AWS Interconnect: Seamless Multicloud & Edge Networking

Bridging the Cloud Divide

AWS Interconnect's general availability marks a substantial leap forward in simplifying cross-cloud and edge networking for enterprises. The 'Interconnect multicloud' feature, particularly its initial joint engineering with Google Cloud, directly tackles the historical complexity of establishing private Layer 3 connections between VPCs and other hyperscalers. The move from manual VPN configurations, colocation facility management, and third-party network fabrics to an on-demand, console-driven provisioning process is a game-changer. The abstraction of the physical layer, coupled with automated route propagation and built-in high availability and MACsec encryption, significantly reduces operational overhead and deployment time. This is a critical development for organizations pursuing hybrid and multicloud strategies, enabling them to treat different cloud environments with a more unified networking approach.

The 'Interconnect last mile' capability further solidifies AWS's commitment to hybrid cloud by streamlining high-speed private connections from on-premises locations. The automated provisioning of redundant connections, BGP configuration, and default encryption simplifies a traditionally complex setup. This service will be invaluable for businesses that need reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity to AWS from their data centers or branch offices. The 99.99% availability SLA and flexible bandwidth options (1 Gbps to 100 Gbps) make it a robust solution for demanding workloads.

However, potential concerns remain. The initial limited region pairs for multicloud connectivity, while expanding, could be a bottleneck for some global deployments. The dependency on partner network providers for 'last mile' connectivity means that availability and pricing can vary, and customers are not entirely free from third-party reliance. Furthermore, while the joint engineering with Google Cloud is a strong starting point, the lack of similar managed interconnects with Microsoft Azure is a notable gap. The article also highlights crucial technical prerequisites like non-overlapping IP address ranges and matching MTU, which, if not meticulously managed, can lead to connectivity issues and data loss. The absence of a web console for provisioning on the Google Cloud side at GA is also a minor usability drawback. Despite these points, the overall direction AWS is taking with Interconnect is highly positive, pushing the industry towards more integrated and manageable cloud networking solutions.

Key Points

• AWS Interconnect is now generally available, offering managed private connectivity.
• Two key capabilities: 'Interconnect multicloud' for Layer 3 private connections between AWS and other clouds (initially Google Cloud, Azure and OCI coming later), and 'Interconnect last mile' for connecting on-premises to AWS.
• 'Interconnect multicloud' with Google Cloud is a jointly engineered solution, simplifying provisioning to minutes via the AWS Direct Connect console, abstracting physical infrastructure.
• This contrasts with previous methods requiring weeks or months of manual configuration and colocation.
• Traffic flows privately over AWS and Google Cloud backbones, with MACsec encryption and built-in resiliency.
• AWS has published the underlying specification under Apache 2.0, inviting other cloud providers to become partners.
• 'Interconnect last mile' automates provisioning of four redundant connections, BGP routing, MACsec encryption, and Jumbo Frames with a 99.99% availability SLA.
• Technical considerations include non-overlapping IP ranges and matching MTU between peered VPCs.
• AWS Transit Gateway and Cloud WAN can be used for regional and global aggregation respectively.

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📖 Source: AWS Interconnect Reaches General Availability with Managed Multicloud and Last-Mile Connectivity