> ## 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.
# Creating an MCR
> This help topic describes how to create and configure a Megaport Cloud Router (MCR).
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This topic describes how to create a Megaport Cloud Router (MCR). The Megaport Portal steps you through selecting a location, specifying MCR configuration details, and placing the order.
Before you begin, you need to set up your portal account. You will only be able to create MCR instances in billing markets you are registered in. For more information, see [Setting Up a Megaport Account](/setting-up).
**To create an MCR**
1. Log in to the Megaport Portal and choose **Services**.
2. Click **Add Services**, then select **MCR**.
3. An MCR is physically homed to a Megaport core location. Select the preferred data center location for the MCR. The country you choose must be a market in which you have already registered.\
You can use the **Search** field to find the Port name, Country, Metro City, or address of your destination Port.
4. Select a diversity zone.\
You can select either Red or Blue, or select Auto and have Megaport select the zone for you. The selected or allocated diversity zone will be displayed on the location details through the rest of the provisioning, and on the summary page at the end.\
For more information, see [MCR Diversity](/mcr/mcr-mve-diversity).
5. Click **Next**.
6. Specify the details for the MCR.
* **Rate Limit** -- Select a rate limit from the drop-down list. The MCR can scale from 1 Gbps to several Gbps. The rate limit is an aggregate capacity that determines the speed for all connections through the MCR. MCR bandwidth is shared between all the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) connections added to it. The rate limit is fixed for the life of the service.
* **MCR Name** -- Specify a name for the MCR that is easily identifiable as yours, particularly if you plan on provisioning more than one MCR. For example, `gcp-aws-mcr`. You can change the name later, if you like.
* **Megaport Marketplace** -- By default, each service is private to your enterprise and consumes services from the Megaport network for your own internal company, team, and resources. When set to private, the service is not searchable in the Megaport Marketplace, however, others can still connect to you using a [service key](/marketplace/service-keys). Megaport Marketplace visibility is controlled on your Megaport Marketplace profile. For more information about how to make your service visible to the Megaport Marketplace, see [Adding services to your profile](/marketplace/profile#adding-services-to-your-profile).
* **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.
A VXC associated with the MCR is not automatically updated with the MCR service level reference number.
* **IPsec** -- Click **+ Add IPsec** to enable IPsec on your MCR.\
Then select the required amount of IPsec tunnels from the drop-down list.\
For more information, see [Using IPsec with MCR](/mcr/ipsec-mcr).
* **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 about contract terms, see [MCR Pricing and Contract Terms](/finance/mcr-pricing).
* **MCR ASN** -- Specify the autonomous system number (ASN) of this MCR, or use the default public ASN, 133937, supplied by Megaport. For most configurations, the default ASN is appropriate. The ASN is used for BGP peering sessions on any VXCs connected to this MCR.
See the documentation for your cloud providers before overriding the default value. For example, some public cloud services require the use of a public ASN and Microsoft blocks an ASN value of 65515 for Azure connections.
For more information about ASN, see [MCR Private Cloud Peering](/mcr/mcr-private-cloud). For more information about overriding the MCR ASN, see [BGP Advanced Settings](/mcr/mcr-bgp-advanced).
* **BGP Default State** -- Select whether BGP connections are enabled or shut down by default. Select Enabled (the default) if you want any new BGP sessions you configure to be live as soon as you save the configuration. Select Shut Down if you want any new BGP sessions you configure to be left in a shut down state when you save the configuration.
For example, you might want to select Shut Down if you are planning to add several BGP sessions across your Virtual Cross Connects (VXCs) but know that you want to do some other router setup before you want them exchanging route information. When you are finished configuring your routers, you can then go into the relevant BGP sessions and enable them.
You can override this setting for an individual connection in the BGP setup screen. For more information about overriding the BGP state for an individual connection, see
[Shutting down a BGP connection](/mcr/configuring-mcr#bgpshut).
* **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**.
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.
* **Prefix Filter Lists tab** - Prefix filter lists can only be created after the MCR has been configured and deployed. For more information about prefix filters, see [MCR Route Filtering](/mcr/route-filtering).
* **Packet Filter Lists tab** - Packet filter lists can only be created after the MCR has been configured and deployed. For more information, see [Using Packet Filters](/mcr/packet-filters).
7. Click **Next** to view the Summary page.
The monthly rate is based on location and rate limit. Note that some partner-managed accounts do not display the pricing details.
8. Confirm the selected options and click **Add MCR**.
9. Click **Create MCR** to add more MCRs in other locations, if required.
10. Click **Review Order** to proceed through the checkout process, or click **Save** to save the configured services before placing the order.
11. Review the Important Information section and confirm agreement with the Service Agreements.
If you do not have a promotion code, skip to the **Order Now** step. If you do have a promotion code, enter it into the **Enter discount code** field then click **Apply**. Alternatively, if a code already appears in the **Discounts** field, verify it is correct and click **Apply**.
The promotional discount appears below the Standard Term discount. This discount is not reflected in the Monthly Rate shown here, it is applied at the time of billing. If an invalid or expired code causes an error with your order, contact your Megaport Account Manager for a replacement code.
If you entered an incorrect promotion code, you can remove it by clicking **Remove**.
12. Click **Order Now**.
The MCR provisioning takes approximately 59 seconds to complete.
MCR is postpaid. For example, if you place your order on January 15, your first invoice will be issued on February 1, and the charge will cover the period from January 15 to January 31.
Now that you've deployed an MCR, the next step is to add a Virtual Cross Connect (VXC) to a CSP, a local port, or a third-party network. You can optionally connect a physical Port to the MCR via a private VXC or connect to a service provider in the Megaport Marketplace. For more information, see [Creating an MCR VXC](/mcr/mcr-vxc).
## Using a service key
You can create a service key that allows you to share your service with another Megaport account holder.
For more information, see [Setting up Service Keys](/marketplace/service-keys/).
## Helpful references
* [Configuring an MCR ](/mcr/configuring-mcr)
* [Creating an MCR VXC](/mcr/mcr-vxc)
* [MCR Billing](/finance/mcr-billing)
* [MCR Pricing and Contract Terms](/finance/mcr-pricing)
* [MCR Route Filtering](/mcr/route-filtering)
* [Using IPsec with MCR](/mcr/ipsec-mcr)
* [Using Packet Filters](/mcr/packet-filters)
* [Viewing Traffic Routing through MCR Looking Glass](/mcr/mcr-looking-glass)