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Express Connect:Functions and features

Last Updated:Jul 31, 2024

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

  • Dedicated connections over Express Connect circuits

    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. For more information, see Create and manage a dedicated connection over an Express Connect circuit.

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  • Hosted connections over Express Connect circuits

    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. For more information, see Overview of hosted connections.

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Comparison between the solutions

Item

Dedicated connections over Express Connect circuits

Hosted connections over Express Connect circuits

Recommended bandwidth

1~100 Gbps

<1 Gbps

Overall construction period

Two to three months

Within one month

Procedure

The procedure involves multiple parties:

  • Purchase an Express Connect circuit in the Express Connect console.

  • Contact the connectivity provider to use the Express Connect circuit to connect your data center to the access point of Alibaba Cloud.

  • Test the devices used for the connection.

  • Complete configurations on Alibaba Cloud.

The procedure involves two parties:

  • Contact an Express Connect partner to connect your data center to the network of the Express Connect partner.

  • Test the devices used for the connection.

  • Complete configurations on Alibaba Cloud.

Port type

Dedicated

Shared

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.

Installation limits at the Alibaba Cloud side

  • To use 40 GE or 100 GE ports, you must provide the corresponding optical transceiver modules.

  • Alibaba Cloud provides optical transceiver modules with 1 GE or 10 GE ports. The optical transceiver modules support a transmission distance of 10 km. To use optical transceiver modules with a transmission distance that is longer than 10 km, you must purchase the modules from a third-party service provider.

  • If you purchase optical ports, make sure that the connectivity provider uses fibers to connect to the devices of Alibaba Cloud.

  • If you purchase electrical Ethernet ports, make sure that the connectivity provider uses electrical cables to connect to the devices of Alibaba Cloud.

  • Alibaba Cloud data centers do not support fiber-optic transceivers.

  • During the lockdown periods of Alibaba Cloud data centers, such as Double 11, Double 12, and the Chinese New Year, you must apply for approval before your cable installation company can go to Alibaba Cloud data centers for cable installation.

None.

Installation limits at the colocation provider side

Only the Hangzhou-Yuhang-A access point and the access points in the China (Zhangjiakou) region are managed by Alibaba Cloud. The colocation providers of other 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

After your application is approved, Alibaba Cloud helps engineers perform the site survey within two business days.

None.

Service Level Agreement (SLA) that is provided by Alibaba Cloud for fiber pigtail installation

  • Data centers within the Chinese mainland: two business days.

  • Data centers outside the Chinese mainland: two to four business days.

  • During the lockdowns of Alibaba Cloud data centers: eight business days.

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