Express Connect:Dedicated Express Connect circuit access flow

Step 1: Preparations

Before you apply for a dedicated Express Connect circuit, you must select an access point and check the stock.

1. Select an access point

   Access points indicate the geographical locations where Express Connect circuits are connected to Alibaba Cloud. Two access devices are deployed at each access point. Each region contains one or more access points. You can connect your data center to a virtual private cloud (VPC) through an access point that meets your requirements. For more information, see Access point locations.

   When you choose an access point, consider factors such as the region, connectivity provider, and port.

   Factor	Description
   Region	We recommend that you select the access point nearest to your data center. The connectivity providers and bandwidth limits vary based on the access point.
   Connectivity provider	We recommend that you choose a connectivity provider based on your business requirements. You can lease an Express Connect circuit from China Unicom, China Telecom, China Mobile, or other connectivity providers. Note When you install an Express Connect circuit in a data center, you must follow the rules of the collocation provider. For more information about connectivity providers, see Locations of access points. If you choose China Unicom, China Telecom, or China Mobile as the connectivity provider, bare fiber is not supported. You must lease lines from these connectivity providers.
   Port	Select an optical port. Supported optical port types: 100 GE Single-Mode Optical Port, 40 GE Single-Mode Optical Port, 1 GE Single-Mode Optical Port, and 10 GE Single-Mode Optical Port. Note Requirements of ports on the Alibaba Cloud side: By default, single-mode optical modules whose transmission distance is no greater than 10 kilometers are provided. The modules match ports of the following types: 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s, 40 Gbit/s, and 100 Gbit/s. Only dual-core optical fibers are supported. Requirements of ports on the customer side: You need to purchase optical modules and make sure that the specifications of the purchased modules are the same as the specifications of the modules on the Alibaba Cloud side.

2. Check the stock

   After you choose an access point, you can check whether the Express Connect circuit that you want to apply for is available for purchase on the payment page.

   Note

   This topic describes how to check the stock when you apply for a physical port in the classic mode.

   1. Log on to the Express Connect console and click Apply For Physical Port. Select Classic Mode to apply for a port.

   2. Select a Region, Connectivity Provider, and Access Point. Then, you can view the available port resources of different types.

      

Step 2: Apply for an Express Connect circuit in the console

1. Enable billing for outbound data transfer.

2. Apply for an Express Connect circuit:

   1. Apply for an Express Connect circuit.

   2. Apply for an LOA and provide the name, ID number, and contact information of the engineer who will perform the site survey.

   3. After the LOA is approved, Alibaba Cloud helps the engineer complete the site survey within two business days. You can contact your connectivity provider to confirm the end-to-end expenses. For more information about expenses, see Billing overview.

      Note

      Chinese Mainland: You must apply for permissions to perform a site survey in the data center of Alibaba Cloud.

      Outside Chinese Mainland: The installation personnel do not need to enter the Alibaba Cloud server room. They only need to apply to the data center provider for entry into the connectivity provider's Meet-Me Room to perform the site survey.

      Main items to confirm during the site survey:

      • Equipment specification confirmation

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

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

      • Physical cabling plan

        • Specify the access position where cables are laid to specific racks.

        • Confirm cable and routing paths.

        • Verify the actual cable laying distance and related parameters.

      • Safety measures check: Confirm whether the data center requires operators to wear anti-static wristbands or implement other anti-static measures.

      • Process specification confirmation: Confirm whether the data center has special operating procedures.

   4. Install the Express Connect circuit and pay the resource occupation fee.

Step 3: Connect your data center to Alibaba Cloud

After the physical port is activated, follow the steps in Connect a data center to a VPC through an Express Connect circuit to create a Virtual Border Router (VBR), an Express Connect Router (ECR), and attach the VBR and TR to the ECR to connect your data center to Alibaba Cloud.