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Adding a connection between two Microsoft Azure Gov locations

Using NaaS Manager, you can add a Lumen® Ethernet On‑Demand connection between two Microsoft Azure Gov locations. To add the connection, you'll need ExpressRoute service keys from Microsoft. Be sure to have that information handy to type in (or copy/paste). Microsoft Azure Gov requires two EVCs to make the connection (which NaaS Manager will create when you build the connection). You'll only be billed for one; the other is for redundancy.


Azure Gov also requires Q‑in‑Q style tagging (known as double‑stacked tags or 802.1ad) at the NNI. This provides layer‑2 flexibility by allowing multiple VLAN tags to be inserted into a single frame. Inner VLAN tags (C‑Tags) that identify your traffic are inserted inside of the outer VLAN tags (S‑Tags) provided by the service provider. The S‑Tag becomes a single VLAN that carries multiple VLANs within it. A single VXC carries the bundled VLAN tags between the two network endpoints. 


For Ethernet On‑Demand connections to Microsoft Azure Gov, your equipment must support 802.1ad (Q‑in‑Q). We recommend configuring your router for Q‑in‑Q before creating your Ethernet On‑Demand connection in NaaS Manager. Q‑in‑Q can be difficult to set up. Use the example below to set up Q‑in‑Q. 

Here’s an example below with a Cisco router.

You’ll assign the outer tag in NaaS Manager and the inner tag in the Azure portal (peering VLAN).

‘Primary EVC VLAN – 100 - NaaS Manager
‘Secondary EVC VLAN – 200 - NaaS Manager
‘Private Peering – VLAN 300 - Azure portal
‘MSFT Peering – VLAN 400 - Azure portal


interface GigabitEthernet0/1.100300
  encapsulation dot1Q 100 second-dot1q 300 ‘Azure Private primary peer
  description "Cloud Connect"
  ip address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 255.255.255.252


interface GigabitEthernet0/1.200300
  encapsulation dot1Q 200 second-dot1q 300 ‘Azure Private secondary peer
  description "Cloud Connect"
  ip address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 255.255.255.252


interface GigabitEthernet0/1.100400
  encapsulation dot1Q 100 second-dot1q 400 ‘MSFT primary peer
  description "Cloud Connect"
  ip address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 255.255.255.252


interface GigabitEthernet0/1.200400
  encapsulation dot1Q 200 second-dot1q 400 ‘MSFT secondary peer
  description "Cloud Connect"
  ip address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx 255.255.255.252

Note: You can only use a service key that isn't assigned to an active connection. The ExpressRoute service key is a unique service key and is different from the service key for your cloud service from Azure.

To add a connection between two Microsoft Azure Gov locations:

  1. Click Services.

    Control Center shows the Services console. Use the console to access an inventory of your services, check the status of orders, and manage your services.
Services console
  1. In the Service Managers box, click Network-as-a-Service (NaaS).
     

The NaaS Manager Overview lists connection options. 

NaaS Manager Overview tab
  1. Click Create Connection for Ethernet On-Demand.
  1. From the Customer Account and Billing Account lists, select the customer number and billing account number you want to add Ethernet On-Demand to.
  1. In the Connection Name field, type a name for the connection you're creating. (Be sure to use something memorable. This name will appear on your invoice.) 
  1. In the From Location field, select Cloud Provider. 
  1. Fill in the information for the connection:

    1. In the Cloud Provider field, select Azure (Gov). 

    2. In the ExpressRoute Service Key field, type or copy and paste your ExpressRoute service key provided by Microsoft. (Note: You can only use a service key that isn't assigned to an active connection. The ExpressRoute service key is a unique service key and is different from the service key for your cloud service from Azure.)

      Once you fill in the ExpressRoute service key, NaaS Manager retrieves connection information from Microsoft. 
  1. In the To Location field, select Cloud Provider. 
  1. Fill in the information for the connection:

    1. In the Cloud Provider field, select Azure (Gov). 

    2. In the ExpressRoute Service Key field, type or copy and paste your ExpressRoute service key provided by Microsoft. (Note: You can only use a service key that isn't assigned to an active connection. The ExpressRoute service key is a unique service key and is different from the service key for your cloud service from Azure.)

      Once you fill in the ExpressRoute service key, NaaS Manager retrieves connection information from Microsoft. 
NaaS Ethernet On-Demand connection between two Azure Gov locations
  1. Click CONTINUE. 
  1. In the Class of Service field, select whether you want Basic, Enhanced, or Dedicated. (Higher classes of service offer higher availability SLAs and allow you to increase traffic prioritization for your EVC.) 

    • Basic (best effort): The service may be oversubscribed on the Lumen network. 

    • Enhanced (mid class): Enhanced EVCs (ethernet virtual circuits) can still be oversubscribed like Basic class of service EVCs; however, traffic is marked with an internal class of service marking which will prioritize your traffic over best-effort traffic during times of congestion. For EVCs with this class of service, bandwidth is not reserved on the Lumen network and traffic will not take priority over real-time traffic in the network.

    • Dedicated (real time): The quality of service offering with the highest priority on the Lumen network. In addition, Lumen reserves the bandwidth for this EVC across the network on each ring that the EVC touches. Once it is dedicated to you, that bandwidth (and the corresponding CE-VLANs) sits in reserve regardless of how much bandwidth you use.
  1. Use the Billing Method buttons to select whether you want monthly or hourly billing for the connection.

    NaaS Manager shows pricing for the billing method you selected.  
  1. In the Select Bandwidth field, select the bandwidth for the connection. Bandwidth options vary based on location. (You can't change the bandwidth once you create the connection. If you need to choose a different bandwidth after creating a connection, disconnect the connection and create a new one.)
  1. Click CONTINUE.
  1. Review your connection information, then click SUBMIT ORDER. 

    NaaS Manager creates the request for the connection and places it in the Pending Activation status. From here, you can view the status of the connection.