Connect to Google Cloud Platform (Network Edge Device)

Connect to Google Cloud Platform from a Network Edge virtual device.

Note: For instructions on connecting from a Fabric port, a Fabric Cloud Router, a Metal VLAN, or using a service token, see Quick Connect to Google Cloud Platform (Port, Service Token, Cloud Router, Metal VLAN).

Prerequisites

Before creating a connection to Google Cloud Platform from a Network Edge virtual device, you must have:

• An Equinix Fabric account, with the following IAM roles assigned: Fabric Connections Manager.

• A Network Edge virtual device.

• A Google Cloud account.

• Sufficient Google VLAN attachment quotas available.

  Tip: Log in to your Google Cloud Console and make sure you have sufficient VLAN attachment quota available to accommodate new connections. Request additional quota if necessary. Insufficient VLAN attachment quote will result in failed connection provisioning.

The connection process involves creating a Pairing Key in the Google Cloud Portal, copying the Pairing Key (or two keys for redundant connections), using the Pairing Key when creating a connection to the Equinix Fabric Portal, and finally, verifying and configuring your connection to the desired Google VPC in the Google Cloud Portal.

Create Pairing Keys in the Google Cloud Portal

Tip: Equinix recommends that you create two Pairing Keys for redundant connections. A customer receives an SLA for Partner Interconnect if they have a minimum of two VLAN attachments (Virtual Connections on Fabric). Google offers both a 99.9% and a 99.99% SLA for Partner Interconnect. The SLA that a customer receives is based on the number of VLAN attachments (Virtual Connections) that are configured. For more details, see Partner Interconnect overview.

To create Pairing Keys:

1. In the Google Cloud Platform, go to Networking product catalog and select Network Connectivity.

   

2. Select Interconnect, then click CREATE VLAN ATTACHMENTS.

   

3. Select Partner Interconnect connection, then click Continue.

4. Because Equinix will be the service provider, click I ALREADY HAVE A SERVICE PROVIDER.

   

5. Select a redundancy option.

   Note: To ensure high availability, we recommend you create a redundant pair of VLAN attachments.
   
   

   Tip: When you create a single VLAN attachment in Google Cloud Console, you cannot explicitly choose the Edge Availability Domain that the VLAN attachment will be assigned to. To make sure you have the correct pairing key available that matches your Fabric port priority, create a pair of VLAN attachments, use the one that corresponds to your port, then delete the unused VLAN attachment.

6. Select a VPC network and a region.

7. In the VLAN (A/B) section:

   • Select a cloud router instance.

     Tip: Click CREATE NEW ROUTER to create a new cloud router instance.

   • Enter a VLAN attachment name.

   • Provide a description.

   • Select Maximum transmission unit (MTU).
8. Click CREATE.

Copy the Pairing Key that is generated to the clipboard, then click OK.

Note: You don't need to pre-activate the VLAN attachments.

The status from the service provider is displayed.

Create a Connection in the Equinix Fabric Portal

To create a connection to Google Cloud Platform from a Network Edge virtual device:

1. Log in to Equinix Fabric.

2. From the Connections menu, select Create Connection.

3. On the Google Cloud Platform card, click Select Service.

4. Under the Service Profile that corresponds to the Pairing Key zone (Zone 1 or Zone 2) to which you want to provision a connection, click Create Connection.

   

5. Review the high-level process for connecting to Google Cloud via Partner Interconnect, then click Create a Connection to Google Cloud Partner Interconnect Zone 1.

   

6. In the Origin section:

   1. Click Virtual Device.

      Important: If the Virtual Device option is disabled, there are no virtual devices available in the selected project. Choose a different project, that has virtual devices assigned to it, or create a new virtual device in this project.

   2. Select metro.

   3. Choose virtual device type, select connection type, then select a virtual device instance.

7. In the Destination section, select location where you want to terminate your connection, then click Next.

   

8. On the Connection Details page:

   1. Enter connection name.

   2. Enter the Google Pairing Key.

      Note: You must use the Pairing Key that corresponds to the selected zone, which is identified by /1 or /2 at the end of the Pairing Key value.

   3. Select network interface on your virtual device.

   4. Enter purchase order number.

   5. Select connection speed, then click Next.

   

9. Review the Connection Summary, Pricing Overview, and Notifications sections, then click Submit Order.

10. For redundant connections, repeat steps 2 - 9 to create the second connection.

Tip: You can use Fabric's API to automate or integrate this procedure. For more information, see Equinix Fabric API - Connect to Google Cloud Partner Interconnect.

Verify the Connection in the Google Cloud Portal

Once the provisioning job has been completed in the Equinix Fabric Portal, you can verify that your connection was created in the Google Cloud Portal.

1. In the Interconnect section of the Google Cloud Portal, click Refresh at the top of your browser page. The Status displays Activation needed.

2. Click Activate, then click Accept. The Status updates to BGP configuration needed.

3. Click Configure BGP.

4. In the Peer ASN field, enter the ASN number for your on-premise router. Click Save and continue.

5. Review the Configuring on-premises routers page to complete any steps needed to connect your router to your Google Cloud environment via Google Cloud Interconnect.

For more information on creating connections for Google Cloud Interconnect, see the Google Cloud Interconnect documentation.

Connect to Google Cloud Platform Using API

You can use Fabric's API to automate this procedure and integrate it with your internal systems. For details, see Connect to Google Cloud Partner Interconnect.