You can apply for a dedicated Express Connect circuit or use a shared Express Connect circuit pre-installed by an Express Connect partner to connect to Alibaba Cloud.
Connection methods
Apply for a dedicated connection
You can lease an Express Connect circuit from a connectivity provider to connect to an access point of Alibaba Cloud. Each Express Connect circuit occupies a physical port. You can apply for an Express Connect circuit in the Express Connect console.
The networks of Express Connect partners are already connected to the Alibaba Cloud access points. You can use an Express Connect circuit pre-installed by an Express Connect partner to connect to Alibaba Cloud. If you select this method, you must request the Express Connect partner to create a hosted connection. In this case, the Express Connect circuit is shared by multiple tenants.
Comparison between implementation methods
Item | Apply for a dedicated connection port | Share a pre-connected partner connection |
Recommended bandwidth | 1 to 100 Gbps | <1 Gbps |
Overall construction period | Two to three months | One month |
Procedure | The procedure involves multiple parties:
| The procedure involves two parties:
|
Port type | Dedicated port | Shared port |
Billing | Alibaba Cloud charges a monthly resource usage fee. The colocation provider of the Alibaba Cloud access point charges a cable fee. The colocation provider of your data center charges a cable fee. The connectivity provider charges fees for the installation service and bandwidth resources. For more information, see Billing overview. | Alibaba Cloud charges a monthly resource usage fee. The colocation provider of your data center charges a cable fee. The connectivity provider charges fees for the installation service and bandwidth resources. |
Construction restrictions on the Alibaba Cloud side |
| None. |
Construction restrictions on the carrier side | The colocation providers of Alibaba Cloud access points are third-party service providers. The installation rules vary based on the colocation provider. Specific China Telecom branches may request permissions to install cables in their data centers. In this case, you must contact your connectivity provider to obtain the required permissions. Some China Telecom branches may request an authorization letter for installing cables in your data center. The authorization letter must be affixed with the seal of your company and that of Alibaba Cloud. To apply for the seal of Alibaba Cloud, contact your account manager. | None. |
Site survey at Alibaba Cloud data centers | After your application is approved, Alibaba Cloud helps engineers perform the site survey within two business days. | None. |
SLA for fiber pigtail construction on the Alibaba Cloud side |
| None. |