Updated 2025-01-15

FastConnect Requirements

This topic covers the requirements for implementing FastConnect.

For general information about FastConnect, see the articles listed for FastConnect.

Before Getting Started: Learn and Plan

Here are basic things you need to do before getting started with FastConnect:

  • FastConnect concepts: Be familiar with the basic concepts covered in FastConnect Concepts.
  • Limits increase: If you are colocated with Oracle, you must ask Oracle to increase your account limits for cross-connects. By default, these limits are initially set to 0, and a request to create a cross-connect will fail. For instructions, see Requesting a Service Limit Increase. In your request, indicate the region where you need the resources. It can take a couple of business days for the limit increase to take effect.
  • Hardware and routing requirements: Review the hardware and routing requirements.
  • Tenancy setup and compartment design: If you haven't yet, set up your tenancy. Think about who needs access to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and how. For more information, see Learn Best Practices for Setting Up Your Tenancy. Specifically for FastConnect, see Required IAM Policy to understand the policy required to work with FastConnect components.
  • Cloud network design: Design your Virtual Cloud Network (VCN), including how you want to allocate your VCN's subnets, define security list rules, define route tables, set up load balancers, and so on. For more information, see Networking.
  • Redundancy: Think through your overall redundancy model to ensure your network can handle planned maintenance by Oracle or your organization, and unexpected failures of the various components. For best practices, see FastConnect Redundancy Best Practices.
  • Public IP prefixes: If you plan to set up a public virtual circuit, get the list of the public IP prefixes that you want to use with the connection. Oracle must validate your organization's ownership of each of the prefixes before advertising each one over the connection.
  • Cloud network setup: Set up your VCN, subnets, DRG, security lists, IAM policies, and so on, according to your design.
  • See FastConnect Limits and Requesting a Service Limit Increase for limits-related information.

General Requirements

Before getting started with FastConnect, ensure that you meet the following requirements:

  • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure account, with at least one user with appropriate Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Identity and Access Management (IAM) permissions (for example, a user in the Administrators group).
  • Network equipment that supports Layer 3 routing using BGP.
  • For colocation with Oracle: Ability to connect using single mode fiber in the selected FastConnect location. Also see Hardware and Routing Requirements.
  • For connection to an Oracle partner: At least one physical network connection with the partner. Also see Hardware and Routing Requirements.
  • For connection to a third-party provider: At least one physical connection with the provider. Also see Hardware and Routing Requirements.
  • For private peering only: At least one existing DRG set up for a VCN.
  • For public peering only: The list of public IP address prefixes that you want to use with the connection. Oracle validates ownership of each prefix.
Important

If you intend to colocate with Oracle, you must ask Oracle to increase your account limits for cross-connects. These default limits are initially set to 0, and a without a specific request for a limit increase you won't be able to create a valid cross-connect. For instructions on placing this request, see Requesting a Service Limit Increase. In your request, indicate the region where you need the resources. It can take a couple of business days for the limit increase to take effect.

Hardware and Routing Requirements

Required IAM Policy

Identifiers for FastConnect Resources

FastConnect resources have several identifiers:

  • Name for the overall connection: When you create a new FastConnect connection, you can give it a descriptive name of your choice. If you don't specify one, Oracle automatically assigns a name to the connection.
  • Reference name for each cross-connect: Each cross-connect has an optional reference name. If you set up a cross-connect, Oracle recommends that you fill in the reference name with the identifier for the cross-connect's physical fiber cable. That makes it easier for Oracle to help if future troubleshooting is required for the connection. After cabling is done and you have the identifier from the data center, you can add it to the cross-connect's information in the Oracle Console.
  • OCID for each resource: Each cross-connect group, cross-connect, and virtual circuit has its own unique Oracle-assigned identifier called an OCID.