Express Connect:Getting started

Step 1: Planning phase

1. Select an access point

   An access point is the geographic location where an Express Connect circuit connects to Alibaba Cloud. Each access point has two redundant devices. Your on-premises data center can connect to a VPC through any access point in a region. The following table describes the factors that affect your choice of access point.

   Factor	Description
   Region	Select the region closest to your on-premises data center. The available providers and bandwidth capabilities vary by access point.
   Provider	Select a circuit provider from China Unicom, China Telecom, China Mobile, or some local providers. The provider verifies the resource fees based on the access point and selects an access point for the connection. Note The Express Connect circuit that connects to the data center must meet the requirements of the data center provider. For more information, see Alibaba Cloud access points. China Unicom, China Telecom, and China Mobile allow connections only over their own circuits. They do not allow connections over circuits from other providers or connections over bare optical fibers.
   Port	Alibaba Cloud supports the following optical port types: 100GE Single-mode Optical Port, 40GE Single-mode Optical Port, GE single-mode optical port, and 10GE single-mode optical port. Port connection requirements Alibaba Cloud port: By default, single-mode optical transceiver modules that support a data transfer distance of 10 km are provided for 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps ports. Only connections over dual-core Express Connect circuits are supported. Customer-side port: You must purchase the customer-side optical transceiver modules. Make sure that the specifications of the customer-side optical transceiver modules are the same as the specifications of the Alibaba Cloud-side optical transceiver modules.

2. Check inventory

   After you select an access point, check the port inventory to confirm that the access point has available devices for connection.

   Note

   This topic uses the process of requesting a dedicated connection port in classic mode as an example to describe how to check the inventory.

   1. Log on to the Express Connect console, click Create Physical Connection, and select Classic Mode to request a port.

   2. After you select a Region, Express Connect Circuit Provider, and Access Point, view the available port resources for different port types.

      

Step 2: Circuit installation and delivery phase

1. Request a dedicated port: The user requests a dedicated connection port in the console. Then, Alibaba Cloud allocates a port.

2. Apply for an LOA: The user applies for a Letter of Authorization (LOA). Alibaba Cloud reviews the LOA application and responds within two business days. After the application is approved, Alibaba Cloud matches and installs the optical transceiver module and prepares for the on-site installation.

   Note

   • To enter the data center again for circuit adjustments or other changes, you can apply for another LOA.

   • The time required to apply for an LOA, enter the data center, and complete the installation may be affected by public holidays or policy-based network freezes.

3. Download the LOA: After the application is approved, the user downloads the LOA and get information about the access point and data center. Alibaba Cloud determines whether it is a third-party data center:

   Third-party data center access point

   Xi'an-Xixian-A, Beijing-Fengtai-A, Dalian-Pulandian-A, Changsha-Yuelu-A, Shanghai-Minhang-A, Tianjin-Jinnan-A, Shanghai-Baoshan-E, Hangzhou-Jianggan-B, Shanghai-Pudong-E-Neutral, Shanghai-Baoshan-C, Shenzhen-Nanshan-A, Beijing-Yizhuang-A, Guangzhou-Huangpu District-C, Beijing-Chaoyang-C, Qingdao-Licang-A, Shanghai-Pudong-C, Jinan-Gaoxin-A, Beijing-Haidian-A-Ali, Shenzhen-Bao'an-B, Guangzhou-Huangpu District-B, and Zhengzhou-Gaoxin-A

   • Yes: The provider brings the LOA and contacts the on-site engineer to enter the data center for a site survey.

   • No: Alibaba Cloud sends a text message. The provider gets a QR code for entry and scans the QR code to enter the data center for a site survey or on-site installation.

4. Provider site survey: Alibaba Cloud assists the survey personnel in completing the on-site survey within two business days. You must contact the circuit provider to confirm the end-to-end fees. For more information about fees, see Billing overview.

   Note

   • Chinese mainland: You must apply to enter the Alibaba Cloud data center suite for the site survey.

   • Outside the Chinese mainland: The installation personnel only need to apply to the data center provider to enter the provider's Meet-Me Room for the site survey. They do not need to enter the Alibaba Cloud data center.

   The following items must be confirmed during the site survey:

   • Device specification

     • Confirm the specifications of the optical transceiver module, including the transmission rate, wavelength, and transmission distance.

     • Confirm the cable type and interface specifications, such as single-mode fiber (SMF), multi-mode fiber (MMF), and LC-LC interface types.

   • Physical cabling plan

     • Determine the access location where the cable is routed to a specific rack.

     • Confirm the cable route.

     • Verify the cable length and related parameters.

   • Safety measures: Confirm whether the data center requires personnel to wear anti-static wristbands or take other anti-static precautions.

   • Procedure: Confirm whether the data center has special operating procedures.

5. On-site installation: The provider's installation personnel connect the Express Connect circuit to the device outside the data center suite based on the site survey plan.

6. Purchase cross-connects: The data center provider purchases the cross-connects. You must pay the cross-connect rental fee to the data center provider.

7. In-building cabling at the provider's data center: In-building cabling includes device deployment and configuration, optical fiber installation, patch cord connection, optical power testing, and testing for network connectivity, bandwidth, and the Service-Level Agreement (SLA). This process ensures the high reliability of the Express Connect circuit and covers the entire process from physical deployment and link verification to compliance management and operations and maintenance (O&M) assurance.

8. Report completion: You click Confirm Delivery in the console. The Alibaba Cloud on-site engineer then completes the fiber pigtail installation.

9. Pay the resource usage fee: After the fiber pigtail installation is complete, you pay the Resource occupation fee in the Express Connect console. When the instance status changes to Available, the Express Connect circuit is enabled.

Step 3: Cloud connection phase

After the dedicated connection port is enabled, perform the following steps to complete the cloud connection configuration:

1. Create a virtual border router (VBR)

2. Create an Express Connect Router (ECR)

3. Create a Transit Router (TR)

4. Attach the VBR to the ECR

5. Attach the ECR to the TR

6. Configure Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and enable BFD

7. Test network connectivity

How do I find the location of a data center?

Log on to the Express Connect console and use one of the following methods:

• Request a port: After you request a dedicated connection port, click the ID of the target dedicated connection port instance. On the Basic Information tab, view the Access Device Location.

  Note

  To get the detailed location using this method, you must first apply for a quota in Quota Center, named Allow users to obtain specific location information of access points, with an ID of ec_can_get_pconn_address. For more information about how to apply, see Manage quotas. After you submit the application, wait 10 to 15 minutes for the cache to refresh. If you do not have the required permission to apply for this quota, contact your account manager.

  

• Download the LOA: After you apply for an LOA and the application is approved, view and download the LOA file in PDF format to access the detailed location of the data center.