Dedicated connections - Amazon Direct Connect
Create a connection using the Connection wizardCreate a Classic connectionDownload the LOA-CFA
Services or capabilities described in Amazon Web Services documentation might vary by Region. To see the differences applicable to the China Regions, see Getting Started with Amazon Web Services in China (PDF).

Dedicated connections

To create an Amazon Direct Connect dedicated connection, you need the following information:

Amazon Direct Connect location

Work with a partner in the Amazon Direct Connect Partner Program to help you establish network circuits between an Amazon Direct Connect location and your data center, office, or colocation environment. They can also help provide colocation space within the same facility as the location. For more information, see APN Partners Supporting Amazon Direct Connect.

Port speed

The possible values are 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and 100 Gbps.

You can't change the port speed after you create the connection request. To change the port speed, you must create and configure a new connection.

You can create a connection using either the Connection wizard or create a Classic connection. Using the Connection wizard you can set up connections using resiliency recommendations. The wizard is recommended if you're setting up connections for the first time. If you prefer, you can use Classic to create connections one-at-a-time. Classic is recommended if you've already got an existing setup that you want to add connections to. You can create a standalone connection, or you can create a connection to associate with a LAG in your account. If you associate a connection with a LAG, it's created with the same port speed and location that is specified in the LAG.

After you request the connection, we make a Letter of Authorization and Connecting Facility Assignment (LOA-CFA) available to you to download, or emails you with a request for more information. If you receive a request for more information, you must respond within 7 days or the connection is deleted. The LOA-CFA is the authorization to connect to Amazon, and is required by your network provider to order a cross connect for you. If you do not have equipment in the Amazon Direct Connect location, you cannot order a cross connect for yourself there.

The following operations are available for dedicated connections:

You can add a dedicated connection to a link aggregation group (LAG) allowing you to treat multiple connections as a single one. For information, see Associate a connection with a LAG.

After you create a connection, create a virtual interface to connect to public and private Amazon resources. For more information, see Amazon Direct Connect virtual interfaces.

If you do not have equipment at an Amazon Direct Connect location, first contact an Amazon Direct Connect Partner at the Amazon Direct Connect Partner Program. For more information, see APN Partners Supporting Amazon Direct Connect.

If you want to create a connection that uses MAC Security (MACsec), review the prerequisites before you create the connection. For more information, see MACsec prerequisites .

Create a connection using the Connection wizard

This section describes creating a connection using the Connection wizard. If you prefer to create a Classic connection, see the steps at Step 2: Request an Amazon Direct Connect dedicated connection.

To create a Connection wizard connection

  1. Open the Amazon Direct Connect console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/v2/home.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Connections, and then choose Create connection.

  3. On the Create Connection page, under Connection ordering type, choose Connection wizard.

  4. Choose a Resiliency Level for your network connections. A resiliency level can be one of the following:

    • Maximum Resiliency

    • High Resiliency

    • Development and Test

    For descriptions and more detailed information about these resiliency levels, see Using the Amazon Direct Connect Resiliency Toolkit to get started.

  5. Choose Next.

  6. On the Configure connections page, provide the following details.

    1. From the Bandwidth drop-down list, choose the bandwidth required for the connection. This can be anywhere from 1Gbps to 100Gbps.

    2. For Location, choose the appropriate Amazon Direct Connect location, and then choose the First location service provider, select the service provider providing connectivity for the connection at this location.

    3. For Second location, choose the appropriate Amazon Direct Connect at the second location, and then choose the Second location service provider, select the service provider providing connectivity for the connection at this second location.

    4. (Optional) Configure MAC security (MACsec) for the connection. Under Additional Settings, select Request a MACsec capable port.

      MACsec is only available on dedicated connections.

    5. (Optional) Choose Add tag to add key/value pairs to further help identify this connection.

      • For Key, enter the key name.

      • For Value, enter the key value.

      To remove an existing tag, choose the tag and then choose Remove tag. You can't have empty tags.

  7. Choose Next.

  8. On the Review and create page, verify the connection. This page also displays estimated costs for port usage and additional data transfer charges.

  9. Choose Create.

  10. Download your Letter of Authorization and Connecting Facility Assignment (LOA-CFA), For more information, see Download the LOA-CFA.

Use one of the following commands.

Create a Classic connection

For dedicated connections, you can submit a connection request using the Amazon Direct Connect console. For hosted connections, work with an Amazon Direct Connect Partner to request a hosted connection. Ensure that you have the following information:

  • The port speed that you require. For dedicated connections, you can't change the port speed after you create the connection request. For hosted connections, your Amazon Direct Connect Partner can change the speed.

  • The Amazon Direct Connect location at which the connection is to be terminated.

Note

You cannot use the Amazon Direct Connect console to request a hosted connection. Instead, contact an Amazon Direct Connect Partner, who can create a hosted connection for you, which you then accept. Skip the following procedure and go to Accept your hosted connection.

To create a new Amazon Direct Connect connection

  1. Open the Amazon Direct Connect console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/v2/home.

  2. On the Amazon Direct Connect screen, under Get started, choose Create a connection.

  3. Choose Classic.

  4. For Name, enter a name for the connection.

  5. For Location, select the appropriate Amazon Direct Connect location.

  6. If applicable, for Sub Location, choose the floor closest to you or your network provider. This option is only available if the location has meet-me rooms (MMRs) in multiple floors of the building.

  7. For Port Speed, choose the connection bandwidth.

  8. For On-premises, select Connect through an Amazon Direct Connect partner when you use this connection to connect to your data center.

  9. For Service provider, select the Amazon Direct Connect Partner. If you use a partner that is not in the list, select Other.

  10. If you selected Other for Service provider, for Name of other provider, enter the name of the partner that you use.

  11. (Optional) Choose Add tag to add key/value pairs to further help identify this connection.

    • For Key, enter the key name.

    • For Value, enter the key value.

    To remove an existing tag, choose the tag and then choose Remove tag. You can't have empty tags.

  12. Choose Create Connection.

It can take up to 72 hours for Amazon to review your request and provision a port for your connection. During this time, you might receive an email with a request for more information about your use case or the specified location. The email is sent to the email address that you used when you signed up for Amazon. You must respond within 7 days or the connection is deleted.

For more information, see Amazon Direct Connect connections.

Download the LOA-CFA

After we have processed your connection request, you can download the LOA-CFA. If the link is not enabled, the LOA-CFA is not yet available for you to download. Check your email for a request for information.

Billing automatically starts when the port is active or 90 days after the LOA has been issued, whichever comes first. You can avoid billing charges by deleting the port prior to activation or within 90 days of the LOA being issued.

If your connection is not up after 90 days, and the LOA-CFA has not been issued, we will send you an email alerting you that the port will be deleted in 10 days. If you fail to activate the port within the additional 10 day period, the port will automatically be deleted and you'll need to restart the port creation process.

Note

For more information about pricing, see Amazon Direct Connect Pricing. If you no longer want the connection after you have reissued the LOA-CFA, you must delete the connection yourself. For more information, see Delete connections.

Console
To download the LOA-CFA

  1. Open the Amazon Direct Connect console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/v2/home.

  2. In the navigation pane, choose Connections.

  3. Select the connection, and then choose View details.

  4. Choose Download LOA-CFA.

    Note

    If the link is not enabled, the LOA-CFA is not yet available for you to download. A Support case will be created requesting additional information. Once you've responded to the request, and the request processed, the LOA-CFA will be available for download. If it's still unavailable, contact Amazon Support.

  5. Send the LOA-CFA to your network provider or colocation provider so that they can order a cross connect for you. The contact process can vary for each colocation provider. For more information, see Requesting cross connects at Amazon Direct Connect locations.

Command line
To download the LOA-CFA using the command line or API