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Megaport Documentation
Creating a VXC

Creating a VXC

With a Megaport Cloud Router (MCR) configured, you can 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.

A VXC is a point-to-point Layer 2 circuit between two endpoints that is mapped with a VLAN ID on each end. You can order VXCs to reach any destination in the Megaport network just like the VXCs used with the physical Ports. You can connect up to 25 VXCs per MCR.

Note

The VXC target destination type determines the peering type. The peering type determines which routes are advertised. For more information, see MCR Route Advertisement.

To connect a VXC

  1. Log in to the Megaport Portal, select Services and select the MCR.
    If you haven’t already created an MCR, see Creating an MCR.

  2. If this is the first connection for the MCR, click the tile that matches the VXC type. The tile is a shortcut to the configuration page. Alternatively, click +Connection and select a destination type: VXC tiles

  3. Click Next.

  4. Specify the connection details:

    • Connection Name – The name of your VXC to be shown in the Megaport Portal.

    • Service Level Reference (optional) – Specify a unique identifying number for the VXC to use for billing purposes, such as a cost center number or a unique customer ID. 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.

      Note

      Partner-managed accounts can apply a Partner Deal to a service. For more information, see Associating a Deal With a Service.

    • Rate Limit – The speed of your connection in Mbps. Specify a rate limit that doesn’t exceed the total rate limit for the MCR. Allow enough bandwidth for any connections that you might add later.

    • 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.

      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.

    • Minimum Term – Select No Minimum Term, 12 Months, 24 Months, or 36 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). See VXC Pricing and Contract Terms and VXC, Megaport Internet, and IX Billing for more information.

    Add VXC details

  5. Click Next.
    The MCR Connection detail page appears. For each VXC connected to an MCR you can configure one or more interfaces, IP addresses, BGP connections, or static routes. Most VXCs will use one interface. However, you can configure multiple interfaces enabling a Q-in-Q connection and specifying an inner VLAN tag for each interface. Each VLAN ID must be unique. You can add up to five VLAN IDs.

    MCR A-End configuration

  6. Enable or disable the QinQ VLAN option:

    • Disabled allows a single VLAN tag (802.1q). This is the default setting. In most cases, you use a single VLAN that is exposed on the destination physical port as a trunked port instance, allowing the port to contain multiple VXCs to destinations other than the MCR you are configuring. Some use cases might require multiple inner VLANs exposed to this port through Q-in-Q.
    • Enabled allows the VLAN to carry multiple or dual-stacked VLANs (802.1ad).

    After enabling QinQ, accept the default VLAN ID or specify the VLAN ID for the connection.

    The tag protocol identifier (TPID) will be set to 0x8100.

    For more information, see Understanding Q-in-Q with Megaport VXCs.

  7. If you have enabled QnQ, click Add VLAN to enter the preferred VLAN ID for the B-End of the connection. Megaport automatically assigns an available VLAN to the B-End. If you enter a VLAN ID, Megaport verifies that the VLAN ID is available.

  8. Enter one or more IP addresses and subnet mask to configure on the A-End interface.

  9. (Optional) Select a NAT source IPv4 address from the Network Address Translation drop-down list. All packets leaving this interface will have their source NAT rewritten to this address.

    Network Address Translation (NAT) allows flexibility in designing a scalable and secure multi-vendor, multi-cloud, or hybrid cloud scenario. Source NAT translates the source IP address of a packet leaving the MCR. When you assign a NAT IP address in MCR, all packets leaving the interface use that IP address as their source IP address. Enable this feature when NAT is required for a connection, for example, when you need to translate several private IP addresses into a single public IP address to meet cloud service provider requirements.

    For more information on how MCR performs NAT to support public peering types to cloud service providers, see How the MCR performs NAT.

  10. Enter any details specific to the VXC type.

  11. Click Next.

  12. Configure the B-End.

  13. Click Next.
    The Summary page appears.

    MCR VXC summary

  14. Review the Summary details.
    Click each down arrow to view A-End and B-End configuration details.

  15. Click Add VXC.

  16. Click Order.

  17. Click Order Now.

Last update: 2024-04-15