> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.megaport.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Shutting Down a VXC and IX with the API

> This help topic describes how to use the Megaport API to shut down a VXC and IX for failover testing.

export const Image = ({src, alt = '', caption, width, height, shadow}) => {
  const errorPrefix = '\x1b[31;1;4mERROR\x1b[0m: Image -';
  if (typeof src !== 'string') {
    src = String(src);
  }
  if (!src || src === 'undefined') {
    console.error(`${errorPrefix} \`src\` is required — rendering an empty string instead`);
    return <></>;
  }
  const img = <img className={['mega-image-style', shadow ? 'shadow' : ''].join(' ')} src={src} alt={alt} width={width} height={height} style={{
    display: 'block'
  }} />;
  return caption ? <figure>
      {img}
      <figcaption style={{
    textAlign: 'center',
    width
  }}>{caption}</figcaption>
    </figure> : img;
};

This topic describes how to shut down and re-enable a VXC and IX service that has been deployed on the Megaport network. You can also shut down a VXC and IX service when creating the service, if required.

After you have created and deployed a VXC or IX on the Megaport network, you can temporarily shut down the service for failover testing, redundancy, or network design testing purposes. For more information, see [Shutting Down a VXC for Failover Testing](/connections/shut-down-vxc).

You can shut down a VXC/IX by setting the optional `shutdown` parameter to true in the Body of the request. If not provided, it defaults to false (enabled):

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-high-contrast","dark":"github-dark-high-contrast"}}
{
  "shutdown": true
}
```

To re-enable the VXC/IX, set the `shutdown` parameter to false:

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light-high-contrast","dark":"github-dark-high-contrast"}}
{
  "shutdown": false
}
```

Before you begin, obtain a valid access token. For more information, see [Creating an API Key](/api/api-key).

**To shut down a VXC in the Postman collection**

1. In Postman, expand **Connections > Virtual Cross Connects** in the left navigation and click **PUT Update VXC (v3)**.

2. Identify the VXC to update by adding the `productUid` to the endpoint.
   <Image src="/images/api/api-vxc-change-put-url.png" alt="Update VXC request" shadow={true} width={800} />

3. Select the **Body** tab and update the `shutdown` parameter to true.
   <Image src="/images/api/api-vxc-shutdown-param.png" alt="Shutdown VXC request" shadow={true} width={800} />

4. Click **Send**.\
   The changes will be reflected in the Portal within two minutes. The Services page shows the gear icon next to the VXC in blue when the service has been shut down, and the text (Shut Down) is displayed next to the service ID.
   <Image src="/images/api/vxc-connection-shut-down.png" alt="VXC Connection Shut Down in the Services Page" shadow={true} width={800} />

5. To re-enable the VXC, change the `shutdown` parameter to false and run the **PUT Update VXC (v3)** API again.

**To shut down an IX in the Postman collection**

1. In Postman, expand **Internet Exchange (IX)** in the left navigation and click **PUT Update IX**.

2. Identify the IX to update by adding the `productUid` to the endpoint.
   <Image src="/images/api/api-ix-change-put-url.png" alt="Update IX request" shadow={true} width={800} />

3. Select the **Body** tab and update the `shutdown` parameter to true.
   <Image src="/images/api/api-ix-shutdown-param.png" alt="Shutdown IX request" shadow={true} width={800} />

4. Click **Send**.\
   The changes will be reflected in the Portal within two minutes. The Services page shows the gear icon next to the IX in blue when the service has been shut down, and the text (Shut Down) is displayed next to the service ID.
   <Image src="/images/ix/ix-connection-shut-down.png" alt="IX Connection Shut Down in the Services Page" shadow={true} width={800} />

5. To re-enable the IX, change the `shutdown` parameter to false and run the **PUT Update IX** API again.
