Metro Connect FAQs

Metro Connect is one of four inter-IBX connectivity services that Equinix offers. The other services are Fiber Connect, Extended Cross Connects (dark fiber media only) and Fabric (Layer 3 connectivity). Metro Connect services also include the switch electronics to send light through the long-distance fiber cable.

Metro Connects provide point-to-point connectivity between IBXs within a metro (for example, New York NY4 to NY9) and in a few cases, between metros within the same country (for example, London LD4 to Manchester MA3).

Metro Connect provides optical Layer 1 or packet-based Layer 2 services. All Metro Connect service types include the following:

• The end-to-end connection that includes a cross connect at the customer demarcation in our IBX facility (typically the customer cage fiber distribution panel), or terminating in a Building Meet-Me Room (BMMR), in the case of an Extended Metro Connect.

• Media converters where necessary, except in the APAC region where an incremental charge might be applied.

The only items not included are patch cables from the patch panels to a customer’s equipment. These cables can be ordered using the Smart Hands service.

All service types support a minimum MTU size of 9100 bytes. All interfaces are set to full duplex. Layer 2 Ethernet services support 802.1ad (QinQ) in most locations.

Metro Connect services provide simple, efficient connectivity between select Equinix IBX locations where Campus Cross Connect or Fiber Connect is not feasible due to long distance requirements. Customers can extend their network infrastructure to customers and partners located in different IBX facilities. Equinix provides the switch electronics to send light through the long-distance fiber cable.

Similar to the interconnection services that Equinix provides within an IBX data center, Metro Connect provides a highly reliable connection between customer demarcation points. In most cases, Metro Connect services are operated over dedicated leased fiber with low latency.

Equinix offers three Metro Connect variations:

• Protected Metro Connect

• Unprotected Metro Connect

• Dual diverse Metro Connect

Download the Metro Connect data sheet for more details about these product variations and their configurations.

Equinix customers use Metro Connect to connect a deployment at an IBX data center to a partner, a customer, or their own IT infrastructure at a different IBX location.

Metro Connect is available in most metros that have multiple IBX data centers. To view IBX data centers in an interactive map, go to the Equinix Marketplace Dashboard and click the Locations & Connectivity card.

The Equinix Explorer app is available from the Equinix Marketplace Dashboard. Click the Locations & Connectivity card to launch the app.

This app provides an interactive global map to show how our IBX data centers are interconnected, including paths for Campus Cross Connects, Fiber Connect, Extended Cross Connects, and Metro Connect. Equinix Explorer also enables users to view and download IBX specification sheets.

Metro Connect can be ordered without a signed quote. Service orders and quotes are typically used only for first installations for new customers, or if the customer purchases one or more Cross Connects that deviate from the list and customer-specific pricing.

Customers can order Metro Connect directly through the Equinix Customer Portal (ECP) for the fastest turnaround and highest accuracy.

Optionally, customers can also order Metro Connect by contacting their sales representative.

No. Instead, Equinix resellers must place orders for Metro Connect on behalf of their sub-accounts. Sub-account users aren’t able to order Metro Connect through ECP.

• Standard orders – Metro Connect has a global provisioning target of 10 business days from booking. This is on a best-efforts basis and is not guaranteed.

• 100G Metro Connect orders – In some metros, 100Gb services can be ordered through the portal and delivered within our standard target timeframe. However, most metros require a lead time of 8-16 weeks to install. This varies by region, so contact your sales representative for more accurate lead time projections.

• Expedited orders – Metro Connect expedites can be requested for an additional charge.

  Note: Orders for Extended Metro Connect cannot be expedited, because connections to the Building Meet-Me Room (BMMR) are beyond Equinix control.

The SLAs for Metro Connect “up-time” are as follows:

• Unprotected Metro Connect – 99.9%

• Protected Metro Connect – 99.99%

• Dual Diverse Metro Connect – 99.999%

In metros where certain IBX locations feature connectivity to Building Meet-Me Rooms (BMMRs), Equinix offers Metro Connect service with termination at the BMMR. This type of configuration is called an Extended Metro Connect.

Note: Extended Metro Connect installations cannot be expedited.

Metro Connect is entirely Layer 2 Control Protocol (L2CP) transparent, regardless of platform type. Therefore, a customer-managed MACsec relationship between two parties or network can be established. Equinix doesn't participate in this MACsec connection, so the customer is responsible for creating, managing, troubleshooting, and maintaining this relationship.

Physically moving one end of any live interconnection service is referred to as migration. This involves moving the A-side or Z-side of the service from one cage or cabinet to another within the metro.

To migrate an interconnection service, you must submit a request for scheduled maintenance. Gather details about the physical connection, the cages, and the maintenance schedule. Send this information to the region’s migration team. For details about submitting information to the migration team, and an overview of the workflow, see Request an Interconnection Service Migration.

• If the circuit is not live, you can use the Equinix Customer Portal to submit a de-install order and an install order with the new demarcation required. There is no need to contact the migration team.

• If internal patching is required, use the Customer Portal to create a Smart Hands order, and choose the Move Cables order type.