Google Dedicated Interconnect Process Overview
For a general overview of using interconnects with PacketFabric, see Google Cloud Interconnect Overview.
1. Complete the prerequisites
Create a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) account and set up a virtual private cloud (VPC).
The VPC is the heart of your Google Cloud environment and is the target of your interconnect connection.
Create a Google Cloud Router.
This can be done before you begin or as you are creating your VLAN attachment.
Create a PacketFabric account.
Before you can log in, your account is manually reviewed and then approved by the PacketFabric team. You should receive approval within 24 hours.
Provision a port and install a cross connect.
Provisioning a port only takes a few minutes. You can then generate an LOA and handle the cross connect installation yourself, or you can have us manage it. For more information, see Cross Connects.
At this point, your connection looks something like this:
NOTE: Google allows 10 Gbps and 100 Gbps Dedicated Interconnects. You should have enough source port capacity to fully utilize this.
Keep in mind that you can provision multiple services on each port, and connect multiple source ports to interconnects. For some high-level examples, see Google Cloud Interconnects as Part of a Custom Network.
2. Create a Google Cloud Dedicated Interconnect.
When ordering the interconnect, the following is important:
- When selecting a location, you must select one of the PacketFabric on-ramp locations.
- When selecting a capacity, select either 10 Gbps or 100 Gbps.
- When you are asked to provide a company name, you must enter “PacketFabric.” This allows us to set up the cross connect between our port and Google.
3. Create a PacketFabric Dedicated Cloud Connection.
Provide the same location and capacity that you selected when creating your Google Dedicated Interconnect.
4. Set up the cross connect.
Shortly after creating your Google Dedicated Interconnect, Google emails you an LOA/CFA. Use this LOA to order a cross connect through the PacketFabric portal.
After sending you the LOA, Google periodically tests light levels to check for the cross connect.
When they confirm that it is installed correctly, they will send you another email containing an IP address with which to configure your on-premises router. Set this aside.
5. Add an untagged virtual circuit (VC) to the Dedicated Cloud Connection.
This first virtual circuit is used for Google’s automated testing. LACP is automatically enabled per Google’s requirements, but you must leave the destination VLAN untagged.
6. Configure your on-premises router with the IP address sent to you by Google.
Note the source VLAN ID for your virtual circuit and the test IP address Google sent earlier (in the email sent after verifying the cross connect). Use these to configure your on-premises router.
Google periodically pings the IP address to confirm the connection. When confirmed, you are sent an email notifying you that the interconnect is ready to use.
7. Add a destination VLAN ID.
You can either delete the test virtual circuit and create a new one, or modify the one you have to include a destination VLAN ID.
8. Create a VLAN attachment.
Every PacketFabric virtual circuit must have a corresponding VLAN attachment.
9. Establish a BGP session.
The last step is to establish a BGP session between your on-premises routers and the Google Cloud Router in your VPC.
