Create a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit - Express Connect

To create a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit, you must apply for an Express Connect circuit in the console, contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to install the Express Connect circuit, and then pay relevant fees. Then, you can use the dedicated connection over the Express Connect circuit in a secure and efficient manner.

Prerequisites

Billing for outbound data transfer is enabled. For more information, see Enable billing for outbound data transfer.
An access point is selected, and a site survey is performed by your ISP. For more information, see Preparations.
A Letter of Authorization (LOA) that grants permissions for the installation of an Express Connect circuit in a data center is signed by you and provided for your ISP. The LOA is required if your ISP is China Telecom, China Unicom, or China Mobile, and the data center is deployed in the China (Beijing), China (Shanghai), China (Hangzhou), or China (Shenzhen) region.
Make sure that the seals of your company and Alibaba Cloud are affixed to the LOA. To apply for a seal from Alibaba Cloud, contact your account manager.

Step 1: Apply for an Express Connect circuit

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, click Create Physical Connection.
You can create a connection over an Express Connect circuit only after you enable billing for outbound data transfer. To enable billing for outbound data transfer, perform the following steps:
1. In the Sign Agreement dialog box, read and agree to the billing rules of outbound data transfer, and then click Continue.
2. On the page that appears, read and agree to the Terms of Service, and then click Enable Now.
3. Go back to the Physical Connection page of the Express Connect console and click Create Physical Connection.

On the Purchase Port page, configure the parameters that are described in the following table.

Note

The Connection Status column displays the actual status of an Express Connect circuit only after the Express Connect circuit is installed and the order is paid. Otherwise, the Connection Status column displays Down.

Parameter	Description
Select Access Point Mode	Specify the access mode for an access point. In this example, Classic Mode is selected. You can select the access point to which your Express Connect circuit is connected from the Access Point drop-down list.
Region	The region in which you want to create a connection over an Express Connect circuit. In most cases, select the region in which your virtual private cloud (VPC) is deployed. If you want to connect to a VPC that is deployed in a different region, you must use a Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) instance and pay for the cross-region connection.
Express Connect Circuit Provider	The ISP. The available access points vary based on the ISP. Note If you select China Unicom, China Telecom, or China Mobile as the ISP, you can lease lines only from the selected ISP. You are not allowed to lease lines from other ISPs. If you select China Unicom, China Telecom, or China Mobile as the ISP, bare optical fibers are not supported.
Access Point	Select the access point that is the nearest to your data center.
Cloud Box Name	The CloudBox device cluster. To purchase an Express Connect circuit for CloudBox, contact your account manager from Alibaba Cloud to apply for the required permissions.
Port Type	Select a port type. Valid values: 100 GE Single-Mode Optical Port 40 GE Single-Mode Optical Port 1 GE Single-mode Optical Port 10 GE Single-mode Optical Port An optical port is an optical fiber port. The rate of an optical port depends on the negotiated speed of the optical transceiver module. The port rate can be 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s, 40 Gbit/s, or 100 Gbit/s. Note Different access points provide different port specifications. We recommend you check the port specifications available for purchase before you apply for an Express Connect circuit. By default, Alibaba Cloud provides optical transceiver modules with 1 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s ports. This type of optical transceiver module supports a maximum transmission distance of 10 km. If you want to use optical transceiver modules with 40 Gbit/s and 100 Gbit/s ports or optical transceiver modules that support a maximum transmission distance of greater than 10 km, purchase them from a third party. If you purchase an optical transceiver module from a third party, you must contact your customer business manager from Alibaba Cloud before you install the Express Connect circuit in the Alibaba Cloud data center. To use optical ports, make sure that the connectivity provider uses optical fiber cables to connect to the access device of Alibaba Cloud. Alibaba Cloud does not host fiber optical transceivers for customers. Therefore, make sure that the connectivity provider uses the supported type of cable to connect to the access device of Alibaba Cloud.
Redundant Express Connect Circuit ID	The redundant Express Connect circuit that is in the same region and used to configure equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) routing. If the Express Connect circuits are connected to different access points, you do not need to specify the redundant Express Connect circuit. If the Express Connect circuits are connected to the same access point, you must specify one of them as the redundant Express Connect circuit. The primary and redundant Express Connect circuits are allocated to different access devices.
Resource Group	The resource group to which the Express Connect circuit belongs. Select a resource group from the drop-down list. You can click Manage Resource Group to create or modify a resource group in the Resource Management console. For more information, see Create a resource group.
Tags
Tag Key	You must enter a complete tag key. You can specify at most 20 tag keys. A tag key can be up to 128 characters in length. It cannot start with aliyun or acs: and cannot contain http:// or https://.
Tag Value	You must enter a complete tag value. You can specify up to 20 tag values. A tag value can be up to 128 characters in length. It cannot start with aliyun or acs: and cannot contain http:// or https://.
Advanced Configurations	Click Advanced Configurations and select one or more advanced features of ports. If the selected advanced features of ports are unavailable at the backend, a connection over an Express Connect circuit fails to be created. Valid values: VBR Bandwidth Limit: supports bandwidth limits for virtual border routers (VBRs). IPv6: supports IPv6. BFD: supports Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD). MPBGP: supports Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP). MPBGP-v6: supports IPv6 MP-BGP. QOS: supports the quality of service (QoS) policy feature. You can use QoS policies to define different priorities for different services. This ensures that high-priority services can preferentially obtain the required bandwidth. For more information, see QoS policies. Important The QoS policy feature is in invitational preview. To try this feature out, contact your Alibaba Cloud account manager to apply for the qualification. VBR-HA: supports VBR failover groups. You can add two VBRs to a failover group. After the system detects failures on a VBR by using BDF, the system can seamlessly switch workloads to the standby VBR in the failover group within less than one second. This accelerates route convergence. For more information, see Configure a failover group.

Select I have read and understand the billing rules and click OK.
For more information about billing, see Billing overview.

Step 2: Apply for an LOA

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, find the connection that you create and click Apply for LOA in the Apply for LOA column.

In the Apply for LOA panel, enter the information about the construction and field engineers. Then, click OK.

Parameter	Description
Company Name	If you are an enterprise user, enter the company name that is specified when the Alibaba Cloud account is created. If you are an individual user, enter the name of the Alibaba Cloud account owner.
Construction Company That Enters Data Centers of Alibaba Cloud	Enter the name of the company that is in charge of installing the Express Connect circuit. In most cases, the ISP or the colocation provider is responsible for the installation.
Leased Line Type	Select the type of the Express Connect circuit. Valid values: MSTP MPLSVPN Fiber Connection Other
Construction Schedule	Set the date for installing the Express Connect circuit.
Customer Data Center Location	Enter the location of your on-premises data center.
Leased Line Bandwidth	Specify the bandwidth of your Express Connect circuit. Note The bandwidth that you specify does not affect the billing of your Express Connect circuit. In addition, this value does not limit the actual bandwidth when you use the Express Connect circuit.
Add Field Engineer	Click Add Field Engineer to add the information about the field engineers who need to enter the Alibaba Cloud data center. You can specify one or more field engineers. Important The information about the field engineers is required.

After you apply for an LOA, the value in the LOA Status column of the dedicated connection changes to LOA Being Applied. Alibaba Cloud reviews your application within two business days.

Note

If the access point is deployed outside the Chinese mainland, Alibaba Cloud reviews your application within three business days.
You cannot download the LOA file when your application is in the Under Review state. You must wait until the application is approved by Alibaba Cloud.
After the LOA is approved, you can log on to the Express Connect console and view the locations of the access point and data center of the connection that you create in the Access Point column on the Physical Connection page.
If you want to apply for an LOA again, repeat the operations in Step 2: Apply for an LOA.

After the application is approved, the LOA Status of the Express Connect becomes LOA Reviewed. Then, you can download the LOA file in the console. Pay attention to the text message that contains the access credential and the link to fill in your personal information. Perform the following steps:
1. Obtain the access credential
  1. Click the link in the text message and log on to the page to which you are redirected.
  2. Select the server room details and click Confirm Access.
  3. Click to obtain the QR code.
2. Fill in your personal information
  1. Enter the link in a browser and access the website.
  2. Read the privacy protection instructions and click Agree.
  3. Read the admission agreement, select Confirm Compliance with Admission Agreement, and then click Agree.
  4. Confirm your information and click Submit.
  5. You can close the browser when the Submitted message appears.

Step 3: Contact the ISP to install the Express Connect circuit

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, find the connection that you create and click View LOA in the View LOA column.
On the View LOA page, click Download to download the LOA file.
Contact the ISP to connect the Express Connect circuit to the access device in the Alibaba Cloud data center based on the LOA information.
Note
- Before you enter an Alibaba Cloud server room:
  If the server room belongs to the following third-party access points, you must submit the LOA that is approved by Alibaba Cloud and send an on-site installation form to the field engineers of Alibaba Cloud at least one day before the ISP enters the Alibaba Cloud data center. You can obtain the on-site installation form by submitting a ticket or contacting your account manager.
  Third-party access points
  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
  If the server room does not belong to the preceding access points, use the QR code obtained in Step 2 to enter the server room.
  For access points in China (Hong Kong) and other regions outside the Chinese mainland, contact the Alibaba Cloud engineers in the server room.
- After the connectivity provider completes the installation, you can request a survey report from the connectivity provider to ensure that the Express Connect circuit functions as expected.
- If the access point is deployed in the Chinese mainland, Alibaba Cloud engineers assist the ISP in installing the Express Connect circuit. After you click Confirm Delivery in the console, Alibaba Cloud engineers complete the installation by installing the fiber pigtail.
- If the access point is deployed outside the Chinese mainland, the ISP independently completes the installation. The access device that is connected to the Express Connect circuit can be an optical distribution frame (ODF) or a patch panel. After you click Confirm Delivery in the console, Alibaba Cloud engineers will complete the installation by installing the fiber pigtail.
- If you want to enter the server room again after the construction is complete, repeat Step 2: Apply for an LOA to apply for the LOA again.
After the ISP completes the installation, contact the ISP to obtain the ID of the Express Connect circuit, the IDs of other cables, and the specifications of the ODF port.
On the Physical Connection page, click Confirm Delivery. On the Confirm Delivery page, enter the information about the Express Connect circuit and click OK.
Then, the dedicated connection changes to the Alibaba Cloud Pigtails Connection state.Status Field engineers from Alibaba Cloud install the fiber pigtail within two business days. After the fiber pigtail is installed, the dedicated connection changes to the Pay Resource Occupation Fees state.Status For more information, see Connect to Alibaba Cloud over a dedicated Express Connect circuit.
Note
If the access point is deployed outside the Chinese mainland, field engineers from Alibaba Cloud install the fiber pigtail within three business days.

Step 4: Pay the resource occupation fees

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, find the connection that you create and click Pay Resource Occupation Fees in the Pay Resource Occupation Fees column.
On the page that appears, select a subscription duration and a renewal method, click Buy Now, and then complete the payment.
After you complete the payment, the Port Allocation Status of the dedicated connection changes to Enabled.

What to do next

After you create a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit, you must create a VBR and an Express Connect router (ECR), associate the VBR and a VPC with the ECR, and then configure Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing. Then, your data center can be connected to the VPC. For more information, see Connect a data center to ECS by using an Express Connect circuit.

What to do next

View the details of an Express Connect circuit

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, click the ID of the connection that you want to manage. On the page that appears, you can view the details of the Express Connect circuit, including the access point, QoS policy, and advanced features of ports.

For more information about failover groups and QoS policies, see Configure a failover group and QoS policies.

Modify the O&M information about an Express Connect circuit

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, find the connection that you want to manage and choose > Line O&M in the Actions column.

In the Line O&M panel, configure the parameters that are described in the following table and click OK.

Parameter	Description
Provider	The name of the ISP.
Leased Line ID/Cable ID	To obtain the ID, contact the ISP or the line supplier.
ODF Port Specifications	To obtain the corresponding information, contact the ISP or the line supplier.
O&M Contact Information	The contact information of the O&M personnel of the ISP.

Modify a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, click the ID of the connection that you want to modify.
In the upper-right corner of the page, click Edit.
In the Edit Physical Connection Interface panel, modify the name and bandwidth information of the connection and the location of your on-premises data center. Then, click OK.

Upgrade an Express Connect circuit

Warning

After you upgrade an Express Connect circuit, the related data is migrated and modified. For example, the VBR that is associated with the original Express Connect circuit is deleted. This causes temporary service interruptions. Therefore, we recommend that you back up the data before you upgrade an Express Connect circuit.

Perform Step 1: Apply for an Express Connect circuit to apply for an Express Connect circuit that supports larger bandwidth.
Migrate the existing configurations and connection to the new Express Connect circuit.
Create a VBR for the new Express Connect circuit, create an ECR, associate the VBR and a VPC with the ECR, and then configure a BGP.

Delete a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit

You can delete a dedicated connection that meets one of the following conditions:

The dedicated connection is in the Locked (Overdue Payment) state.
The dedicated connection is in the Disabled state.
If the dedicated connection remains active, you can find the dedicated connection on the Physical Connection page and choose > Terminate in the Actions column.
Important
A dedicated connection is still billed after it is terminated. For more information, see Resource usage fee and Renewal management. If you no longer need to use a shared port, you can unsubscribe from the shared port and release it. For more information, see Unsubscription and refund policies.
No VBR is associated with the dedicated connection, and no hosted connection is created over the Express Connect circuit. For more information about how to delete a VBR and a hosted connection, see the following sections of the "Operation guide for Express Connect partners" topic:
- Delete a VBR
- Delete a shared port

Log on to the Express Connect Console.
In the top navigation bar, select the region of the shared port.
On the Physical Connection page, find the connection that you want to delete and click Delete in the Actions column.
In the message that appears, click OK.

References

OpenPhysicalConnectionService: enables billing for outbound data transfer.
CreatePhysicalConnection: applies for a connection over an Express Connect circuit.
ApplyPhysicalConnectionLOA: applies for an LOA.
DescribePhysicalConnectionLOA: queries information about the LOA of an Express Connect circuit.
CompletePhysicalConnectionLOA: generates a report for an installed Express Connect circuit.
CreatePhysicalConnectionOccupancyOrder: creates an order for resource occupation.
ConfirmPhysicalConnection: confirms a connection over an Express Connect circuit. The status of the connection changes to Confirmed.
EnablePhysicalConnection: enables a connection over an Express Connect circuit that is in the Confirmed state. Then, the status of the connection changes to Enabled.
DescribePhysicalConnections: queries the connections over Express Connect circuits in a specific region.
ModifyPhysicalConnectionAttribute: modifies the configurations of a connection over an Express Connect circuit.
CancelPhysicalConnection: cancels a connection over an Express Connect circuit before it is enabled.
TerminatePhysicalConnection: disables a connection over an Express Connect circuit.
DeletePhysicalConnection: deletes a connection over an Express Connect circuit.