New Low-Cost Option to Access AWS Direct Connect through Internet2

Using AWS Direct Connect, Internet2 and NET+ members can now establish private connectivity between AWS and their datacenter, office, or colocation environment, which can reduce network costs, increase bandwidth throughput, and provide a more consistent network experience than Internet-based connections.

Internet2, a member-owned advanced technology community, provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research, and community service missions.

To continue its mission of transforming research and removing barriers in the academic world, Internet2 now offers a AWS Direct Connect solution for members to access private resources within a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). This new way of accessing the cloud provides member institutions an efficient, on-demand deployment of storage and compute capabilities, with the option of maintaining network separation between the public and private environments. With AWS Direct Connect, researchers can reduce the time it takes to begin a research project and get to work immediately.

This solution uses the Internet2 Network along with a user’s regional infrastructure to reach AWS Direct Connect. Internet2 currently has two connections to Direct Connect: one in Ashburn, Virginia and a second one in Chicago, Illinois. Additional locations will be implemented in the coming months, including Dallas, Texas, and a West Coast location.

What Data Egress Means for Higher Education

To continue to make it easier for researchers to use AWS cloud storage, computing, and database services, AWS has waived data egress fees for qualified researchers and academic customers.

“AWS listened to its customers and responded to the needs of researchers. By reducing data egress fees, AWS helps researchers launch their first computing instances in minutes, ultimately accelerating time-to-science. We are excited to be able to work with AWS to continue to remove barriers to cloud service adoption,” said Sara Jeanes Cloud Services Program Manager at Internet2.

Institutions receive the data egress waiver if they:

• Are a subscriber to the NET+ AWS program or have registered separately for the AWS Global Data Egress Waiver Program by contacting their AWS Account Manager.
• Use Internet2 Cloud Connect in conjunction with their Internet2 Network Connector to connect to AWS.
• Provision AWS accounts under the registered institutional AWS payer account.

Get Started

In this video, learn how to establish a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS with AWS Direct Connect and how to reduce networking costs while increasing throughput.

Here is a sample architecture that uses Internet2 as the transport provider from campus to connect to multiple AWS Direct Connect facilities. These are then connected to a Direct Connect Gateway. This allows a customer to use redundant paths via Direct Connect and access multiple regions from campus.