Azure ExpressRoute Overview
Azure ExpressRoute allows you to create private connections between Microsoft Azure datacenters and infrastructure that’s either on-premises or in a colocation environment. ExpressRoute connections do not go over the public Internet, and offer higher reliability, faster speeds, lower latencies, and higher security than typical Internet connections.
Key Benefits
- Global Reach: Connect to Azure and Microsoft 365 services from anywhere in the world.
- High Throughput: Support for various bandwidths, from 50 Mbps to 10 Gbps.
- Reliability: Redundant network paths ensure high availability.
- Security: Traffic bypasses the public Internet, enhancing security.
- Predictable Performance: Lower latencies and consistent throughput for mission-critical applications.
Note: ExpressRoute is ideal for scenarios requiring consistent connectivity and when a direct connection to Azure is preferred over the public Internet.
Key Concepts
Understanding these concepts is crucial for implementing ExpressRoute:
- Provider: A network service provider that offers ExpressRoute connectivity.
- Peering Location: A Microsoft-hosted location where your network connects to Azure.
- Circuit: The dedicated connection established between your network and Azure via a peering location.
- Routing Domain: ExpressRoute supports three types of routing domains: Microsoft peering, Public peering, and Private peering.
- Service Key: A unique identifier for your ExpressRoute circuit, used by the provider for provisioning.
Pricing
ExpressRoute pricing is based on the speed and data transfer you use. You are billed for:
- Port Speed Fees: Monthly charges based on the provisioned bandwidth of your ExpressRoute circuit.
- Data Transfer Fees: Charges for data sent out of Azure. Data ingress into Azure is typically free.
Refer to the Azure ExpressRoute pricing page for the latest details.
Get Started with ExpressRoute
Follow these steps to set up an ExpressRoute connection:
- Choose an ExpressRoute provider and a peering location.
- Order an ExpressRoute circuit through the Azure portal or PowerShell.
- Work with your provider to provision the circuit.
- Configure routing for your peering types (Microsoft, Public, Private).
- Connect your network to the ExpressRoute circuit.
Important: Ensure your on-premises network is configured to route traffic appropriately to and from Azure resources.
Tutorials and Guides
- Create an ExpressRoute circuit
- Configure BGP peering for ExpressRoute
- Connect ExpressRoute to Azure Virtual WAN
- Troubleshoot ExpressRoute connectivity
API and Command-Line Reference
Explore detailed API references and Azure CLI commands for managing ExpressRoute: