AWS Direct Connect locations are located throughout the world and are not located in AWS facilities like availability zones are. Third-party data centers are used to house the AWS DX routers. Customers contract with service providers or supply their own network equipment located in the same data centers as the AWS DX equipment. Fiber patch cables, as discussed earlier, provide the interconnection.
For an up-to-date list of Direct Connect collocation facilities, go to the AWS online documentation at https://aws.amazon.com/directconnect/locations.
When requesting an AWS Direct Connect, you will fill out a Letter of Authorization – Connecting Facility Assignment (LOA-CFA) form that AWS will provide when you register for the service. This document is used to provide the details for establishing the connection at the DX facility and is used by the collocation partner to establish the cross-connect.
To begin the process, open the AWS console and enter Direct Connect in the search box. Then go to the Direct Connection menu. Next select Create A Connection on the Get Started screen. Enter a name for the connection and the location and choose Create A Connection.
After you download the LOA-CFA, the next step is to work with your provider to establish the connection to the AWS router installed in the DX facility. Once the physical connection has been made, use the AWS console to complete the logical configurations.
If you do not want to install your own network equipment at the facility, you can work with a member of the AWS Partner Network that will terminate the circuit from your location to their equipment installed at the DX facility.
To find an AWS Direct Connect partner, go to https://aws.amazon.com/directconnect/partners/?partner-solutions-cards.sort-by=item.additionalFields.partnerNameLower&partner-solutions-cards.sort-order=asc&awsf.partner-solutions-filter-location=*all and search the location you are using to find which partners offer connections at that site. It is recommended that you choose the AWS Direct Connect location and AWS region that is closest to your on-premises location to reduce data circuit costs and reduce latency. Link speed and MACSec support vary per location and provider, so make sure the site meets your requirements.
For additional details, refer to Chapter 6 and read the official AWS documentation at https://docs.aws.amazon.com/directconnect/latest/UserGuide/Colocation.html.
In this section, we will review basic networking to provide you with the background needed when implementing hybrid networks with AWS. It is strongly suggested that if you are not clear on VLAN, routing, IP addressing, and other layer 2 and 3 concepts that you study basic networking before attempting the AWS Advanced Networking certification exam. This is not an entry-level certification, and it is expected that you have a solid background in networking before attempting to obtain this certification. We covered layers 1 and 2 in Chapter 6, will expand on layer 2 and layer 3 here, and then cover VPCs in Chapter 8, “Inter-VPC and Multi-Account Networking.”
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