VMware Networks

Creating Edge Routers

An Edge router (Edge Gateway, EG) is a software router that enables a Virtual Machine to connect to the network. The Edge router provides DHCP, NAT, Load Balancing, Firewall, Dynamic Routing, VPN, and other options. For detailed information, see the official VMware documentation.

A maximum number of 20 Edge routers per one organization is possible. Please create a ticket to increase the limit.

Follow these steps to create an Edge router:

  1. Go to the Cloud powered by VMware section of the Control panel and open the Virtual data centers subsection.
  2. Open the desired virtual data center.
  3. Go to the Edge routers tab.
  4. Click Create Edge router.
  5. Specify the Edge router size in the new window. When creating a vDC, Compact size is selected automatically (Compact is the smallest size in terms of performance and cost).
  6. Click Create.

Follow these steps to change the Edge router settings:

  1. Expand the (⋮) menu of the selected router in the list of created Edge routers.
  2. Select Configure Edge router.
  3. In the new window, you can change the Edge router size and enable High Availability mode (Edge router redundancy option).
  4. Click Create to apply changes.

Edge Router Size

Edge router size affects its performance. To provide stable operation of the Edge router and avoid packet loss and other problems, we recommend increasing the Edge router size to fit your load. The current Edge router implementation can be viewed in the vCloud Director panel.

Size vCPU RAM, mb Storage, mb
Compact 1 512 2 disks, 584 + 512
Large 2 1024 2 disks, 584 + 512
Quad Large 4 1024 3 disks, 584 + 512 + 512
X-Large 8 8096 3 disks, 584 + 2048 + 512

After resizing the Edge router, the router itself and IP addresses on it may be unavailable for 30 seconds.

Follow these steps to change the Edge router size:

  1. Expand the (⋮) menu of the selected router in the list of created Edge routers.
  2. Select Configure Edge router.
  3. Change the Edge router size in the new window.
  4. Click Create to apply changes.

Functional differences between Edge Compact and Edge Large

Configuration Edge Compact Edge Large
vCPU 1 2
Memory 512 MB 1 GB
NAT Rules 2048 4096
ARP Entries Until Overwrite 1024 2048
FW Performance 3 Gbps 9,7 Gbps
IPSec Tunnels 512 1600
SSLVPN Tunnels 50 100
Concurrent Sessions 64000 1000000
BGP Routes 20000 50000
BGP Neighbors 10 20
OSPF Adjacencies 10 20

Edge Router Redundancy Option

High Availability mode ensures fault tolerance of the Edge router by switching to the backup Edge router within 15 seconds in the event of a failure of the main one. All settings of the main router are automatically replicated to the backup one.

See more about High Availability option in the VMware documentation.

All network hardware from access switches to routers is fully redundant. Failure of any network device will not affect the Virtual Machines availability from public and local networks.

If you enable the High Availability option, the cost of Edge router will double.

Follow these steps to enable the High Availability option for the Edge router:

  1. Expand the (⋮) menu of the selected router in the list of created Edge routers.
  2. Select Configure Edge router.
  3. In the new window, you can change the Edge router size and enable the High Availability option (Edge router redundancy).
  4. Click Create to apply changes.

Deleting an Edge Router

Before deleting an Edge router, you must first check if the routing IP addresses and Organization VDC Networks are deleted from the router. Click Delete to delete an Edge router.

IP Addresses

IP addresses are assigned to the Edge router and are used to access the vDC from external networks, such as the Internet.

Please note that the Edge router is always created with an IP address that cannot be deleted.

A maximum number of 20 IP addresses per one organization is possible. Please create a ticket to increase the limit.

Creating IP Addresses

Follow these steps to create an Edge router:

  1. Go to the Cloud powered by VMware section of the Control panel and open the Virtual data centers subsection.
  2. Open the desired virtual data center.
  3. Go to the Edge routers tab.
  4. Click Add IP address.
  5. Specify the number of IP addresses in the new window.
  6. Click Submit.

New IP address(-es) will appear in the list.

Deleting IP Addresses

In the list of IP addresses, there is a delete button next to them:

  1. Click Delete.
  2. Enter the IP address you want to delete in the new window.
  3. Confirm your actions in the new window by clicking Delete.

Please note that the Edge router is always created with an IP address that cannot be deleted.

Direct Connected Subnets

Direct Connected subnet is a public subnet that is used for directly connecting and assigning IP addresses to the Virtual Machines without using an Edge router.

A maximum number of 5 Direct Connected subnets per one organization is possible. Please create a ticket to increase the limit.

Creating Direct Connected Subnets

Follow these steps to create a Direct Connected subnet:

  1. Go to the Cloud powered by VMware section of the Control panel and open the Virtual data centers subsection.
  2. Open the desired virtual data center.
  3. Go to the Direct Connected subnets tab.
  4. Click Create DC subnet.
  5. Specify the subnet size in the new window.
  6. Click Create.

Deleting Direct Connected Subnets

To delete a Direct Connected subnet in the Control panel, you need to disconnect all virtual machines and vAPPs from it using the vCloud Director panel.

In the list of Direct Connected subnets, there is a delete button next to them:

  1. Click Delete.
  2. Enter the address of the subnet you want to delete in the new window.
  3. Confirm your actions in the new window by clicking Delete.