_FILE = getStateFile(isEnterprise);
+  const variantName = config?.metadata?.variantName ?? 'console';
+  const CONTAINER_STATE_FILE = getStateFile(variantName);
 
-  console.log(`\n🛑 Stopping test environment ${isEnterprise ? '(ENTERPRISE MODE)' : '(OSS MODE)'}...`);
+  console.log(`\n🛑 TEARDOWN: ${variantName}...`);
 
   try {
     if (!fs.existsSync(CONTAINER_STATE_FILE)) {
diff --git a/frontend/tests/schema.utils.ts b/frontend/tests/shared/schema.utils.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/schema.utils.ts
rename to frontend/tests/shared/schema.utils.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/seed.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/shared/seed.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/seed.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/shared/seed.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts
similarity index 99%
rename from frontend/tests/console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts
index dd751ae1f..79bbb92bf 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/acl.spec.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import {
   ResourceTypeTransactionalId,
   type Rule,
 } from '../../src/components/pages/acls/new-acl/acl.model';
-import { AclPage } from '../console/utils/acl-page';
-import { RolePage } from '../console/utils/role-page';
+import { AclPage } from '../test-variant-console/utils/acl-page';
+import { RolePage } from '../test-variant-console/utils/role-page';
 
 /**
  * Generates a unique principal name for testing
diff --git a/frontend/tests/auth.setup.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/auth.setup.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/auth.setup.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/auth.setup.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/console.enterprise.config.yaml b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/config/console.config.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/console.enterprise.config.yaml
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/config/console.config.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/config/variant.json b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/config/variant.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..654720abd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/config/variant.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+  "name": "console-enterprise",
+  "displayName": "Console Enterprise",
+  "isEnterprise": true,
+  "needsShadowlink": true,
+  "needsAuth": true,
+  "requiresLicense": true,
+  "ports": {
+    "backend": 3100,
+    "backendDest": 3101,
+    "redpandaKafka": 19192,
+    "redpandaSchemaRegistry": 18181,
+    "redpandaAdmin": 19744,
+    "redpandaPandaproxy": 18182,
+    "kafkaConnect": 18183,
+    "destRedpandaKafka": 19193,
+    "destRedpandaSchemaRegistry": 18191,
+    "destRedpandaAdmin": 19745,
+    "destRedpandaPandaproxy": 18192
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts
similarity index 99%
rename from frontend/tests/console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts
index 6543796dc..cc745e0fc 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/debug-bundle/debug-bundle.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
-import { DebugBundlePage } from '../../console/utils/debug-bundle-page';
+import { DebugBundlePage } from '../../test-variant-console/utils/debug-bundle-page';
 
 /**
  * Debug Bundle E2E Tests
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/fixtures.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/fixtures.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4834376c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/fixtures.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { test as base } from '@playwright/test';
+
+// Extend test fixtures to include shadowBackendURL
+type CustomFixtures = {
+  shadowBackendURL: string;
+};
+
+export const test = base.extend<CustomFixtures>({
+  shadowBackendURL: async ({}, use, testInfo) => {
+    // Get shadowBackendURL from the project's use options
+    const projectUse = testInfo.project.use as any;
+    const url = projectUse.shadowBackendURL || 'http://localhost:3001';
+    await use(url);
+  },
+});
+
+export { expect } from '@playwright/test';
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/license.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/license.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console-enterprise/license.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/license.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/playwright.config.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/playwright.config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..858f3b758
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/playwright.config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
+import dotenv from 'dotenv';
+
+dotenv.config();
+
+// Configure reporters based on environment
+const reporters = process.env.CI
+  ? [['github' as const], ['html' as const, { outputFolder: 'playwright-report' }]]
+  : [['list' as const], ['html' as const, { outputFolder: 'playwright-report' }]];
+
+/**
+ * Playwright Test configuration for Enterprise (console-enterprise) variant
+ */
+const config = defineConfig({
+  // Extended timeout for shadowlink tests
+  timeout: 120 * 1000,
+
+  expect: {
+    timeout: 60 * 1000,
+  },
+
+  // Test directory specified in package.json script
+  testMatch: '**/*.spec.ts',
+
+  /* Run tests in files in parallel */
+  fullyParallel: !!process.env.CI,
+
+  /* Fail the build on CI if you accidentally left test.only in the source code. */
+  forbidOnly: !!process.env.CI,
+
+  /* Retry on CI only */
+  retries: process.env.CI ? 2 : 0,
+
+  /* Reduced workers for enterprise/shadowlink setup */
+  workers: process.env.CI ? 4 : undefined,
+
+  /* Reporter to use */
+  reporter: reporters,
+
+  /* Global setup and teardown */
+  globalSetup: '../shared/global-setup.mjs',
+  globalTeardown: '../shared/global-teardown.mjs',
+
+  /* Custom metadata for setup/teardown */
+  metadata: {
+    variant: 'console-enterprise',
+    variantName: 'console-enterprise',
+    configFile: 'console.config.yaml',
+    isEnterprise: true,
+    needsShadowlink: true,
+  },
+
+  /* Shared settings for all projects */
+  use: {
+    navigationTimeout: 30 * 1000,
+    actionTimeout: 30 * 1000,
+    viewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080 },
+    headless: !!process.env.CI,
+
+    /* Base URL uses enterprise backend port */
+    baseURL: process.env.REACT_APP_ORIGIN ?? 'http://localhost:3100',
+
+    /* Collect trace when retrying the failed test */
+    trace: 'on-first-retry',
+
+    /* Disable screenshots and videos in CI for better performance */
+    screenshot: 'off',
+    video: 'off',
+
+    /* Shadowlink destination backend URL (port 3101) */
+    shadowBackendURL: 'http://localhost:3101',
+  } as any,
+
+  /* Configure projects */
+  projects: [
+    // Enterprise: Authentication setup project
+    {
+      name: 'authenticate',
+      testMatch: '**/auth.setup.ts',
+    },
+    // Enterprise: Main test project with auth state
+    {
+      name: 'chromium',
+      use: {
+        ...devices['Desktop Chrome'],
+        permissions: ['clipboard-read', 'clipboard-write'],
+        storageState: 'playwright/.auth/user.json',
+      },
+      dependencies: ['authenticate'],
+    },
+  ],
+});
+
+export default config;
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..488d75652
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/shadowlink/shadowlink.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+/** biome-ignore-all lint/performance/useTopLevelRegex: e2e test */
+
+import { generateShadowlinkName, ShadowlinkPage } from '../../test-variant-console/utils/shadowlink-page';
+import { expect, test } from '../fixtures';
+
+test.describe('Shadow Link E2E Tests', () => {
+  test.describe('Shadow Link Creation', () => {
+    test('should fill connection step successfully', async ({ page, shadowBackendURL }) => {
+      const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page, shadowBackendURL);
+      const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
+
+      await test.step('Navigate to create page', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoCreate();
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Fill connection details with SCRAM', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.fillConnectionStep({
+          name: shadowlinkName,
+          bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster (existing)
+          username: 'e2euser',
+          password: 'very-secret',
+          mechanism: 'SCRAM-SHA-256',
+        });
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify we reached configuration step', async () => {
+        // After clicking Next, we should be on step 2 (Configuration)
+        await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /configuration/i })).toBeVisible();
+      });
+    });
+
+    test('should create, update, failover, and delete shadowlink', async ({ page, shadowBackendURL }) => {
+      const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page, shadowBackendURL);
+      const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
+
+      await test.step('Create shadowlink with literal filter', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.createShadowlink({
+          name: shadowlinkName,
+          bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster
+          username: 'e2euser',
+          password: 'very-secret',
+          topicFilters: [
+            {
+              type: 'LITERAL',
+              filter: 'INCLUDE',
+              pattern: 'owlshop-orders',
+            },
+          ],
+        });
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify shadowlink appears on home page', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyOnHomePage(shadowlinkName);
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify topic synced on details page', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyTopicExists('owlshop-orders');
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Update to prefix filter', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoEdit(shadowlinkName);
+        await shadowlinkPage.updateTopicFilters([
+          {
+            type: 'PREFIX',
+            filter: 'INCLUDE',
+            pattern: 'owlshop-',
+          },
+        ]);
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Failover single topic and wait for all topics', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
+        // Failover single topic (will verify state change)
+        await shadowlinkPage.failoverTopic('owlshop-orders');
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Failover all topics', async () => {
+        // Wait for all 7 topics to sync (uses metrics which is faster)
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
+          totalTopics: 7,
+        });
+        await shadowlinkPage.performFailover();
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify all topics failed over', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
+          totalTopics: 7,
+          failedOverTopics: 7,
+          errorTopics: 0,
+        });
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Delete shadowlink', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.deleteShadowlink();
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify shadowlink deleted', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyNotInList(shadowlinkName);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  test.describe('Shadow Link Filter', () => {
+    test.skip(!!process.env.CI, 'Flaky in CI - timing issues with metrics loading');
+    test('should create with exclude filter and verify it works', async ({ page, shadowBackendURL }) => {
+      const shadowlinkPage = new ShadowlinkPage(page, shadowBackendURL);
+      const shadowlinkName = generateShadowlinkName();
+
+      await test.step('Create with include-all and exclude addresses filter', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.createShadowlink({
+          name: shadowlinkName,
+          bootstrapServers: 'redpanda:9092', // Source cluster
+          username: 'e2euser',
+          password: 'very-secret',
+          topicFilters: [
+            {
+              type: 'LITERAL',
+              filter: 'INCLUDE',
+              pattern: '*',
+            },
+            {
+              type: 'LITERAL',
+              filter: 'EXCLUDE',
+              pattern: 'owlshop-addresses',
+            },
+          ],
+        });
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Wait for topics to sync (excluding addresses)', async () => {
+        await shadowlinkPage.gotoDetails(shadowlinkName);
+        // Wait for 9 topics (10 total - 1 excluded addresses)
+        await shadowlinkPage.verifyMetrics({
+          totalTopics: 9,
+        });
+      });
+
+      await test.step('Verify addresses topic is excluded', async () => {
+        // Should not see owlshop-addresses in the topics list
+        await expect(page.getByTestId('shadowlink-topic-owlshop-addresses')).not.toBeVisible();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/users.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/users.spec.ts
similarity index 95%
rename from frontend/tests/console-enterprise/users.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/users.spec.ts
index 79cc374b0..fa40f86bb 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/console-enterprise/users.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console-enterprise/users.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
-import { SecurityPage } from '../console/utils/security-page';
+import { SecurityPage } from '../test-variant-console/utils/security-page';
 
 test.describe('Users', () => {
   test('should create an user, check that user exists, user can be deleted', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/acls/acl.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/acls/acl.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/acls/acl.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/acls/acl.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/config/console.config.yaml b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/config/console.config.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/config/console.config.yaml
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/config/console.config.yaml
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/config/variant.json b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/config/variant.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f720bd8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/config/variant.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "name": "console",
+  "displayName": "Console OSS",
+  "isEnterprise": false,
+  "needsShadowlink": false,
+  "needsAuth": false,
+  "ports": {
+    "backend": 3000,
+    "redpandaKafka": 19092,
+    "redpandaSchemaRegistry": 18081,
+    "redpandaAdmin": 19644,
+    "redpandaPandaproxy": 18082,
+    "kafkaConnect": 18083
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/connectors/connector.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/connectors/connector.spec.ts
similarity index 93%
rename from frontend/tests/console/connectors/connector.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/connectors/connector.spec.ts
index 687edbbd5..0296754a2 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/console/connectors/connector.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/connectors/connector.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
 import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
-import { createConnector, deleteConnector } from '../../connector.utils';
+import { createConnector, deleteConnector } from '../../shared/connector.utils';
 
 // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noExportsInTest: ignore for this test
 export const ACCESS_KEY = 'accesskey';
diff --git a/frontend/playwright.config.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/playwright.config.ts
similarity index 54%
rename from frontend/playwright.config.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/playwright.config.ts
index 447a7a944..e3dea7659 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/playwright.config.ts
@@ -1,48 +1,63 @@
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 import dotenv from 'dotenv';
 
-/**
- * Read environment variables from file.
- * https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv
- */
-// require('dotenv').config();
 dotenv.config();
 
+// Configure reporters based on environment
+const reporters = process.env.CI
+  ? [['github' as const], ['html' as const, { outputFolder: 'playwright-report' }]]
+  : [['list' as const], ['html' as const, { outputFolder: 'playwright-report' }]];
+
 /**
- * See https://playwright.dev/docs/test-configuration.
+ * Playwright Test configuration for OSS (console) variant
  */
-export default defineConfig({
+const config = defineConfig({
   expect: {
     timeout: 60 * 1000,
   },
-  testDir: './tests',
+
+  // Test directory specified in package.json script
+  testMatch: '**/*.spec.ts',
+
   /* Run tests in files in parallel */
   fullyParallel: !!process.env.CI,
+
   /* Fail the build on CI if you accidentally left test.only in the source code. */
   forbidOnly: !!process.env.CI,
+
   /* Retry on CI only */
   retries: process.env.CI ? 2 : 0,
-  /* Opt out of parallel tests on CI. */
+
+  /* Number of parallel workers */
   workers: process.env.CI ? 4 : undefined,
-  /* Reporter to use. See https://playwright.dev/docs/test-reporters */
-  reporter: 'html',
+
+  /* Reporter to use */
+  reporter: reporters,
+
   /* Global setup and teardown */
-  globalSetup: './tests/global-setup.mjs',
-  globalTeardown: './tests/global-teardown.mjs',
+  globalSetup: '../shared/global-setup.mjs',
+  globalTeardown: '../shared/global-teardown.mjs',
+
   /* Custom metadata for setup/teardown */
   metadata: {
+    variant: 'console',
+    variantName: 'console',
+    configFile: 'console.config.yaml',
     isEnterprise: false,
+    needsShadowlink: false,
   },
-  /* Shared settings for all the projects below. See https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-testoptions. */
+
+  /* Shared settings for all projects */
   use: {
     navigationTimeout: 30 * 1000,
     actionTimeout: 30 * 1000,
     viewport: { width: 1920, height: 1080 },
     headless: !!process.env.CI,
-    /* Base URL to use in actions like `await page.goto('/')`. */
+
+    /* Base URL uses variant-specific backend port */
     baseURL: process.env.REACT_APP_ORIGIN ?? 'http://localhost:3000',
 
-    /* Collect trace when retrying the failed test. See https://playwright.dev/docs/trace-viewer */
+    /* Collect trace when retrying the failed test */
     trace: 'retain-on-failure',
     /* Capture screenshot on failure */
     screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
@@ -50,17 +65,17 @@ export default defineConfig({
     video: 'retain-on-failure',
   },
 
-  /* Configure projects for major browsers */
+  /* Configure projects */
   projects: [
+    // OSS: Single project without authentication
     {
       name: 'chromium',
       use: {
         ...devices['Desktop Chrome'],
-        // Grant clipboard permissions for tests
         permissions: ['clipboard-read', 'clipboard-write'],
-        // Use prepared auth state.
-        // storageState: 'playwright/.auth/user.json',
       },
     },
   ],
 });
+
+export default config;
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/schemas/schema.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/schemas/schema.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/schemas/schema.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/schemas/schema.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts
similarity index 99%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts
index a413eac0d..b510e7b66 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-create-defaults.spec.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const mockClusterResponse = {
     brokers: [
       {
         brokerId: 0,
-        logDirSize: 283431018,
+        logDirSize: 283_431_018,
         address: 'redpanda',
         rack: null,
         config: {
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-creation.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-creation.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-creation.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-creation.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-list.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-list.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-list.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-list.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-actions.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-actions.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-actions.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-actions.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-filtering.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-filtering.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-filtering.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-filtering.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-production.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-production.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-messages-production.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-messages-production.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-navigation.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-navigation.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/topics/topic-navigation.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/topics/topic-navigation.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/transforms/transforms.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/transforms/transforms.spec.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/transforms/transforms.spec.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/transforms/transforms.spec.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/acl-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/acl-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/acl-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/acl-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/debug-bundle-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/debug-bundle-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/debug-bundle-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/debug-bundle-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/role-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/role-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/role-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/role-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/schema-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/schema-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/schema-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/schema-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/security-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/security-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/security-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/security-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9cf6703d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/shadowlink-page.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,637 @@
+/** biome-ignore-all lint/performance/useTopLevelRegex: e2e test */
+import type { Page } from '@playwright/test';
+import { expect } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/**
+ * Helper to generate unique shadowlink names
+ */
+export function generateShadowlinkName() {
+  const timestamp = Date.now().toString().slice(-8);
+  const random = Math.random().toString(36).substring(2, 6);
+  return `e2e-shadowlink-${timestamp}-${random}`;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Page Object Model for Shadow Link pages
+ * Handles shadowlink list, create, edit, details, and verification
+ *
+ * Shadowlinks are created on the DESTINATION cluster console
+ * to pull data FROM the source cluster.
+ * Uses shadowBackendURL from Playwright config if available.
+ */
+export class ShadowlinkPage {
+  readonly page: Page;
+  readonly shadowBackendURL: string;
+
+  constructor(page: Page, shadowBackendURL?: string) {
+    this.page = page;
+    // shadowBackendURL should be passed from the test using the fixture
+    // Falls back to 3001 if not provided
+    this.shadowBackendURL = shadowBackendURL ?? 'http://localhost:3001';
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Navigation methods
+   */
+  async goto() {
+    await this.page.goto(`${this.shadowBackendURL}/shadowlinks`);
+    await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow links/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  }
+
+  async gotoCreate() {
+    await this.page.goto(`${this.shadowBackendURL}/shadowlinks/create`);
+    await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /create shadow link/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  }
+
+  async gotoDetails(name: string) {
+    await this.page.goto(`${this.shadowBackendURL}/shadowlinks/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`);
+    await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name })).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+  }
+
+  async gotoEdit(name: string) {
+    await this.page.goto(`${this.shadowBackendURL}/shadowlinks/${encodeURIComponent(name)}/edit`);
+    await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /edit shadow link/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create wizard - Step 1: Connection
+   */
+  async fillConnectionStep(params: {
+    name: string;
+    bootstrapServers: string;
+    username?: string;
+    password?: string;
+    mechanism?: 'SCRAM-SHA-256' | 'SCRAM-SHA-512';
+  }) {
+    // Fill name using label
+    const nameInput = this.page.getByLabel(/shadow link name/i);
+    await nameInput.fill(params.name);
+
+    // Fill bootstrap servers using testId (first input field)
+    const bootstrapInput = this.page.getByTestId('bootstrap-server-input-0');
+    await bootstrapInput.fill(params.bootstrapServers);
+
+    // Ensure TLS is turned OFF
+    const tlsToggle = this.page.getByTestId('tls-toggle');
+    const isTlsChecked = await tlsToggle.isChecked();
+    if (isTlsChecked) {
+      await tlsToggle.click();
+    }
+
+    // Configure SASL if provided
+    if (params.username && params.password) {
+      // Find and toggle SCRAM switch - look for the switch near "SCRAM" text
+      const scramSection = this.page.getByText('SCRAM').locator('..');
+      const scramToggle = scramSection.getByRole('switch');
+
+      // Check if SCRAM is already enabled
+      const isScramEnabled = await scramToggle.isChecked();
+      if (!isScramEnabled) {
+        await scramToggle.click();
+        // Wait for username field to appear after toggle
+        await this.page.getByLabel(/username/i).waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
+      }
+
+      // Fill username and password using labels
+      const usernameInput = this.page.getByLabel(/username/i);
+      await usernameInput.fill(params.username);
+
+      const passwordInput = this.page.getByLabel(/password/i);
+      await passwordInput.fill(params.password);
+
+      if (params.mechanism) {
+        // Find mechanism combobox and click it
+        const mechanismButton = this.page.getByLabel(/mechanism/i);
+        await mechanismButton.click();
+
+        // Wait for dropdown to open and select the option
+        await this.page.getByRole('option', { name: params.mechanism }).click();
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Click Next button in stepper
+    const nextButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /next/i });
+    await nextButton.click();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create wizard - Step 2: Configuration
+   */
+  async fillConfigurationStep(params: {
+    topicFilters?: Array<{
+      type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
+      filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
+      pattern: string;
+    }>;
+    syncInterval?: number;
+    consumerOffsets?: boolean;
+    aclSync?: boolean;
+    schemaRegistry?: boolean;
+  }) {
+    // Configure topic filters
+    if (params.topicFilters && params.topicFilters.length > 0) {
+      // Click "Specify topics" tab
+      const specifyTopicsTab = this.page.getByTestId('topics-specify-tab');
+      await specifyTopicsTab.click();
+
+      // Wait for filters container to be visible
+      await this.page.getByTestId('topics-filters-container').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
+
+      for (let i = 0; i < params.topicFilters.length; i++) {
+        const filter = params.topicFilters[i];
+
+        if (i > 0) {
+          // Add new filter
+          const addFilterBtn = this.page.getByTestId('add-topic-filter-button');
+          await addFilterBtn.click();
+        }
+
+        // Determine the tab value based on filter type and pattern type
+        let tabValue = 'include-specific'; // default
+        if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
+          tabValue = 'include-specific';
+        } else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
+          tabValue = 'include-prefix';
+        } else if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
+          tabValue = 'exclude-specific';
+        } else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
+          tabValue = 'exclude-prefix';
+        }
+
+        // Click the appropriate tab trigger
+        const tabTrigger = this.page.getByTestId(`topic-filter-${i}-${tabValue}`);
+        await tabTrigger.click();
+
+        // Fill in the pattern
+        const patternInput = this.page.getByTestId(`topic-filter-${i}-name`);
+        await patternInput.fill(filter.pattern);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Configure sync interval
+    if (params.syncInterval) {
+      const intervalInput = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-sync-interval-input');
+      await intervalInput.fill(params.syncInterval.toString());
+    }
+
+    // Toggle consumer offsets
+    if (params.consumerOffsets !== undefined) {
+      const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-consumer-offsets-toggle');
+      const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
+      if (isChecked !== params.consumerOffsets) {
+        await toggle.click();
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Toggle ACL sync
+    if (params.aclSync !== undefined) {
+      const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-acl-sync-toggle');
+      const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
+      if (isChecked !== params.aclSync) {
+        await toggle.click();
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Toggle schema registry sync
+    if (params.schemaRegistry !== undefined) {
+      const toggle = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-schema-registry-toggle');
+      const isChecked = await toggle.isChecked();
+      if (isChecked !== params.schemaRegistry) {
+        await toggle.click();
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Click Create button
+    const createButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /create/i });
+    await createButton.click();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Complete create flow
+   */
+  async createShadowlink(params: {
+    name: string;
+    bootstrapServers: string;
+    username?: string;
+    password?: string;
+    topicFilters?: Array<{
+      type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
+      filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
+      pattern: string;
+    }>;
+  }) {
+    await this.gotoCreate();
+    await this.fillConnectionStep(params);
+    await this.fillConfigurationStep({ topicFilters: params.topicFilters });
+
+    // Wait for navigation to list page (frontend redirects to /shadowlinks after create)
+    await this.page.waitForURL(/\/shadowlinks$/, { timeout: 60_000 });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Details page - Verification methods
+   */
+  async verifyInList(name: string) {
+    await this.goto();
+    const linkElement = this.page.getByRole('link', { name, exact: true });
+    await expect(linkElement).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+  }
+
+  async verifyNotInList(name: string) {
+    await this.goto();
+    const linkElement = this.page.getByRole('link', { name, exact: true });
+    await expect(linkElement).not.toBeVisible();
+  }
+
+  async verifyOnHomePage(shadowlinkName: string, timeout = 30_000) {
+    // Navigate to home page (root after login)
+    await this.page.goto(this.shadowBackendURL);
+
+    // Wait for home page to load - look for common elements
+    await expect(this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /overview|dashboard|home/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+
+    // Verify shadowlink section appears with retry logic
+    // The Shadow Cluster section may take time to appear after shadowlink creation
+    await expect(async () => {
+      await this.page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 5000 });
+
+      // Verify "Shadow Cluster" heading exists
+      const shadowClusterHeading = this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow cluster/i });
+      await expect(shadowClusterHeading).toBeVisible();
+
+      // Verify the "Go to Shadow link" button exists
+      const goToShadowLinkButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /go to shadow link/i });
+      await expect(goToShadowLinkButton).toBeVisible();
+    }).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [2000, 3000] });
+  }
+
+  async verifyStatus(expectedStatus: 'ACTIVE' | 'PAUSED' | 'FAILED_OVER', timeout = 30_000) {
+    await expect(async () => {
+      await this.page.reload({ waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 5000 });
+      const statusBadge = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-status-badge');
+      await expect(statusBadge).toContainText(expectedStatus);
+    }).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [2000, 3000] });
+  }
+
+  async verifyTopicCount(expectedCount: number, timeout = 30_000) {
+    // Wait for topics to sync
+    await expect(async () => {
+      const topicCountElement = this.page.getByTestId('shadowlink-topic-count');
+      const text = await topicCountElement.textContent();
+      const count = Number.parseInt(text || '0', 10);
+      expect(count).toBe(expectedCount);
+    }).toPass({ timeout });
+  }
+
+  async verifyTopicExists(topicName: string) {
+    // Look for the topic name in the topics table
+    const topicElement = this.page.getByText(topicName, { exact: true });
+    await expect(topicElement).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
+  }
+
+  async verifyMetrics(
+    expectedMetrics: {
+      totalTopics?: number;
+      failedOverTopics?: number;
+      errorTopics?: number;
+    },
+    timeout = 90_000
+  ) {
+    // Poll metrics values with periodic refresh button clicks
+    await expect(async () => {
+      // Try to click refresh button on replicated topics card to trigger refetch
+      const replicatedCard = this.page.getByTestId('shadow-link-metric-replicated');
+      await replicatedCard.hover({ timeout: 500 });
+      const refreshBtn = replicatedCard.locator('button:has(svg.lucide-refresh-cw)');
+      await refreshBtn.click({ force: true, timeout: 500 });
+
+      // Check the values
+      if (expectedMetrics.totalTopics !== undefined) {
+        const totalElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-replicated');
+        const actualValue = await totalElement.textContent();
+        expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.totalTopics.toString());
+      }
+
+      if (expectedMetrics.failedOverTopics !== undefined) {
+        const failedOverElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-failedover');
+        const actualValue = await failedOverElement.textContent();
+        expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.failedOverTopics.toString());
+      }
+
+      if (expectedMetrics.errorTopics !== undefined) {
+        const errorElement = this.page.getByTestId('metric-value-error');
+        const actualValue = await errorElement.textContent();
+        expect(actualValue).toBe(expectedMetrics.errorTopics.toString());
+      }
+    }).toPass({ timeout, intervals: [3000] });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Edit methods
+   */
+  async updateTopicFilters(
+    filters: Array<{
+      type: 'PREFIX' | 'LITERAL';
+      filter: 'INCLUDE' | 'EXCLUDE';
+      pattern: string;
+    }>
+  ) {
+    // Navigate to Shadowing tab
+    const shadowingTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /shadowing/i });
+    await shadowingTab.click();
+
+    // Wait for the tab content to load
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
+
+    // Find the "Shadow topics" section
+    const shadowTopicsHeading = this.page.getByRole('heading', { name: /shadow topics/i });
+    await shadowTopicsHeading.waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
+
+    // ALWAYS try to expand the collapsible by clicking the chevron button
+    // The issue is that tabs might be visible in resume view but we need the full editable view
+    // The chevron button is right after the "Shadow topics" heading in the card header
+    // Simple approach: find all buttons with SVG, filter for the one that's actually a chevron icon
+    const buttonsForChevron = await this.page.getByRole('button').all();
+
+    let chevronClicked = false;
+    for (const btn of buttonsForChevron) {
+      // Check if this button contains an SVG with class matching chevron pattern
+      const isChevron = await btn.evaluate((button) => {
+        const svg = button.querySelector('svg');
+        if (!svg) return false;
+        // ChevronDown has specific classes h-4 w-4 transition-transform
+        const classes = Array.from(svg.classList);
+        return (
+          classes.includes('lucide-chevron-down') ||
+          (classes.includes('h-4') && classes.includes('w-4') && classes.includes('transition-transform'))
+        );
+      });
+
+      if (isChevron) {
+        await btn.click();
+        await this.page.waitForTimeout(800);
+        chevronClicked = true;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (!chevronClicked) {
+      throw new Error('Could not find chevron button to expand Shadow topics section');
+    }
+
+    // Now click the "Specify topics" tab
+    const specifyTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /specify topics/i });
+    await specifyTab.waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
+    await specifyTab.click();
+
+    // Wait for filter items to be visible
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+
+    // Clear existing filters - look for delete/trash buttons in elevated cards
+    // Keep finding and clicking trash buttons until none remain
+    let foundTrashButton = true;
+    while (foundTrashButton) {
+      foundTrashButton = false;
+      const allButtons = await this.page.getByRole('button').all();
+
+      for (const btn of allButtons) {
+        try {
+          const isTrashButton = await btn.evaluate((button) => {
+            const svg = button.querySelector('svg');
+            return svg?.classList.contains('lucide-trash');
+          });
+
+          if (isTrashButton) {
+            await btn.click();
+            await this.page.waitForTimeout(300);
+            foundTrashButton = true;
+            break; // Exit inner loop and re-query buttons
+          }
+        } catch (e) {
+          // Button may have been removed from DOM, continue to next
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Add new filters
+    // After deleting all filters, we need to add new ones by clicking "Add filter" for each
+    let filterIndex = 0;
+    for (const filter of filters) {
+      // Click "Add filter" button to create a new filter card
+      const addBtn = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /add filter/i });
+      await addBtn.click();
+      await this.page.waitForTimeout(800);
+
+      // Determine the tab label based on filter type and pattern type
+      let tabLabel = '';
+      if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
+        tabLabel = 'Include specific topics';
+      } else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'INCLUDE') {
+        tabLabel = 'Include starting with';
+      } else if (filter.type === 'LITERAL' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
+        tabLabel = 'Exclude specific';
+      } else if (filter.type === 'PREFIX' && filter.filter === 'EXCLUDE') {
+        tabLabel = 'Exclude starting with';
+      }
+
+      // Find all tabs with this label and click the one for this filter (filterIndex)
+      const allTabsWithLabel = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: tabLabel });
+      const targetTab = allTabsWithLabel.nth(filterIndex);
+      await targetTab.waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
+      await targetTab.click();
+      await this.page.waitForTimeout(300);
+
+      // Use testId to find the specific input field directly
+      // The input has testId="topic-filter-{index}-name"
+      const inputInCard = this.page.locator(`[data-testid="topic-filter-${filterIndex}-name"]`);
+      await inputInCard.click();
+      await inputInCard.fill(filter.pattern);
+      await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
+
+      filterIndex++;
+    }
+
+    // TODO: this is a bug that needs resolving.
+    // Before saving, we need to go to the Source tab and fill the password
+    // The form requires SCRAM password even if we're only changing topic filters
+    const sourceTab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: /source/i });
+    await sourceTab.click();
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
+
+    // Fill in the password field (required by form validation)
+    const passwordInput = this.page.getByRole('textbox', { name: /password/i });
+    await passwordInput.click();
+    await passwordInput.fill('very-secret');
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
+
+    // Save changes
+    const saveButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /save/i });
+    await saveButton.click();
+
+    // Wait for redirect back to details page (the save is successful if we're redirected)
+    // The URL should change from /shadowlinks/{name}/edit to /shadowlinks/{name}
+    await expect(this.page).toHaveURL(/\/shadowlinks\/[^/]+$/, {
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Actions
+   */
+  async performFailover() {
+    // Find "Failover all topics" button specifically (not individual topic failover buttons)
+    const failoverButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /^failover all topics$/i });
+    await failoverButton.click();
+
+    // Confirm in dialog
+    const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /confirm|yes|failover/i }).last();
+    await confirmButton.click();
+
+    // Wait a moment for failover to initiate
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+  }
+
+  async failoverTopic(topicName: string) {
+    // Find the topic row and click failover action (should be on Overview tab)
+    const topicRow = this.page.getByRole('row').filter({ hasText: topicName });
+    const failoverButton = topicRow.getByRole('button', { name: /failover/i });
+    await failoverButton.click();
+
+    // Confirm in dialog
+    const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /confirm|yes|failover/i }).last();
+    await confirmButton.click();
+
+    // Wait a moment for failover to process
+    // await this.page.waitForTimeout(1000);
+
+    // Click the refresh button for the replicated topics table
+    const refreshButton = this.page.getByTestId('refresh-topics-button');
+    await refreshButton.click();
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(500); // Wait for refresh to complete
+
+    // Verify the replication state changed to "Failed over"
+    const topicRowAfterRefresh = this.page.getByRole('row').filter({ hasText: topicName });
+    await expect(topicRowAfterRefresh.getByText(/failed over/i)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+  }
+
+  async deleteShadowlink() {
+    // Find delete button by role and name
+    const deleteButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /delete/i });
+    await deleteButton.click();
+
+    // Wait for dialog to appear
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(500);
+
+    // Type "delete" in the confirmation textbox
+    const confirmInput = this.page.getByRole('textbox', { name: /type.*delete|confirm/i });
+    await confirmInput.fill('delete');
+
+    // Wait a moment for the delete button to become enabled
+    await this.page.waitForTimeout(200);
+
+    // Click final confirm button in the dialog
+    const confirmButton = this.page.getByRole('button', { name: /delete/i }).last();
+    await confirmButton.click();
+
+    // Wait for redirect to list
+    await expect(this.page).toHaveURL(`${this.shadowBackendURL}/shadowlinks`, { timeout: 15_000 });
+
+    // Clean up replicated topics in destination cluster
+    await this.cleanupDestinationTopics();
+  }
+
+  async cleanupDestinationTopics() {
+    console.log('Cleaning up replicated topics in destination cluster...');
+    try {
+      const { exec } = await import('node:child_process');
+      const { promisify } = await import('node:util');
+      const { readFileSync, existsSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      const { resolve } = await import('node:path');
+      const execAsync = promisify(exec);
+
+      // Read state file to get destination container ID
+      // Try both console-enterprise and enterprise naming conventions
+      const testsDir = resolve(__dirname, '../..');
+      const possibleStateFiles = [
+        resolve(testsDir, '.testcontainers-state-console-enterprise.json'),
+        resolve(testsDir, '.testcontainers-state-enterprise.json'),
+      ];
+
+      let containerId: string | undefined;
+
+      for (const stateFilePath of possibleStateFiles) {
+        if (existsSync(stateFilePath)) {
+          try {
+            const stateContent = readFileSync(stateFilePath, 'utf-8');
+            const state = JSON.parse(stateContent);
+            containerId = state.destRedpandaId;
+            if (containerId) {
+              console.log(`  Found container ID in ${stateFilePath}`);
+              break;
+            }
+          } catch {
+            // Try next file
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!containerId) {
+        console.log('  Could not read state file, trying to find container by port...');
+        // Fallback: try to find container by exposed port (19193 for console-enterprise, 19093 for console)
+        for (const port of ['19193', '19093']) {
+          const { stdout: containerByPort } = await execAsync(`docker ps -q --filter "publish=${port}"`);
+          containerId = containerByPort.trim();
+          if (containerId) {
+            console.log(`  Found container by port ${port}`);
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!containerId) {
+        console.log('  No destination cluster container found, skipping cleanup');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // List all topics in destination cluster with SASL auth
+      const saslFlags = '--user e2euser --password very-secret --sasl-mechanism SCRAM-SHA-256';
+      const listCmd = `docker exec ${containerId.trim()} rpk topic list --brokers localhost:9092 ${saslFlags}`;
+      const { stdout } = await execAsync(listCmd);
+
+      // Filter owlshop topics (the ones replicated by shadowlink)
+      const topics = stdout
+        .split('\n')
+        .map((line) => line.trim())
+        .filter((line) => line.startsWith('owlshop-') && !line.includes('PARTITIONS'));
+
+      if (topics.length === 0) {
+        console.log('  No topics to clean up');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      console.log(`  Found ${topics.length} topics to delete: ${topics.join(', ')}`);
+
+      // Delete each topic with SASL auth
+      for (const topic of topics) {
+        const deleteCmd = `docker exec ${containerId.trim()} rpk topic delete ${topic} --brokers localhost:9092 ${saslFlags}`;
+        await execAsync(deleteCmd);
+        console.log(`  ✓ Deleted topic: ${topic}`);
+      }
+
+      console.log('✓ Cleanup complete');
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.log(`  Warning: Could not clean up destination topics: ${error.message}`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Helper methods
+   */
+  async clickTab(tabName: 'Overview' | 'Tasks' | 'Configuration') {
+    const tab = this.page.getByRole('tab', { name: new RegExp(tabName, 'i') });
+    await tab.click();
+    await expect(tab).toHaveAttribute('aria-selected', 'true');
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/topic-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/topic-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/topic-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/topic-page.ts
diff --git a/frontend/tests/console/utils/transcript-page.ts b/frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/transcript-page.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from frontend/tests/console/utils/transcript-page.ts
rename to frontend/tests/test-variant-console/utils/transcript-page.ts