burim:azure:er:globalreach
Table of Contents
What issue does Global Reach solve
ExpressRoute Global Reach often causes confusion, because it’s not the same as ExpressRoute into vWAN or VNet peering.
The Problem Without Global Reach
- If you have two ExpressRoute circuits in different peering locations (e.g., one in London, one in Frankfurt) connected to your on-premises datacenters, they are not automatically connected to each other.
- By default:
- London DC ↔ Azure (via ER circuit 1)
- Frankfurt DC ↔ Azure (via ER circuit 2)
- But London DC ↔ Frankfurt DC cannot talk directly via Microsoft’s backbone.
- If you need those two datacenters to exchange traffic, you’d normally have to backhaul through your own WAN or build additional connectivity (VPN, MPLS, SD-WAN, etc.).
What Global Reach Does
- ExpressRoute Global Reach lets you connect two (or more) on-premises sites together via the Microsoft backbone, through their ER circuits.
- So, your London on-premises site can talk directly to Frankfurt on-premises site, riding Microsoft’s private backbone instead of your own WAN.
Benefits
- Eliminates the need for a separate WAN/MPLS link between sites.
- Reduces latency (uses Microsoft’s global backbone).
- Simplifies routing: both sites learn each other’s prefixes via ER BGP.
- Still keeps Azure reachable via both ER circuits.
Summary
ExpressRoute Global Reach solves the problem of connecting your own on-premises datacenters (in different geographic locations) to each other over Microsoft’s private backbone, using their respective ExpressRoute circuits.
Sources for ExpressRoute Global Reach
Official Microsoft Documentation
- ExpressRoute Documentation
The main portal for all things related to ExpressRoute, including Global Reach.
Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/ro-ro/azure/expressroute/
- ExpressRoute Global Reach Overview
Detailed explanation of how Global Reach connects on-premises environments via Microsoft’s private backbone.
Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/ro-ro/azure/expressroute/expressroute-global-reach
- Tutorial: Peer On-Premises Environments to Azure VMware Solution
Practical guide showing how to use Global Reach to connect on-premises networks to Azure VMware Solution.
Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/vi-vn/azure/azure-vmware/tutorial-expressroute-global-reach-private-cloud
burim/azure/er/globalreach.txt · Last modified: 2025/08/20 13:05 by burim
