Creating an Azure Connection for an MVE with Versa Secure SD-WAN

You can create a network connection from an MVE (a Versa Controller) to Azure ExpressRoute with Virtual Cross Connections (VXCs). You can create either a private connection or a public (Microsoft) connection.

Important

Before you begin, create an MVE in Versa Director. For details, see Creating an MVE Integrated with Versa.

There are three parts to adding an ExpressRoute connection to your MVE and Versa SD-WAN.

1. Set up your ExpressRoute plan and deploy the ExpressRoute circuit in the Azure console. When deployed, you get a service key. For additional details, see the Microsoft ExpressRoute documentation.

2. In the Megaport ONE Portal, create a connection (VXC) from your MVE to your ExpressRoute location.

3. In Versa Director, create a new interface and add the details of the ExpressRoute connection.

The instructions in this topic step through the second and third parts.

Note

MVE for Versa SD-WAN requires configuration steps in both Versa Director and the Megaport ONE Portal for all cloud connections.

Adding the ExpressRoute connection in the Megaport ONE Portal

To set up the ExpressRoute connection, you need to create the connection in the Megaport ONE Portal. If you haven’t already created an MVE, see Creating an MVE Integrated with Versa.

To create a connection to ExpressRoute from the Megaport ONE Portal

1. In the Megaport ONE Portal, choose Networking > Services.
2. Click the gear icon next to the MVE you want to use.
3. Select Add Connection.
   
4. Specify the General connection details:
   • Connection Type – Select Cloud VXC.
   • Cloud Provider – Select Microsoft Azure.
5. Specify the Azure Configuration details:
   • Azure ExpressRoute Service Key – Add the ExpressRoute service key.
     The Portal verifies the key and then displays the available port locations based on the ExpressRoute region. For example, if your ExpressRoute service is deployed in the Australia East region in Sydney, you can select the Sydney targets.
   • Available Azure Ports – Select the connection point for your first connection. To deploy a second connection (and this is recommended), you can create a second VXC - enter the same service key and select the other connection target.
     

6. Specify the VXC Configuration details:

   • VXC Name – The name of your VXC to be shown in the Megaport ONE Portal.
   • Rate Limit – The speed of your connection in Mbps. The rate limit for the VXC will be capped at the maximum allowable based on the ExpressRoute service key.

   • A-End VLAN (optional) – Specify an unused VLAN ID for this connection (for ExpressRoute this is the S-Tag).
     This must be a unique VLAN ID on this MVE and can range from 2 to 4093. If you specify a VLAN ID that is already in use, the system displays the next available VLAN number. The VLAN ID must be unique to proceed with the order. If you don’t specify a value, Megaport ONE will assign one.

     Important

     If you do not enable this option, the VXC appears active but it does not recognize traffic.

   • Single Azure peering VLAN (optional) – This option provides a single tag VLAN solution. You configure peering in Azure with the MVE VLAN (A-End) and the peer VLAN set in Azure (B-End). Note, you can have only one peering type (Private or Microsoft) per VXC with this option. This value must match the A-End VLAN. To set up an inner VLAN and Q-n-Q, turn off this option.
     

7. Specify the Billing Details:

   • Service Level Reference (optional) – Specify a unique identifying number for the VXC to be used for billing purposes, such as a cost center number or a unique customer ID. The service level reference number appears for each service under the Product section of the invoice. You can also edit this field for an existing service.

     Note

     Partner-managed accounts can apply a Partner Deal to a service.

   • Monthly Price – The monthly rate is based on location and size.

   • Promo Code – If you have a promotional code, enter it and click Add Code.

8. Click Create Connection.

9. Review the new configuration and pricing then click Confirm.

When the VXC configuration completes, the VXC status is green (Service Is Up).

In the Azure Resource Management console, the provider status will be Provisioned.

When provisioned, you need to configure peerings. You can configure private and Microsoft peering. Click the peer to configure and provide these details:

• Peer ASN – Enter the ASN for the MVE.
• IPv4 Subnets – From each of these subnets, MVE uses the first usable IP address and Microsoft uses the second usable IP for its router.
• VLAN ID – Enter the A-End VLAN from the MVE. (Note, the VLAN ID in the Azure console can be different from the A-End VLAN.)
• Shared Key (optional) – Enter an MD5 password for BGP.

Adding the ExpressRoute connection to Versa Director

After you create the connection from your MVE to Azure and set up the connection in the Azure console, you need to configure it in Versa Director. This involves creating an interface and configuring BGP settings, ASNs, VLANs, and MD5 values.

To add the Azure Cloud connection in Versa Director

1. Collect the connection details from the Azure console.
   Display the details of the connection you created in Azure for this connection. Note the values for the Peer ASN, Shared Key, VLAN ID, and IPv4 Primary Subnet.

2. Collect the connection details from the Megaport ONE Portal.
   Click the gear icon for the Azure connection from your MVE, select Edit, then select the Details tab. Note the value for the A-End VLAN.

3. Log in to Versa Director.

4. Select the Workflows tab in the top menu bar.

5. Select Template > Templates in the left menu bar.

6. Select the template associated with this device.

   

7. Click the Interfaces tab.

8. Under WAN Interfaces, click (Add) to add a subinterface.

9. In the VLAN ID field, enter the VLAN value from the Megaport ONE Portal.
   Specify the A-End VLAN for the connection - click the Details icon for the connection in the Portal to find this value.

10. In the Network Name column, choose + Create WAN Network from the menu.
    Or select a previously created network, if appropriate.

11. For a new network, enter a name and optionally, a description.

12. Click OK.

13. In the IPv4 column, choose Static from the menu.

    

14. Click the Routing tab.

15. In the BGP section, select the network created earlier.

16. Enter in the following values for your connection:

    • Local AS – The AS value for the A-End of the connection.
    • Neighbor IP – The IP address of the Azure side of the connection. These values are available in the Azure console. The IP addresses and CIDR appear in the IPv4 Primary Subnet field; MVE uses the first usable IP address and Azure uses the second usable IP for its router. For this field, enter the MVE (first usable) IP address.
    • Peer AS – Enter the Azure-side ASN of 12076. This is a fixed value, and appears in the connection details on the Azure console.
    • Optionally, enable BFD.

17. Click (Add).
    

18. Click Recreate at the bottom of the page.
    A screen appears that highlights the differences in the configuration.

19. Click Deploy.

20. Select the Configuration tab in the top menu bar.

21. Select Templates > Device Templates in the horizontal menu bar.
    

22. Click the template you want to modify.

23. In the side navigation, select Virtual Routers.

24. Click the link for the subinterface network.

25. In the side navigation, select BGP.

26. Click the Instance ID for your network.
    

27. Click (Parameterize) to use variables for the Router ID and the Password fields.
    You can also parameterize Local AS and Peer AS fields - otherwise it will use the static values provided in earlier steps.

    Note

    Static Address is parameterized by default.

28. Click OK two times to return to the main window.

At this point, we have created the interface and next we need to configure the device and create the BGP session.

1. In Director, select the Workflows tab in the top menu bar.

2. Select Devices > Devices in the left navigation.

3. Click the device to modify.

4. Click the Bind Data tab.

5. Enter the values for IPv4 Static Address, BGP Password, BGP Router ID, and Hop Address.
   Other values, such as the Local and Peer AS are auto-populated from our earlier settings.

   • Static Address – Enter the Customer IP address (your local IP address, including the mask value).
   • Password – Add the BGP Auth information if you defined this in the Azure console. (This was optional.)
   • BGP Router ID – Enter the Customer IP address (your local IP address, including the mask value) from the MVE details.
   • Hop Address - The IP address for the Azure side of the connection. Enter the second usable IP address from the IPv4 Primary Subnet from the Azure console.

6. Click Deploy.

7. In the upper right of the screen under your username, click Commit Template.

8. Select your Organization and Template.
   In the lower part of the screen, the Template State will be OUT-OF-SYNC.

   

9. Click the eye icon in the Differences column.
   A page appears that highlights the differences in the configuration.

10. If you are satisfied with the configuration, click Commit to Device.

Validating your Azure connection

You can review device status, including the connection state, from the Monitor tab in Director.

1. Select the Monitor tab in the top menu bar.

2. Select Devices in the horizontal menu bar.

3. Click the device to review status and activity.

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Last update: 2023-09-22