Direct Connect – DX
AWS Direct Connect is an alternative to the internet to access AWS cloud services.
DX links your internal network with an AWS Direct Connect location via a standard Ethernet fiberoptic cable. One end connects to your router and the other to an AWS Direct Connect router.
You can establish connections with dedicated connections of 1Gbps to 10Gbps and 100Gbps capacities.
Hosted connection – Speeds up to 50, 100, 200 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 400 Mbps, and 500 Mbps are available from any APN partner that supports AWS DX. Select partners also support 1, 2, 5, and 10 Gbps.
Virtual interfaces can be created to connect directly to public AWS services (e.g. S3) or VPC, bypassing the internet service providers in your network path.
Access public services in any other public region can be made possible by DX locations located in public Regions or AWSgovCloud (US).
Each AWS DX location allows connectivity to all AZs in the region that is geographically closest.
Direct Connect Advantages
Reduced Bandwidth ChargesAll data transferred via the dedicated connection will be charged at the lower data transfer rate than the Internet data transfer rates.
Transferring data from and to AWS directly reduces bandwidth commitment to the Internet service providers
Consistent Network Performanceprovides a dedicated connection, and a more consistent network experience than the Internet, which can vary widely.
AWS Services Compatibilityis a service that works with all AWS services, including S3, EC2, VPC, and VPC.
Private Connectivity to AWS VPC Using DX Private Virtual Interface, a private, dedicated, high-speed network connection can be established between VPC and the network.
Elasticcan can be scaled easily to meet your needs by using a higher bandwidth connection, or by establishing multiple connections.
You can purchase rack space, or use one of the AWS APN Partner that already have the infrastructure in the Colocation Facility to create a Customer Gateway.
AWS maintains connection from the AWS Direct connect PoP to the AWS areas.
Any Service Provider Network can establish a connection from the Customer Gateway to Customer Data Center.
Cross Connect is the name for the connection between the PoP (the Customer gateway) within the Colocation Facility.
Once a DX connection has been established with AWS, an LOA–CFA (Letter Of Authority-Connecting Facility Assignment) would then be received.
LOA-CFA can also be handed over to the APN Partner or the Colocation Facility to establish Cross Connect
Once Cross Connect and connectivity between CGW and Customer DataCenter have been established, virtual interfaces can be created
AWS Direct Connect requires a VGW in order to access the AWS VPC.
Virtual Interfaces – VIFEach connection requires an Virtual Interface
Each connection can be configured using one or more virtual interfaces.
Supports, Public, Private, and Transit Virtual Interface
Each VIF requires a VLAN ID and interface IP address. ASN and BGP keys are required.
A hosted virtual interface (Hosted VIF) can be created to allow you to connect with another AWS account. These hosted virtual interfaces can connect to public resources and a VPC. Direct Connect Network Requirements
Single-mode fiber with a 1000BASEXLX (1310nm) transceiver to 1 gigabit Ethernet.
a 10GBASE-LR (1310 nm) transceiver for 10 gigabits, or
100GBASE-LR4 is required for 100 gigabit Ethernet.
Support 802.1Q VLAN Encapsulation must be provided
Auto-negotiation must be disabled for a port so that speed and mode (half duplex or full duplex), cannot be modified. These should be manually configured
Support for Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), and BGP MD5 authentication are required