Express Connect provides a secure and convenient method to connect your data center to Alibaba Cloud. You can use an Express Connect circuit provided by an Internet service provider (ISP) to connect your data center to an Alibaba Cloud access point. Connections over Express Connect circuits are not exposed to the Internet. Compared with Internet connections, connections over Express Connect circuits are safer, faster, more reliable, and have lower network latency.
You can create point-to-point Ethernet connections or multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) VPN connections. By default, connections over Express Connect circuits support the following ports: 1000BASE-LX, 10GBASE-LR, 100BASE-T, RJ45, and LC ports that support a transmission distance of up to 10 km. These ports have a transmission rate that ranges from 1 Gbit/s to 100 Gbit/s.
If the model of the copper Ethernet port that you use is obsolete, the port may not support the advanced features of Express Connect. If you use a copper Ethernet port, contact your ISP to replace the copper Ethernet port with an optical port.
Connection methods
Connections over Express Connect circuits include the following types:
Dedicated connections over Express Connect circuits
To connect your data center to Alibaba Cloud, you can use a dedicated Express Connect circuit from an ISP. You can apply for a dedicated Express Connect circuit in the Express Connect console. For more information, see Create and manage a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit.
Hosted connections over Express Connect circuits
The access points of Express Connect partners are already connected to the access points of Alibaba Cloud. You can contact an Express Connect partner to use a hosted connection over an Express Connect circuit. In this case, the connection is shared by multiple tenants. For more information, see Operation guide for Express Connect partners.
Query of access point locations
Before you query access point locations on the Physical Connection page:
You must apply for the quota whose ID and name are ec_can_get_pconn_address and q_db41hu in the Quota Center. Wait 10 to 15 minutes after you submit the application because the system needs to refresh the cache. For more information about how to request a quota increase, see Request a quota increase.
If you cannot view the quota information, contact your account manager.
You can query the access points of only dedicated Express Connect circuits.
You can log on to the Express Connect console and apply for an LOA. After the application is approved, you can use one of the following methods to query the access point locations.
Alibaba Cloud does not charge any fees during the process.
View the location of an access point on the Physical Connection page.
On the Physical Connection page, find the Express Connect circuit that you want to view.
Move the pointer over the
icon in the Access Point column. Then, the access point location and advanced features of ports of the Express Connect circuit are displayed.
View the location of an access point on the details page of the Express Connect circuit.
On the Physical Connection page, click the ID of the Express Connect circuit that you want to view.
In the Basic Information section, you can view the Access Device Location of the Express Connect circuit.
Check the location information in the downloaded LOA file.