Customer Connect
Customer Connect meets your need to realize network connectivity between your location and the Equinix data center. You can use one or more services offered by Equinix Managed Solutions, such as EBC Compute or EBC Storage.
Benefits include:
- Engage with only one party for Equinix Business Cloud, colocation and the connectivity to the data center.
- A single point of contact so that you are not bothered by parties who refer to each other in the event of a failure.
- A complete package, with Cross Connect provided as part of the service from the demarcation point of the carrier to your racks if needed.
Equinix buys wholesale connections from various carriers and manages these connections. Your location is connected to the Equinix data center via a WAN connection. Within the Equinix data center, a Cross Connect is installed if necessary, between the point where the your connection enters the data center and the your racks. All processes are carried out under the supervision of Equinix Managed Solutions.
Service Variants
The different implementation variants are described below.
Single Customer Connect
Below is a diagram of a single Customer Connect.
You will remain connected to the data center with a stable WAN connection that runs via a carrier.
Double Customer Connect
A double Customer Connect is shown in the diagram below. Maximum effort is made to ensure that the connections are geographically separated from each other.
Agreements are made with the carrier about maintenance on both connections, which minimizes the chance of simultaneous failure.
Geographically Separated Equinix Data Centers
If you want a redundant connection with two geographically different Equinix data centers, this can be combined with a Metro Connect between the two data centers. This creates a fault-tolerant topology; if one Customer Connect connection fails, the other Customer Connect takes over the connection and traffic and the Metro Connect can still reach the other Equinix data center. The specific solution is implemented by Equinix, based on your requirements and choices.
Options
The service is available with options shown in the table.
| Item | Standard Options | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 or 10 Gbps | Other bandwidths on request |
| Interface Equinix DC side | 1GE-LX or 10GE-LR | Single-mode fiber |
| Interface customer side | 1GE-LX or 10GE-LR | Single-mode fiber |
| Overbooking | 1:1 of 1:n | Overbooking options depending on carrier |
| Implementation | Single or double | 2 connections to geographically separated Equinix data centers on request |
Relations and Dependencies
The Customer Connect service has a relationship with, among others, the following Equinix services –
- Equinix Cross Connect: provides network connectivity between two racks in the same Equinix data center.
- Equinix Metro Connect: provides network connectivity between two different Equinix data centers.
- Equinix Managed Services: offers infrastructure, storage, application, security and network services.
Note:
- The Customer Connect service is a customized service because of the distance to be bridged and any required excavation work.
- Possible interfaces or transport types can differ per supplier; availability of which is subject to consultation.
Operational Activities
Delivery and Configuration
| Provisioning of Components | Equinix | User |
|---|---|---|
| Network connection to customer location | RAC | I |
| Realization connection within Equinix data centers | RAC | I |
Operational Standard Management Processes
| Activities | Equinix | User |
|---|---|---|
| Incident management | RAC | I |
Service Requests
| Standard Change | Frequency | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable. Changes in capacity or implementation are non-standard | - | - |
All changes that are not in the table above can be requested as non-standard changes. Equinix will perform an impact analysis to determine whether the changes can be implemented, the possible impact on the service, and the associated costs and lead time.
Service Levels
Availability
In most cases, Customer Connect is a customized solution. No specific service level can be specified in advance. In addition, there can also be diversity in transfer per supplier. Maintenance by the carriers can take place outside of the regular maintenance times. Equinix will inform you in these instances.
See Maintenance and Support – Security/Network Services to learn about failure handling and related information.