AWS Direct Connect (DX) Overview

AWS Direct Connect (DX) is a service that provides a dedicated, private connection from a remote network to a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in AWS, bypassing the public internet for increased security, bandwidth, and consistency. This service is essential for enterprises requiring reliable, high-bandwidth connections between their on-premises data centers and AWS.

Key Features and Use Cases

• Dedicated Connection: Ensures private connectivity to AWS, enhancing security and performance.
• Increased Bandwidth Throughputs: Ideal for transferring large data sets efficiently.
• Lower Costs: Reduces costs by utilizing private connections instead of public internet.
• Consistent Network Experience: Offers a more stable and predictable network performance.
• Hybrid Environments Support: Facilitates the integration of on-premises data centers with cloud resources.
• IPv4 and IPv6 Support: Compatible with both IP addressing schemes.

Components

• AWS Direct Connect Location: Physical location where the Direct Connect is established.
• Virtual Private Gateway (VPG): Configured on the VPC to establish connectivity.
• Private and Public Virtual Interfaces (VIFs): For accessing private (e.g., EC2 instances) and public (e.g., Amazon S3) resources.

Connectivity Diagram Explanation

• Private VIF: Connects on-premises data center to VPC resources through a VPG.
• Public VIF: Allows access to public AWS services directly.
• Direct Connect Gateway: Enables connection to multiple VPCs across different regions.

Connection Types