Previous section: RackConnect key terms
Applies to: RackConnect v2.0
The following items are required to implement RackConnect v2.0.
Supported network device#
The RackConnect automation is compatible with any Cisco ASA firewall (5505 Security+ or better) or F5 BIG-IP load balancer. To implement RackConnect, you need at least one of these devices in your managed hosting configuration. If you already have one, there is no additional charge for RackConnect.
Supported region#
RackConnect is currently available in our Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Virginia (IAD), Sydney (SYD), Hong Kong (HKG), and London (LON3) regions. To implement RackConnect, your dedicated managed hosting environment and cloud environment must be located in the same region.
Automation process#
RackConnect connects an available physical interface on your network device to the cloud internal network. Creating a new cloud server triggers the RackConnect automation process, which, in cases where all automation features are enabled, performs the following actions:
Validates the existence of a gateway IP address on your RackConnect connected device, and adds the appropriate gateway IP address if one does not exist
Provisions a public IP address for the cloud server and configures a static NAT translation for it on the RackConnect edge network device
Connects to the cloud server, disables its public interface, and routes all traffic through its private interface (ServiceNet, which has the 10.x.x.x IP address) towards your RackConnect connected device as the default gateway
Adjusts access lists on the firewall, load balancer (if applicable), and cloud server software firewalls based on your predefined network policies
Without RackConnect, traffic is routed out through the Internet when connecting from Dedicated to Cloud.
With RackConnect, traffic is routed via your dedicated network device to the cloud. RackConnect automation keeps your dedicated configuration and cloud servers secure.
