Port Architectures
Equinix Fabric ports are available in multiple configurations - standard, remote, and extended - designed to meet your connectivity needs based on your location relative to Equinix Fabric infrastructure. Whether you're connecting from a nearby metro or a distant global site, Equinix Fabric offers the flexibility to plug into its ecosystem from virtually anywhere, aligning with your performance requirements and global reach.
Standard Ports
Standard ports offer a direct and secure connection point within your own dedicated space at an Equinix IBX data center. Standard ports are ideal for customers who colocate their equipment within Equinix IBX facilities and want the most direct access to Equinix Fabric. This configuration supports high-performance connectivity to service providers, partners, and your own distributed infrastructure through the Equinix Fabric platform.
Remote Ports
Remote ports give you the flexibility to connect to Equinix Fabric even when your infrastructure isn’t directly housed within an Equinix IBX. In this configuration, the port is delivered to a third party’s demarcation point—typically a Network Service Provider (NSP) - within the same Equinix facility. This setup is ideal if you're leveraging a partner’s presence in the IBX or working with a service provider to extend your reach without deploying your own equipment on-site.
Extended Ports
Extended ports also give you the flexibility to connect to Equinix Fabric even when your infrastructure isn’t directly housed within an Equinix IBX. Instead, the connection is established through a Building Meet-Me Room (BMMR)—a shared interconnection point within multi-tenant data centers. Extended ports are ideal for customers operating in multi-tenant buildings who want to tap into the power of Equinix Fabric without deploying equipment directly inside an Equinix IBX.
Chassis Groups
To facilitate redundant and diverse connectivity, the Equinix Fabric platform is arranged into chassis groups, with each metro having both an "A" and "B" chassis group. Within each chassis group, one or more edge routers will exist.
When ports are ordered and provisioned, it's important to understand where they will be deployed to ensure they meet your needs and preferences. During the ordering process, the portal will prompt you to choose either a Primary or Secondary router to provision the port. Selecting Primary means your port will be provisioned on the A Chassis Group, and choosing Secondary will provision the port on the B Chassis Group.
It is important to understand that the use of Primary and Secondary does not mean services provided by Equinix on one port can or are subordinate to those on another port. Primary and secondary ports offer the same services and are only different by name and the chassis group in which they reside.
Ports can be named to include the chassis group to which they are provisioned, A or B, or any other naming convention of your choice, within the naming limitation of the platform. One such example is the use of PRI (Primary) and SEC (Secondary) to help distinguish which Equinix Fabric chassis group a port is provisioned.
The application automatically assigns a default name to each newly created port, but you can easily update it at any time by navigating to the Port Inventory.
Non-Redundant Configuration
Non-Redundant LAG (Link Aggregation Groups) Configuration
This allows LAG with one single physical link or member with an active Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) configuration (IEEE 802.3ad), forming LAG up to 8x ports (8x 1GE or 8x 10GE).
Multi-Chassis - LAG Configuration
Multi-chassis LAG support is limited to customer equipment when the customer chooses an EPL port.
Redundant Configuration
This option supports dual diverse physical Equinix Fabric ports to diverse Equinix Fabric Chassis (Primary and Secondary). It connects dual diverse Equinix Fabric Virtual circuits to the service providers.
As per the requirement, an optional LAG is provided to the customer.
Redundant LAG Configuration
This allows LAG with one single physical link or member with an active Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) configuration (IEEE 802.3ad), forming LAG up to 8x ports.
This configuration option supports dual diverse physical Equinix Fabric ports to diverse Equinix Fabric Chassis (Primary and Secondary). In addition, this option connects dual diverse Equinix Fabric virtual circuits to the service providers.
Geo Diverse (Dual Metro) Single VC Configuration
This configuration is provided to you with presence at the Dual Geo Diverse Equinix Metros.
Geo Diverse (Dual Metro) Dual VC Configuration
This configuration is provided to you with presence at Dual Geo Diverse Equinix Metros.
Additionally, this option supports dual diverse physical Equinix Fabric ports to diverse Equinix Fabric Chassis (Primary and Secondary) and connects dual diverse Equinix Fabric virtual circuits to the service providers.