What Is Cloud Connect?

Cloud Connect provides both cloud connections and central networks that allow you to connect Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) in different regions, so that the resources in these VPCs can communicate over a private network as if they were within the same network. Cloud Connect can also work with Direct Connect to set up a hybrid cloud network that enables on-premises data centers to access the VPCs across regions. You can choose either a cloud connection or a central network based on service requirements.

**Table 1** Cloud Connect features
Feature	Application Scenarios	Bandwidth	Advantages	Region Availability
Cloud Connection	Connect VPCs in different regions to set up a single private network. Connect on-premises data centers to VPCs in different regions to set up a hybrid cloud network.	You need to buy and bind a bandwidth package to the cloud connection and assign inter-region bandwidths to enable communication between network instances in different regions.	Low costs Simple networking VPC in different regions can be connected in minutes. VPCs in different regions are connected.	Cloud Connection Region Availability
Central Network	Connect VPCs in different regions by attaching them to enterprise routers in the corresponding regions. Connect on-premises data centers to VPCs in different regions by attaching them to enterprise routers in the corresponding regions.	You need to buy and bind a global connection bandwidth to the central network and assign cross-site connection bandwidths to enable communication between the resources in different regions.	Flexible networking Dynamic routing A variety of attachments and network scenarios Enterprise routers in different regions are connected.	Central Network Region Availability

Cloud Connection

A cloud connection enables communication between VPCs in different regions and between VPCs and on-premises data centers.

Connecting VPCs in different regions
In Figure 1, two VPCs (VPC-A01 and VPC-A02) in region A, two VPCs (VPC-B01 and VPC-B02) in region B, and two VPCs (VPC-C01 and VPC-C02) in region C are connected using a cloud connection. In this way, all the VPCs in the three regions can communicate with each other.
Connecting on-premises data centers and VPCs in different regions
In Figure 1, the VPCs in each region are connected over a cloud connection so all the VPCs in the three regions can communicate with each other.

The on-premises data center in each region is connected to the two VPCs in that region over a Direct Connect connection, and the virtual gateways for each on-premises data center are connected over the cloud connection. In this way, the two on-premises data centers can communicate with all the VPCs in the three regions.

Table 2 explains some concepts related to cloud connections.
Figure 1 How a cloud connection works

**Table 2** Cloud connection concepts
Concept	Description
Network instance	A network instance can be a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) or virtual gateway. VPCs in different regions can be connected using a cloud connection. If VPCs are connected by a cloud connection, virtual gateways associated with each VPC can be loaded to this cloud connection to allow the on-premises data center to communicate with these VPCs. In Direct Connect, a virtual gateway associates a virtual interface with a VPC so that the on-premises data center can access this VPC. For more information about Direct Connect, see What Is Direct Connect?
Bandwidth package	A bandwidth package is required for inter-region communication regardless of whether: The two regions are in the same geographic region. The two regions are in different geographic regions. Bandwidth packages are not required for communication among network instances in the same region. NOTE: For details about geographic regions and Huawei Cloud regions, see Geographic Regions and Huawei Cloud Regions.
Inter-region bandwidth	Inter-region bandwidth is used for two regions to communicate with each other. If there is more than one inter-region bandwidth, the sum of all inter-region bandwidths cannot exceed the total bandwidth of the bandwidth package.

Central Network

Relying on the cloud backbone network, a central network allows you to easily build a reliable, intelligent enterprise-grade network and manage global network resources on premises and on the cloud. By setting up a central network, you can enable communication between enterprise routers, as well as between enterprise routers and your on-premises data center, in the same region or different regions.

Connecting VPCs in different regions
In Figure 2, the two VPCs (VPC-A01 and VPC-A02) are attached to an enterprise router (ER-A) in region A, two VPCs (VPC-B01 and VPC-B02) are attached to an enterprise router (ER-B) in region B, and two VPCs (VPC-C01 and VPC-C02) are attached to an enterprise router (ER-C) in region C.

The three enterprise routers (ER-A, ER-B, and ER-C) are connected over a central network. In this way, the enterprise routers can communicate with each other across regions, and the VPCs in these regions can communicate with each other.
Connecting on-premises data centers and VPCs in different regions
In Figure 2, the two VPCs in each region are attached to an enterprise router, and the on-premises data center in each region is connected to the two VPCs in that region over a Direct Connect connection. The global DC gateways for each on-premises data center are attached to the enterprise router in each region, and the enterprise routers in the three regions are connected over the central network.

In this way, the VPCs in all the regions can communicate with each other, and the two on-premises data center can communicate with all the VPCs in the three regions.

Table 3 explains some concepts related to central networks.

Figure 2 How a central network works

**Table 3** Central network concepts
Concept	Description
Enterprise router	An enterprise router enables the VPCs in the same region to communicate with each other. By working with global DC gateways provided by Direct Connect, enterprise routers enable the VPCs and on-premises data centers in the same region to communicate with each other. Enterprise routers in different regions can be connected using a central network to allow for cross-region communication between VPCs and between on-premises data centers and VPCs. For more information about enterprise routers, see What Is an Enterprise Router?
Global DC gateway	Global DC gateways can work with enterprise routers to allow on-premises data centers to communicate with the VPCs over a hybrid cloud network. A global DC gateway can be attached to enterprise routers in different regions on a central network. This reduces latency, simplifies network topology, and improves network O&M efficiency.
Global connection bandwidth	A global connection bandwidth can be bound to a central network to allow the resources to communicate with each other over the backbone network, regardless of whether: The resources are in the same geographic region. The resources are in different geographic regions. For more information, see Geographic-Region or Cross-Geographic-Region Bandwidth (Central Network).

Accessing Cloud Connect

You can access Cloud Connect through the management console or by calling HTTPS-based APIs.

Using the management console
The management console is a web-based GUI where you can easily perform various operations. Log in to the management console and choose Cloud Connect from the main menu.
Using APIs
If you need to integrate Cloud Connect into a third-party system for secondary development, you can use APIs to access Cloud Connect. For details, see the Cloud Connect API Reference.