Create a Diagram

To create a Solution Builder diagram:

1. Sign in to the Customer Portal and click Build Solutions in the global navigation.

2. Click Create New Diagram, and select the Project to create the design in. Click Continue.

   

3. In the Solution Details box, give your diagram a name and click Create.

   

Solution Builder Workspace

Click, drag, and connect your resources in the Workspace to build your diagram.

Use the menu to access the following features:

• Currency – Use the drop-down to select a single currency for your pricing summary, regardless of which metros your digital assets reside in. If you select Local Currency, the quote includes the currency for each individual metro.

• Pricing – Click Show pricing to view a pricing summary for your solution.

• Share – Click Share to share your design with another user and allow other users to collaborate on your diagram.

• Download – Click Download solution design and pricing (.pdf) to download a pricing summary of your design complete with a diagram of your design. Click Download solution design (.png) to download an image of your design.

Resources

Select resources to add to your diagram. Click or drag the resource from the Resources pane to add it to the workspace.

Resources include:

• Virtual Devices - Add a single device, redundant devices, or a cluster device.
• Connections - Add connections to service providers, or bring your own connections.
• Device Link Group - Add a device link group.
• Internet Access - Add an Internet Access service.
• Fabric Ports - Add a single port.
• Multipoint Networks - Add a multipoint network
• Fabric Cloud Router - Add a cloud router.
• Diagram Elements - Add text boxes, generic resource

Controller

The Controller contains the following functions:

• Zoom In and Zoom Out

• Toggle Interactivity - Lock the diagram to prevent other users from changing it.

• Undo and Redo - Step back through your changes, including:

  • Moving, deleting, and connecting resources.
  • Adding templates.
  • Editing configuration.

  Undo/redo stores up to 50 steps of history. Deleting a resource and undoing also brings back its connections and configuration. Use can also use keyboard shortcuts ⌘Z / Ctrl+Z to undo and ⇧⌘Z / Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo.

  note

  Your edits are scoped to your current browser session.

• Fullscreen - Toggle fullscreen or windowed mode.

• Connection Lines - Draw connections as straight lines or as flexible lines.

Add a Service Provider to Your Diagram

1. Start by clicking Connections in the Resources section.

   

2. Click Service Providers to see all the available service providers. Click Load More and scroll through the list or enter the service provider name in the search field to find your preferred service provider. Drag your preferred service provider to the diagram workspace. The status for the service provider will indicate that it is Pending Configuration.

   

3. Click the pencil or double-click the component box to configure component options. Follow the steps in the right panel to select a service profile and metro location.

   

Once your configuration is completed, your design is automatically saved.

note

Solution Builder has an auto-save function to automatically save components and designs after the options are configured. It also saves design solutions when you navigate away from the Solution Builder to other portal functions. A saved icon displays with the last saved time and date.

After you’ve configured your service provider, click Main Menu to return to the Resources section.

Add a Device to Your Diagram

1. Click Virtual Devices and drag Single Device to your diagram.

   The status of the device will indicate that it is Pending Configuration.

   

2. Click the pencil to configure. Follow the steps in the right panel.

   

note

Be sure to configure all options in the device configuration including Virtual Device Name, Vendor, Device Model, Device Metro, Term Length, Device Configuration, Licensing, Device Resources, Software Package, and Software Version to start calculating price estimate.

For detailed information about device configuration, see Create a Single Virtual Device.

Connect Your Device to Your Service Provider

Use your cursor to connect your device to your service provider.

You will automatically be prompted to configure your connection. Follow the steps in the right panel. You must configure your Connection Name and select Connection Bandwidth to have accurate pricing for the entire design.

Add a Text Box to Your Diagram

1. Click Diagram Elements and drag Text to your diagram.

2. Enter text inside the box.

3. Double-click in the box to see the options menu and:

   • Click B to bold your text.
   • Click the gray or black circle to change the text color.
   • Click the clone icon to duplicate your text box.
   • Click the trash icon to delete your text box.

Text boxes cannot be resized. Text font size cannot be changed. Text box size will be increased horizontally as you add more text, and vertically as you enter line breaks.

Add a Generic Resource to Your Diagram

A Generic Resource is a flexible element representing any resource or concept that does not fit into Solution Builder's predefined product or service categories. Use Generic Resources for items that are not covered by existing Equinix product components, such as MCP servers or your own infrastructure components.

To add a generic resource to your diagram:

1. Click Diagram Elements and drag Generic Resource to your diagram.
2. Click the Generic Resource box to add the Generic Resource Name, resource Location, and a Description.
3. Click Save.

Generic Resources can be connected to other canvas elements in your diagram to create generic connections. Generic Resources are supported in Solution Templates.