Cross Connects Release Notes
Release Notes
Spotlight Videos
Functional Learning Demos
Cross-Release Videos
Equinix Cross Connects provides direct access to networks and enterprises, cloud service providers, and digital content providers in data centers. It supports enhanced network performance, increased resiliency, more reliability, and added security. Network providers can efficiently distribute content, exchange data, and deploy applications in the cloud. By connecting to multiple infrastructures in the data center, latency is minimized.
Cross Connects 2024.2 is available April, 2024.
Equinix now provides customers with a more efficient ordering experience. The unified Cross Connects online ordering process provides an option for diverse campus cross connections. In addition, generative AI is now integrated from uploaded letters of authorization (LOAs). Data from an LOA automatically provides the Z-side provider information to simplify ordering. Also, single-mode fiber is now the only media type available in IBX data centers.
Order Diverse Campus Cross Connects
When ordering new Cross Connects without an LOA, users can include a primary campus cross connect with some orders. With this option, the connection can serve as a backup if a cable failure occurs. Users can set up a diverse campus connection in one of two ways:
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By pairing the new connection with an existing primary asset
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By creating a new primary and diverse pair of connections, providing A-side and Z-side details
To learn more about adding a diverse connection for more redundancy, see the procedure steps and new video demo in Order Without an LOA.
Generative AI Supplies Provider Values from Uploaded LOAs
New Cross Connects orders that use uploaded LOAs are integrated with generative AI to automatically populate the Z-side provider option. This feature further streamlines the Unified Cross Connects workflow. For more information about the autoselected provider details, see the procedure steps and new video demo in Order with an Uploaded Digital or Standard LOA.
Single-mode Fiber – The Only Media Type for Cross Connects in IBX Data Centers
As of March 31, 2024, the only media type available for Cross Connects orders in Equinix IBX data centers is single-mode fiber (SMF).
These demos describe setup and configuration of features and functionality in a release.
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Order a Diverse Cross Connect | 2:48 min |
| Use an Uploaded LOA Integrated with Generative AI | 1:58 min |
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Unified Cross Connects Portal with the New Scheduler | 4:09 min |
| Order Cross Connects with a Digital LOA File Upload | 4:26 min |
| Order Cross Connects Without an LOA | 4:34 min |
Cross Connects 2023.5 is available October, 2023.
With this release, Equinix expands its support for online ordering for standard, Fiber, and Intra Customer Cross Connects. Through this new unified workflow experience, which includes an improved Scheduler Calendar, users can place orders both with and without Letters of Authorization (LOAs) or digital tokens. Also, new videos are available to guide users through the ordering procedures.
Unified Cross Connects Portal Experience
Order Cross Connects by Uploading a Digital LOA Token (available April 2023)
When ordering Cross Connects with a Digital LOA token, an improved user experience delivers an easier, optimized, and more precise step-by-step process with new scheduling options. Now, when new Cross Connects orders are placed online through the Equinix Customer Portal (ECP), there’s no need for users to add their Z-side asset details manually. Instead, this information is supplied automatically based on details provided in the digital LOA token. Users are guided to supply only some additional A-side details when configuring their new connections. Also, users can create multiple connections using the same Digital LOA token. See Order a Digital LOA Token for the latest information.
Order Cross Connects by Uploading a Digital or Standard LOA (available April 2023)
When ordering with a Digital or standard LOA file upload, Equinix offers a new ordering workflow experience through the unified Cross Connects. After uploading the Digital LOA, the Z-side connection details are auto-populated for the connection configurations. Users are guided through the streamlined online ordering process to supply just the A-side details to configure their new connections. With the same option, users can follow the classic method of ordering with standard LOA file upload. The standard LOA file upload is an existing parity feature which has been integrated with the new experience of unified Cross Connects. To learn more about this new workflow, see Order with an Uploaded Digital or Standard LOA.
Order Cross Connects Without an LOA (available October 2023)
Users can continue to order Cross Connects without providing an LOA through the new unified experience. This new online workflow guides users through the steps for supplying all the A-side and Z-side details that are required to create their new configurations. Also, this new workflow helps users add multiple connections in the same order. More information is available at Order Without an LOA.
New Scheduler Calendar View (available August 2023)
When you order new Cross Connects through the unified experience with any of the processes listed above, an improved, more precise step-by-step scheduling option is available. This new calendar provides increased flexibility for viewing and choosing your preferred scheduling type with available and applicable dates. Now, users can easily get a complete view of their scheduling options for the next 6 months, including the installation charges, expedited delivery dates, and guaranteed delivery intervals.
These demos describe setup and configuration of features and functionality in a release.
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Unified Cross Connects Portal with the New Scheduler | 4:09 min |
| Order Cross Connects with a Digital LOA File Upload | 4:26 min |
| Order Cross Connects Without an LOA | 4:34 min |
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Cross Connects Ordering Flow | 27:29 min |
| Order a Standard Cross Connect Using Guided Ordering | 4:47 min |
Cross Connects 2023.2 is available April, 2023.
This release enhances the ordering experience for our users by adding helpful notes, notifications, and links to the automated Digital LOA process.
E-Signatures for Multiple Connection Orders
When submitting orders for multiple standard Cross Connects, our customers can now use the e-Sign option. The details for the new connections are included in the order quotation PDF, which customers receive in an email link. For more information about e-Sign, see Digital Signatures.
These demos describe setup and configuration of features and functionality in a release.
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Cross Connects Ordering Flow | 27:29 min |
| Order a Standard Cross Connect Using Guided Ordering | 4:47 min |
Cross Connects 2023.1 is available February, 2023.
This Cross Connects release offers improvements to the user interface on the Equinix Customer Portal for increased ease of use and more ordering options. A few of the highlights for this release are listed here.
Edit Details in an Order
To assist in ordering Standard Cross Connects through the Customer Portal, new editing options are available. Connection details, contact information, and additional notes are easier to update when placing Cross Connects orders.
Flexible Scheduling Option
When placing an Expedited order for a Cross Connects connection, a user can now select a check box to allow Equinix to convert the order to Standard scheduling. This choice allows for flexibility in scheduling, if Equinix technicians aren’t available for the requested expedited schedule.
Metro Connect Option
A new tile for Metro Connect guided ordering is now available in the Cross Connects Interconnection Catalog in the Customer Portal.
These demos describe setup and configuration of features and functionality in a release.
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Cross Connects Ordering Flow | 27:29 min |
| Order a Standard Cross Connect Using Guided Ordering | 4:47 min |
Cross Connects 2022.1 is available February 14, 2022.
A new video describes how to place online orders for Equinix Cross Connects.
These demos describe setup and configuration of features and functionality in a release.
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Cross Connects Ordering Flow | 27:29 min |
| Order a Standard Cross Connect Using Guided Ordering | 4:46 min |
| Title | Duration |
|---|---|
| Cross Connects Ordering Flow | 27:29 min |
| Order a Standard Cross Connect Using Guided Ordering | 4:47 min |