Port verification for customer interconnection in a data center
In general, techniques are described for dynamic port configuration with an interconnection system (IS) to streamline a process for port ordering and reduce port configuration and interconnection services provisioning times. In one example, an IS includes at least one interconnection facility and a programmable network platform, the at least one interconnection facility including: a network switch fabric having at least one network device and a plurality of ports; and a customer cage for a customer of an IS provider, wherein the programmable network platform is configured to, in response to a port verification request initiated by the customer to verify a port of the plurality of ports that is cross-connected to a customer network in the customer cage to provide connectivity with the network switch fabric: obtain an indication of port configuration for the port; and output the indication of port configuration for the port for display to the customer.
1. An interconnection system comprising:
at least one interconnection facility and a programmable network platform configured to provision a port of a plurality of ports of a network switch fabric,
the at least one interconnection facility including:
the network switch fabric having at least one network device and the plurality of ports;
a customer cage for a customer of an interconnection system provider for the interconnection system,
wherein the programmable network platform is configured to, in response to a port verification request initiated by the customer to verify the port of the plurality of ports, wherein the port is cross-connected to a customer network in the customer cage to provide connectivity with the network switch fabric:
simulate a remote customer network reachable by the customer network via the port.
2. The interconnection system of claim 1 , wherein to simulate the remote customer network the programmable network platform is configured to output at least one data communication to the customer network via the port.
3. The interconnection system of claim 1 , wherein to simulate the remote customer network the programmable network platform is configured to output at least one route for a routing protocol to the customer network via the port.
4. The interconnection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one interconnection facility comprises an interconnection system provider cage accessible only to the interconnection system provider,
wherein the interconnection system provider cage includes the at least one network device.
5. The interconnection system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a customer portal application configured to output an interface by which the customer initiates the port verification request,
wherein the programmable network platform comprises a service interface configured to receive, from the customer portal application, the port verification request.
6. The interconnection system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cloud-based services exchange comprising the network switch fabric,
wherein the customer is one of an enterprise and a cloud service provider coupled to the cloud-based services exchange by a cross-connect with the port.
7. A method comprising:
receiving, by a programmable network platform for at least one interconnection facility having a network switch fabric having at least one network device and a plurality of ports and a customer cage for a customer of an interconnection system provider for the at least one interconnection facility, a port request to configure and verify a port of the plurality of ports for a customer co-located in an interconnection facility, wherein the port is cross-connected to a customer network in the customer cage to provide connectivity with the network switch fabric;
by the programmable network platform in response to the port request, configuring the port in the network switch fabric; and
by the programmable network platform, in response to the port request, simulating a remote customer network reachable by the customer network via the port.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein simulating the remote customer network comprises outputting, by the programmable network platform, at least one data communication to the customer network via the port.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein simulating the remote customer network comprises outputting, by the programmable network platform, at least one route for a routing protocol to the customer network via the port.
10. The method of claim 7 ,
wherein the at least one interconnection facility comprises an interconnection system provider cage accessible only to the interconnection system provider,
wherein the interconnection system provider cage includes the at least one network device.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
outputting, by a customer portal application, an interface by which the customer initiates the port request;
receiving, by the customer portal application, parameters for the port request;
generating, by the customer portal application based at least on the parameters for the port request, the port request; and
receiving, by a service interface of the programmable network platform and from the customer portal application, the port request.