GridMetro Service

Overview

GridMetro is GridColo's network connectivity service that provides access to multiple network providers at each GridColo site, giving you choice, redundancy, and competitive pricing for your internet connectivity needs. Unlike traditional single-provider connections, GridMetro aggregates multiple carriers at each site, allowing you to select from various providers and connection types. This service is particularly valuable for organizations that need redundant connectivity, want to avoid vendor lock-in, or require connections to specific network providers. GridMetro services are site-specific, meaning each order is associated with a particular GridColo location and provides connectivity to the network providers available at that specific facility.

Orders List

The GridMetro orders list shows all your network connectivity orders across all GridColo sites. This view helps you track the status of connectivity provisioning, see which sites have active GridMetro services, and monitor the lifecycle of your network connections. Each order represents a network port or set of ports at a specific site, with associated IP allocations and BGP configuration options.

• View GridMetro Orders: See all GridMetro orders for your organization, organized by site
• Order Status Tracking: Monitor order status (pending, provisioned, active, cancelled) to understand when services will be available
• Order History: Access historical GridMetro orders for reference and billing purposes

Create New Order

Creating a new GridMetro order allows you to request network connectivity at a specific GridColo site. The order process guides you through selecting the appropriate port speed, connection type, and delivery location. Real-time pricing is displayed based on your selections, helping you make informed decisions about your connectivity needs. When selecting a delivery location, you can choose from your allocated resources (such as specific cages or racks) or use the "Next Available" option to let GridColo automatically assign the connection to an appropriate location at the site.

When creating a new GridMetro order, you can:

• Select Port Speed: Choose from 1Gbps, 10Gbps, or 100Gbps port speeds based on your bandwidth requirements
• Select Connection Type:
  • Standard: Single connection for cost-effective connectivity
  • Redundant: Dual connections for high availability and failover protection
• View Real-Time Pricing: See pricing based on your selections before submitting the order
• Select IP Requirements: Choose IP address allocation needs (IPv4 and/or IPv6)
• Select Delivery Location: Choose from:
  • Your allocated resources (cages, racks) for connections to specific equipment locations
  • "Next Available" option for automatic assignment to an appropriate location
• Submit Order: Submit the order for processing and provisioning

Order Detail

The order detail view provides comprehensive information about a specific GridMetro order, including all configuration details, port assignments, IP allocations, and billing information. This is where you'll manage the ongoing aspects of your GridMetro service, configure BGP sessions, and track the provisioning status. The detail view is essential for understanding exactly how your connectivity is configured and what resources have been allocated to your service.

For each GridMetro order, you can:

• View Order Details: See complete order information including site, port speed, connection type, and status
• Port Assignments: View which specific ports have been assigned to your order at the site
• IP Allocations: See IP address blocks (both IPv4 and IPv6) allocated to your service
• Billing Information: View billing details, monthly recurring charges (MRC), and payment information
• Order Status Tracking: Monitor the provisioning and activation status to know when your service will be live

BGP Prefixes Management

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) prefix management allows you to announce your own IP address prefixes through GridMetro, enabling you to use your own IP space and maintain control over your routing. This is essential for organizations that own IP address blocks and want to announce them through their GridMetro connections. The BGP prefix management section lets you request prefix announcements, upload required documentation (Letters of Authorization), and track the approval status of your prefix requests. Each prefix must be approved by GridColo and the upstream providers before it can be announced, so monitoring the approval status is important for timely activation.

For GridMetro orders, you can manage BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) prefixes:

• View BGP Prefixes: See all BGP prefixes associated with your GridMetro service and their announcement status
• Add New BGP Prefixes: Request new BGP prefix announcements with CIDR notation and ASN information
• Upload LOA Documents: Upload Letter of Authorization (LOA) documents required for prefix announcements
• View Prefix Approval Status: Track approval status of BGP prefix requests through the approval workflow
• ASN Configuration: Configure your Autonomous System Number (ASN) for BGP peering
• Prefix Announcement Management: Manage which prefixes are announced through GridMetro and control your routing