Add AWS Direct Connect to a Cloud Router

Process overview

The basic steps to adding an AWS connection to a PacketFabric Distributed Cloud Router are as follows:

  1. From the PacketFabric side: Create a cloud connection.
  2. From the AWS side: Accept the connection.
  3. From the AWS side: Create a gateway.
  4. From the AWS side: Create and attach a VIF.
  5. From the PacketFabric side: Configure BGP.

Prerequisites

You will be asked for your AWS account number. Depending on your account type, this might appear when you sign in to the console or under your user menu. Otherwise, you can click your user name and then select My Account. Your account ID is at the top of the page under Account Settings.

Create a PacketFabric Cloud Router connection

  1. Log in to the PacketFabric portal and select Network > Cloud Routers.

  2. Click the Cloud Router to open its side panel.

  3. Select Create Connection.

    screenshot of the cloud router actions menu

  4. Select AWS.

Configure

Complete the following fields and then click Next.

AWS On-Ramp and Capacity
Create a NAT-capable connection
Select this option if you want to be able to enable NAT for the connection. This ensures the connection will provision on a device that allows NAT.
On-Ramp
This is the AWS on-ramp location you would like to use. This cannot be changed after it is provisioned.
Capacity
This is the speed/capacity you are setting for the connection.
IMPORTANT: Transit Gateway virtual interfaces are only supported on the following connection speeds: 1G, 2G, 5G, and 10G.
Availability Zone
Select a zone.
PacketFabric availability zones represent physical diversity; each availability zone is a unique chassis. Allocating connections within different zones supports redundancy.
Use Public VIF
Select this option if you are planning to use this connection with a public VIF to reach AWS public resources.
AWS public resources are resources that are not contained within your VPC. The most commonly used are Amazon S3 and DynamoDB.
NOTE: Public VIFs must be reviewed and approved by Amazon. This process can take up to 72 hours.
Connection Details
Amazon Account ID
Enter your Amazon account ID.
This allows PacketFabric to send API requests to Amazon creating your connection.
Connection description
Enter a name for the connection.

Billing

Select a billing account and then click Place Order.

The connection should provision within a few minutes.

Accept the connection

  1. Sign in to AWS.

  2. From the AWS Management Console, click the Services menu and select Networking & Content Delivery > Direct Connect.

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  3. Click Connections.

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  4. Locate and select the connection you created in the PacketFabric portal.

    NOTE: Connections typically appear in the AWS console within a minute after provisioning from PacketFabric.

    If you do not see your connection listed, wait a few moments and then refresh the page.

  5. Click Accept in the upper right.

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  6. Click Confirm.

Create a gateway

You can skip this step if you are using the public IP/public VIF option.

Our connections are compatible with all AWS gateway types: Direct Connect, virtual private, and transit.

For information on each, including instructions on how to create them, see the AWS documentation on gateways.

IMPORTANT: When creating a gateway, AWS defaults to their public ASN 7224. You should instead set this to a private ASN from 62512 - 65534.

Create a virtual interface

After accepting the connection, click Create virtual interface.

There are three types of virtual interfaces (VIFs):

Public VIF

Private VIF

Transit VIF

Next steps

Configure the BGP session for this connection.

Create an AWS Connection on a Cloud Router - POST

Updated on 17 May 2022