How do I connect to my organization’s AWS Account?

Connecting your infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS) via Equinix Fabric and AWS Direct Connect is a streamlined process managed primarily through the Equinix Fabric Portal and finalized inside your AWS Console.

Here is the exact information you need to gather, along with the step-by-step walkthrough to establish the connection.

1. Prerequisites & Information Required from Your Side

Before you begin the configuration, ensure you have gathered the following parameters and verified account permissions:

• AWS Account ID: Your 12-digit AWS account number (with dashes removed when inputting into Equinix).
• Equinix Fabric Account Roles: Ensure your portal user profile is assigned the Fabric Connections Manager IAM role.
• Origin Asset: Know what you are connecting from on the Equinix side. This will be either an Equinix Fabric Port, an A-side Service Token, a Network Edge Virtual Device, or a Fabric Cloud Router (FCR).
• Networking Details: * The Equinix Metro and corresponding AWS Destination Region you want to reach.
  • Your required Bandwidth/Speed (e.g., 50 Mbps up to 10 Gbps).
  • VLAN IDs: A primary (and secondary if building a redundant pair) VLAN ID for Dot1q ports, or C-tag/S-tag for QinQ ports.

2. Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The setup involves two phases: creating the virtual connection in the Equinix portal, and accepting it within AWS.

Phase 1: Create the Connection in the Equinix Fabric Portal

1. Log In: Sign in to the Equinix Customer Portal and navigate to the Fabric Dashboard.
2. Select Your Project: Use the Context Switcher at the top to select the specific project under which you want to build this connection.
3. Find AWS: From the top Connections menu, select Create Connection. Click Connect to a Service Provider and search or locate the Amazon Web Services card.
4. Select Service Profile: Choose the appropriate AWS Direct Connect service profile depending on your throughput and high-availability requirements (e.g., standard or high-capacity), then click Create Connection.
5. Configure AWS Specifics:
   • Connection Type: Select Redundant (Recommended for production, establishing a primary and secondary pair) or a single Primary/Secondary connection.
   • Account ID: Enter your 12-digit AWS Account Identifier.
   • Metro Selection: Select your origin Equinix Metro and your AWS destination metro.
6. Configure Equinix Origin Specifics:
   • Select your Origin Asset Type (e.g., Port, Cloud Router, or Virtual Device).
   • Select your specific physical port(s) or virtual assets.
   • Name your connection and input your designated VLAN ID(s).
   • Select your desired Bandwidth and Term Length.
7. Review & Submit: Review the pricing and connection details, add your notification email addresses, enter a Purchase Order (PO) number if required, and click Create Connection.

Phase 2: Accept the Connection in AWS

Once submitted in Fabric, the connection sits in a "Pending Acceptance" state on the AWS side. You must explicitly authorize it to begin passing traffic. You can do this easily via the AWS Management Console:

1. Log in to your AWS Management Console and open the AWS Direct Connect console.
2. In the left navigation bar, click on Connections.
3. You will see your new Equinix connection listed with a status of ordering. Click on the Connection ID to view its details.
4. Select the Charge Confirmation checkbox and click Accept.
5. The connection state will transition to available.

3. Additional Step: BGP

If you need to configure BGP on your routing device, follow these steps:

• Enable Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).
• Enter your own peer IPv4/IPv6 addresses (or opt for Equinix-provided /30 subnets).
• Input a matching BGP Authentication shared secret key in both the Equinix and AWS portals to secure the peering.