Connect your data center or corporate intranet to Edge Network Acceleration (ENA) through edge access ports and access lines. ENA routes your traffic to Alibaba Cloud points of presence (POPs), where you can use ENA virtual connections to reach other data centers, intranets, or network services such as Edge Node Service (ENS).
Key concepts
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Edge access port | A physical port on a device in an ENA POP. Serves as the entry point for a data center or corporate intranet to access ENA. Ports can be exclusively owned by you or shared through ENA partners. Supports Layer 2 ports (for Edge Virtual Links (EVLs)) and Layer 3 ports (for Edge Virtual Border Routers (EVBRs)) to access EPN instances. |
| Edge access line | (Optional) The physical connection between your data center or intranet and an ENA edge access port. Delivered through ENA partners using local or long-distance lines, or through your own access lines. |
Network topology of ENA edge network resources:
Implementation flow
Apply for edge access ports and lines
Step 1: Submit an application
Log on to the ENA console and choose Edge Network Resources > Edge Ports and Lines.
On the Edge Ports and Lines page, click Apply For Edge Access Port and configure the following parameters.
Parameter Description Enterprise Information Select your pre-configured enterprise information. Billing Method Subscription only. Subscription billing requires payment in advance, lets you reserve resources, and provides greater discounts. Access Node The ENA POP where the edge access port is located. Port Owner Exclusive port: you have complete usage rights and can allocate VLAN and bandwidth resources independently. Port Type Hybrid port: supports deploying both EVLs and EVBRs on the same port.
Port Bandwidth The maximum bandwidth of the port. To purchase a physical line through ENA, click Additional Edge Access Line and configure the following parameters. Skip this if you are using your own access lines.
Parameter Description Access Address The detailed address of your enterprise data center or corporate intranet. Data Center ISP The ISP of your enterprise data center. ENA uses this information to plan physical line solutions. Line Resource Default: Compliant Resource. Select China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile Only if your enterprise requires network resources from these three carriers. Line Bandwidth The planned bandwidth of the line. ImportantLine bandwidth cannot exceed the port bandwidth.
To apply for additional ports, click Add and edge access port. A single application supports up to 10 edge access port entries.
Accept the user agreement and click Submit an application for edge access ports and lines.
Step 2: Requirement review and resource planning
After submission, ENA engineers review your requirements and place orders with multiple suppliers to identify suitable resources. Engineers will contact you during this process if needed — make sure you are reachable.
Step 3: Payment
After our engineers receive resource planning results from suppliers, you can make the payment by clicking the payment link in the console.
Step 4: Line construction
After receiving your payment, Alibaba Cloud coordinates with suppliers to deliver the physical line. Delivery typically takes 30 business days. In exceptional circumstances, Alibaba Cloud engineers will contact you to discuss next steps. If an exception occurs that prevents delivery, you receive a full refund.
Skip this step if you are using your own access lines.
Step 5: Acceptance testing
After line construction is complete, test the lines and confirm delivery acceptance.
Step 6: Confirm the service start time
During acceptance testing, ENA engineers contact you to verify testing status and agree on a service start time. After the agreement, you have three days to confirm or reschedule.
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Confirm | The billing cycle for the edge access port and line instance starts at the confirmed time. |
| Reschedule | ENA engineers assist you in selecting a new start time. |
| No response within three days | The system automatically starts the service. |
Step 7: After-sales service
Once the service start time is confirmed, after-sales support begins. Manage your service from the ENA console. Alibaba Cloud sets up a DingTalk service group with 24/7 support — issue reports and cutover notifications are sent in the group.