Create a Backbone Virtual Circuit

This page walks you through creating a backbone virtual circuit. For information on our other virtual circuit options, see:

Prerequisites

You need at least two provisioned ports to create a backbone connection. For more information, see Create a Port.

Create a backbone connection

  1. Log in to the PacketFabric portal. Select Virtual Circuits in the menu on the left.

  2. Click Create Virtual Circuit in the upper right.

    NOTE: If you do not see this action, your user account might not have the appropriate permissions.

  3. Select Backbone.

Complete the following fields:

Select Source

Select your A-side port.

Select Destination

Select your Z-side port.

NOTE: The A and Z ports do not have to be the same capacity or media. Each port can support multiple EVPL virtual circuits. As long as there is room on the port for your virtual circuit, you can select it.
Configuration
Speed
Select a speed for the connection
This option is not available for usage-based circuits.
Source VLAN
Specify a VLAN ID for your source port or disable VLAN tagging. At least one end must have a VLAN tag.

If the virtual circuit includes an ENNI, then you can also add an S-VLAN tag. For more information, see ENNI Ports.

You can manually enter the ID or click Next Available. If you click Next Available, we find the highest in-use VLAN ID and increment by one. For example, if the highest in-use ID is 15, this field autopopulates with 16. By default, these fields are already populated with the next available VLAN ID. You can always change VLAN IDs by editing the virtual circuit.

NOTE: Ports that are on EFR devices cannot have a mix of tagged and untagged VLANs. If you are planning to provision multiple virtual circuits on an EFR port, you must keep VLAN tagging enabled for both ends. You can check whether a port is on an EFR device from its details page. For more information, see VLAN Tagging.
Destination VLAN
Specify a VLAN ID for your destination port or disable VLAN tagging. At least one end must have a VLAN tag.
Description
Provide a meaningful name for the virtual circuit.
EVPL
This is the default option and creates an Ethernet Virtual Private Line. Each port can have multiple EVPL circuits.
EPL
Make your virtual circuit an Ethernet Private Line (EPL). EPL connections have extended functionality, but are single-point connections. This means you cannot land an EPL on a port that has any other connections (virtual circuits, cloud connections, etc.).

For more information about the differences between EPL and EVPL, see Virtual Circuit Ethernet Features and Ethernet Service Specifications.

NOTE: If this option is not available, it means at least one of the ports used in the circuit already has a connection of some type, meaning the port cannot host an EPL.

Billing

Under the billing section on the right, select a plan for your virtual circuit.

  • Row
    • Field
    • Description
  • Row

    • Longhaul Dedicated

    • You are billed a set amount each month, regardless of how much data you transfer.

      If you select this option, you are also asked to specify the speed and contract length.

      IMPORTANT: At this time, we only automatically limit the speeds you can select to your port capacity.

      However, you are responsible for not overburdening your ports (e.g. creating three 10 Gbps virtual circuits between two 10 Gbps ports). Keep that in mind as you select a speed.

      If you select a low speed and later decide you want more capacity, you can upgrade your virtual circuit or you can add an hourly burst.

      If you allocate too much capacity, you can later set rate limits for the circuit. However, at this time we do not allow downgrading speed. If you want to be able to downgrade speed, consider the flex bandwidth option.

      You can view the speeds for each virtual circuit associated with a port from the port details page.

  • Row

    • Longhaul Usage-based

    • You are billed based on how much data you transfer.

      For this option you do not select a speed, but you can later set rate limits by editing the virtual circuit.

  • Row

    • Longhaul Hourly

    • You are billed by the hour and can cancel any time.

      NOTE: Not currently supported on transregional virtual circuits in which one port is in Australia.
  • Row

    • Flex Bandwidth

    • Flex bandwidth allows you to purchase capacity in bulk. You will need to first create a flex bandwidth container. For more information, see Flex Bandwidth.

      If you select this option, your virtual circuit will have no additional cost and you will not select a contract term. You can upgrade speed, downgrade speed, or cancel at any time.

      NOTE: If you do not see this option, it might be because of the following reasons:

      • Your A and Z side locations are in the same metro.
      • Either your A or Z side is location outside of the U.S.

Select the appropriate billing account to use. You can also optionally specify a PO number to associate with the service. The PO number will be included on your monthly invoice.

Click Place order.

Create a Backbone Virtual Circuit - POST

Updated on 27 Sep 2023