> ## 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.

# Requesting a Connection to a Service Provider

> This help topic describes how to request a connection to a service provider in the Megaport Marketplace.

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This topic describes how to request a connection to a service provider in the Megaport Marketplace.

Customers can start a service request from a Port, MCR, MVE, or NAT Gateway to service providers with a [Megaport Marketplace profile](/marketplace/profile). When a customer starts the connection request, the service provider is notified of the request by email and the service provider can accept or deny the request.

**To create a connection request to a service provider**

1. In the <Link href="https://portal.megaport.com">Megaport Portal</Link>, go to the **Services** page.

2. Select the Port, MCR, MVE, or NAT Gateway for the connection then click **+Connection**.

3. Click **Megaport Marketplace** as the destination type.
   <Image src="/images/marketplace/marketplace-new-connection.png" alt="Megaport Marketplace" shadow={true} width={600} />

4. Search for and then select the provider.\
   The destination services for the service provider appear.

5. Select a destination service.\
   Typically, you would select the service closest to your Port, MCR, MVE, or NAT Gateway.
   <Image src="/images/marketplace/sp-destination-port.png" alt="Destination port" shadow={true} width={600} />

6. Click **Next**.

7. Specify the connection details:

   * **Connection Name** -- The name of your VXC to be shown in the <Link href="https://portal.megaport.com">Megaport Portal</Link>.

   * **Service Level Reference** (optional) -- Specify a unique identifying number for your Megaport service to be used for billing purposes, such as a cost center number, unique customer ID, or purchase order number. The service level reference number appears for each service under the Product section of the invoice. You can also edit this field for an existing service.

     <Tip>
       Enter the purchase order number specified when registering the billing market.
     </Tip>

   * **Rate Limit** -- The speed of your connection in Mbps up to the maximum limit defined by the key.

   * **VXC State** -- Select **Enabled** or **Shut Down** to define the initial state of the connection. For more information, see [Shutting Down a VXC for Failover Testing](/connections/shut-down-vxc).

     <Note>
       If you select **Shut Down**, traffic will not flow through this service and it will behave as if it was down on the Megaport network. Billing for this service will remain active and you will still be charged for this connection.
     </Note>

   * **Preferred A-End VLAN** (optional) -- Specify an unused VLAN ID for this connection. This must be a unique VLAN ID on this port and can range from 2 to 4093.

   * **Minimum Term** -- Select No Minimum Term, 12 Months, 24 Months, 36 Months, 48 Months, or 60 Months. Longer terms result in a lower monthly rate. *12 Months* is selected by default. Take note of the information on the screen to avoid early termination fees (ETF).

     Enable the [Minimum Term Renewal](/portal-admin/auto-renew/#auto-renew) option for services with a 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60-month term to automatically renew the contract at the same discounted price and term length at the end of the contract. If you don't renew the contract, at the end of the term,  the contract will automatically roll over to month-to-month contract for the following billing period, at the same price, without term discounts.

     For more information, see [VXC Pricing and Contract Terms](/finance/vxc-pricing) and [VXC, Megaport Internet, and IX Billing](/finance/billing-details).

   * **Resource Tags** -- You can use resource tags to add your own reference metadata to a Megaport service.\
     To add a tag:
     1. Click **Add Tags**.
     2. Click  **Add New Tag**.
     3. Enter details into the fields:
        * **Key** -- string maximum length 128. Valid values are a-z 0-9 \_ : . / \ -
        * **Value** -- string maximum length 256. Valid values are a-z A-Z 0-9 \_ : . @ / + \ - (space)
     4. Click **Save**.
        If you already have resource tags for that service, you can manage them by clicking **Manage Tags**.
     <Warning>
       Never include sensitive information in a resource tag. Sensitive information includes commands that return existing tag definitions and information that will identify a person or company.
     </Warning>

   <Image src="/images/marketplace/marketplace-connection-details.png" alt="Connection details" shadow={true} width={550} />

8. Click **Next**.

9. If you are connecting from an MCR or NAT Gateway, review and edit the A-End Connection Details.\
   Use this page to enable <Gloss term="Q-in-Q" anchor="qinq" />, IP address and subnet mask, <Gloss term="Network Address Translation" anchor="nat" />, and <Gloss term="BGP" anchor="bgp" /> connections. For more information, see [Creating an MCR VXC](/mcr/mcr-vxc) and [Configuring an MCR](/mcr/configuring-mcr), or for NAT Gateway see [Creating a NAT Gateway VXC](/nat/nat-gateway-vxc).

   <Image src="/images/marketplace/marketplace-connection-aend.png" alt="Connection details for an MCR" shadow={true} width={750} />

10. Click **Next**.

11. If the service provider has configured a form to collect additional information, complete the **Service Request Form** step. Forms streamline onboarding by gathering all necessary details upfront.\
    For more information, see [Completing a form (customers)](/marketplace/forms#marketplace-form).

12. Click **Next**.

13. Click **Add VXC**.

14. Click **Review Order**.

15. Review the Order Services agreement and click **Order Now**.

After the customer makes the connection request, Megaport sends email notifications to both the service provider and the customer. For more information about the notification and approval process, see [Megaport Marketplace Notifications](/marketplace/notifications).

## Helpful references

* [Creating a Megaport Marketplace Profile](/marketplace/profile)
* [Megaport Marketplace FAQs](/marketplace/marketplace-faqs)
* [Megaport Marketplace Forms](/marketplace/forms)
* [Megaport Marketplace Notifications](/marketplace/notifications)
* [Megaport Marketplace Overview](/marketplace/overview)