Port Details

A Fabric port is the primary access method into Equinix Fabric, and it is important to get your port order correct. All ports are initially set up as either VLAN-based EVPL (802.1Q or 802.1ad) or port-based EPL (untagged).

The following parameters are chosen by you when procuring ports:

Parameter

Possible Values

Notes

 

Speed

1G SX MMF

1G LX SMF

10G LR SMF

100G LR4 SMF

1G MMF might be limited in some regions and is generally not recommended by Equinix.

Port Format

Ethernet

 

Encapsulation

802.1Q (TPID: 0x8100); 802.1ad (TPID: 0x8100, 0x88a8, 0x9100, 0x9200); Untagged (EPL)

In case of the frame type 802.1ad (QinQ), the TPID value of 0x8100, 0x88a8, 0x9100, 0x9200 in the DP/CRD applies to the outer tag while the inner tag uses 0x8100.

MTU

9000 bytes

Ports on Equinix Fabric are set to a default MTU size of 9000 bytes.

LAG

LAG Group name (with which ports) LAG quantity (min 1; max 8)

If ports should be configured as members of 802.3ad Link Aggregation Group (LAG) members, Equinix Fabric uses the LACP protocol. Equinix Fabric does not support MC-LAG.

EVPL Ports

On EVPL ports, you tag traffic with a single tag, 802.1Q, or two tags if configured for 802.1ad. Traffic will be switched to the corresponding Virtual Connection (VC) configured in Equinix Fabric. If traffic is tagged with a VLAN not mapped to a VC, or arrives untagged, the traffic will be dropped at ingress.

The diagram below is a complex example showing both EVPL configured for 802.1ad and 802.1Q with the following characteristics:

  • Multiple tags can go to the same provider.

  • Multiple tags can go to different providers.

  • Untagged traffic is dropped.

  • Tags without a destination are dropped.

  • Equinix Fabric is blind to inner tags (Customer Tag, aka C-Tag) when creating VCs between two 802.1ad ports – Fabric matches on the outer tag (Service Tag, aka S-Tag) only.

  • Equinix Fabric can translate all tags except when going between two 802.1ad ports (Equinix Fabric is blind to the inner tags and cannot translate them.)

Note: Port parameters CANNOT be edited from the portal or API after the port has been ordered. On EVPL ports the encapsulation (801.1Q or 802.1ad), port name, and LAG configuration can be modified by opening a support ticket with the Equinix NOC. Other parameters such as port speed, EVPL to EPL, or EPL to EVPL, and port priority cannot be changed once the port has been provisioned.

EPL Ports

On EPL ports, traffic that is VLAN tagged, untagged, or a combination of the two transported as is between both ports.

The diagram below is a complex example showing the use of EPL on Equinix Fabric. EPL VCs have the following characteristics:

  • They are highly-transparent – all Ethernet frames except Pause frames are passed through EPL.

  • All traffic entering an EPL port will exit to the far-end EPL port.

  • Equinix Fabric is blind to all traffic within the EPL VC; VLAN translation is not supported.

  • EPL requires two ports and only two ports.

  • Only one VC is created between EPL ports.

Primary vs Secondary Chassis Groups

The Equinix Fabric platform is arranged into chassis groups. Each metro has both a primary and a secondary chassis group, and within that group might have one or more routers.

When ports are ordered and provisioned, it's important to understand where they will be deployed, depending on your needs and preferences.

Ports are typically named for the chassis group they reside on to help users when they see a list of ports, but you can select any name you choose at the time of turn-up.

The Equinix Fabric platform might limit certain actions or solutions depending on the port that has been selected for buy or sell activity.

The diagram below shows examples of a solution with mandated redundancy on the provider side.

View Port Details

The port details page provides access to all the information about selected port, including:

  • Virtual Details – Provides basic information about your port.

  • Physical Details – Provides physical information about the port including port status, cage, cabinet, your patch panel information, and the Equinix patch panel information.

  • Port Utilization – Provides a statistical overview of port utilization.

    Tip: Information on port utilization, including your most utilized ports, can also be found on the main Equinix Fabric landing page.

  • Activity Log – Displays the creation date and last update date for the port.

To view port details:

  1. Log in to Equinix Fabric.

  2. From the Ports menu, select Port Inventory.

  3. Locate and click the desired port to view its details.

    Tip: The filter options help to quickly narrow your search if you have a lot of ports.

Tip: Click Actions to create a trouble ticket regarding the selected port or create a connection.