Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have:- An active Azure subscription with appropriate permissions
- A DynamicLink port with available bandwidth
Step 1: Create an ExpressRoute circuit in Azure
First, you need to create an ExpressRoute circuit in the Azure portal. This is required to obtain a service key, which you will then use to provision your connection in DynamicLink. Log in to the Azure portal and use the search bar at the top to find the ExpressRoute circuits page. Click Create and then complete the following fields: Configuration| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Subscription | Your subscription is created at the account level and determines how you are billed. |
| Resource group | A resource group acts like a folder that organizes related resources. You can use it to perform actions on multiple resources at once—for example, applying permissions, duplicating configurations, or deleting the entire group. Each resource can belong to only one resource group, and each resource group is associated with a single subscription. |
| Resiliency | Select your resiliency type. For more information, see Design and architect Azure ExpressRoute for resiliency. |
| Region | Select the Azure region that you want to use. This region represents the availability zone or data center in which a resource is located. This region does not need to match your Zayo peering location. For example, you may want to choose the same region as other resources within your selected resource group. |
| Circuit name | Enter a name for the circuit. |
| Port type | Select Provider. |
| Peering location | Choose from the available on-ramp locations provided by Zayo. |
| Provider | Select Zayo DynamicLink. |
| Bandwidth | Select your desired capacity. |
| SKU | Choose the appropriate service tier. |
| Billing model | Select the correct billing option. • Metered: Usage-based billing. • Unlimited: Fixed monthly rate. |
The SKU and billing model apply only to Microsoft’s billing structure. Zayo billing is separate.
Step 2: Create the Cloud Router connection in DynamicLink
Once you have your ExpressRoute service key from Azure, return to the DynamicLink portal. Navigate to Build Your Network > Ports in the DynamicLink portal. Under Connections, click the Cloud Router vertical tab. Select Cloud Connection and then Azure:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Connection Type | At this time, we only support ExpressRoute connections. |
| Service Key | Enter the service key you copied from the Azure portal. |
| BW | This is automatically populated with the bandwidth you selected when creating your ExpressRoute circuit. |
| Peering Location | This is automatically populated with the peering location you selected when creating your ExpressRoute circuit. |
| Connection Type | Select the peering type you want to use: • Azure Private Peering: For private virtual networks and Azure services. • Microsoft Peering: For accessing Microsoft services like Office 365 and Dynamics 365. |
| VLAN | Enter a VLAN that is unique to this circuit. You will use this when configuring peering in the Azure portal. |
| Cloud Router IP Address | The IP address that the Cloud Router will use for BGP peering with Azure. This is typically the customer-side IP address in a /30 subnet. When creating your ExpressRoute peering, you’ll specify both the Azure-side and customer-side IP addresses for the BGP session. |
You can configure both peering types if your use case requires access to both private Azure resources and Microsoft services.