Direct Connect

The servers.com direct connect service allows you to set up a dedicated network connection from your premises or another service provider to servers.com. This allows you to reach resources in the Global Private Network, directly bypassing other providers. 

Concepts

Direct connect is built upon a physical connection between a third-party infrastructure and servers.com network equipment. A cable that physically connects network equipment on both sides is called a cross-connect.

The service is designed in accordance with the 802.1Q VLAN standard and operates over the data link (L2) level. Direct connect needs to be a member of an L2 segment to interact with other servers.com resources.

A destination point is a device that connects your servers.com equipment to your/third-party equipment. For example, it can be a switch from another hosting provider.

A single connection consists only of one port. A redundant connection implies two ports bound by LACP into a Link Aggregation Group (LAG). It unites bandwidth capability and ensures fault-tolerance if one port fails.

Speed is a bandwidth characteristic of a direct connect port. When a redundant connection is selected, the entire bandwidth at your disposal will double.

Use case

Your main production environment is located at servers.com, but you also have servers that you use for redundancy at another hosting provider. Both installations are hosted in the same data center, but they can interact with each other only via the internet. To link your infrastructure and establish faster communication within a private network, you can use servers.com direct connect.

Getting started

To start using the direct connect service, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Networks → Direct Connect section of the menu of the customer portal

2. Click Add connection on the direct connect page

3. Select a necessary location. You will see logos of major hosting providers with whom you can establish a connection. This is not an exhaustive list

4. Give the details of a Destination point, such as the location, provider and a device to connect

5. Select the Type of the connection: L2 or L3. Currently, L2 is available by default. Contact your account manager to get more details on L3 direct connect

6. Select the Connection type: single or redundant

7. Specify whether Cross-connect is required:

1. When a cross-connect is required, it will be set up and managed by servers.com

2. Otherwise, servers.com will send you the Letter of Authorization (LOA), so that you can establish physical connection yourself

8. Give a Name to a direct connect service

If any additional information is needed, you will be contacted by the servers.com team. When the connection is finally set up and ready to use, you will receive an email notification.

Once the direct connect setup is over, add the connection to an L2 segment. Thus, your direct connect will become accessible within the Global Private Network.

Limitations

A single direct connection can have a native link with one of your L2 segments. Tagged trunks can have multiple L2 segments simultaneously.

Billing

The direct connect price consists of the following items:

• Connection setup fee;

• Connection monthly payment;

• Cross-connect setup fee (per one port);

• Cross-connect monthly payment (per one port).

When selecting a redundant direct connect, connection setup and monthly payments will increase. Since direct connect works as a member of an L2 segment, keep in mind billing of that service as well.

Cancellation terms

The service is billed for a full month. In the case of a premature cancellation, the full monthly price will still be charged. 

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