Azure ExpressRoute
Azure ExpressRoute provides private connections between your on-premises infrastructure and Microsoft Azure. Using ExpressRoute, you can establish connections to Microsoft cloud services, such as Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365. ExpressRoute is not an internet connection, and it does not traverse the public internet.
What is ExpressRoute?
ExpressRoute is a service that extends your on-premises networks into the Microsoft cloud. It offers a reliable, high-throughput, low-latency connection between your organization's premises and Azure. This is achieved through a connectivity provider. You connect to the ExpressRoute network, and then the provider establishes a private connection to Microsoft's peering locations.
Key Benefits
- Reliability: Predictable performance with no data transfer costs over the public internet.
- Speed: Higher bandwidth options and faster, more consistent transit times compared to typical internet connections.
- Security: Traffic travels over a private connection, not the public internet.
- Flexibility: Dynamic or static routing options to suit your network architecture.
How it Works
ExpressRoute uses a model that combines the network of major network service providers and Microsoft's global network. You choose a connectivity provider that has a presence at an ExpressRoute peering location near you. The provider will then set up a circuit between your premises and that location. This circuit can be a dedicated physical connection or a virtual circuit over an existing network.
Use Cases
- Hybrid Cloud Solutions: Seamlessly integrate your on-premises data centers with Azure.
- Data Warehousing & Big Data: Transfer large datasets efficiently for analysis.
- Business-Critical Applications: Ensure high availability and performance for applications hosted in Azure.
- Disaster Recovery: Establish a reliable connection for your DR strategy.
Getting Started
To set up ExpressRoute, you will need to:
- Choose a connectivity provider.
- Order an ExpressRoute circuit.
- Configure your network to connect to the Microsoft peering location.
- Configure your virtual network in Azure.
Example: Configuring ExpressRoute circuit
When you order an ExpressRoute circuit, you'll specify parameters like bandwidth, SKU (Standard or Premium), and peering type (Microsoft, Private, or Public). Consult your connectivity provider for detailed ordering procedures.
After the circuit is provisioned, you'll receive circuit details that you'll use to create an ExpressRoute circuit resource in Azure.
az network express-route create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --name MyExpressRouteCircuit --provider Azure --peering-location "Silicon Valley" --bandwidth 100Pricing and SKUs
ExpressRoute offers different pricing models and SKUs to meet various needs. The Standard SKU includes unlimited data. The Premium SKU offers global connectivity across all regions and higher bandwidth options. Data transfer is typically billed based on a monthly charge plus usage (except for unlimited data SKUs).