Data centre interconnect: connecting your data centres and the cloud
What data centre interconnect (DCI) is, the options from Ethernet to wavelengths and dark fiber, and how to design fast, resilient links between data centres and cloud platforms.
- Data centre interconnect (DCI) links your data centres, and your data centres to the cloud, over dedicated capacity.
- Options range from managed Ethernet to wavelengths and dark fiber, depending on capacity and control.
- Diverse routes and protected services keep critical replication and applications running.
Modern organisations rarely run from one data centre. Production, disaster recovery, colocation and cloud platforms all need to work together as if they were one. Data centre interconnect (DCI) is the dedicated connectivity that makes that possible.
What data centre interconnect does
DCI links data centres to each other, and to cloud platforms, over dedicated, high-capacity connections. It carries:
- Replication and backup between primary and disaster-recovery sites.
- Application traffic for systems spread across locations.
- Cloud connectivity for hybrid and multi-cloud setups.
Your options
| Option | Capacity | Control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethernet private line | 1G–100G | Managed | Most enterprise DCI |
| Wavelengths | 10G–400G | Managed optical | High-capacity, low-latency routes |
| Dark fiber | Unlimited | Full | Large or fast-growing traffic, own team |
| Cloud on-ramp | 1G–100G | Managed | Private access to cloud platforms |
Designing for resilience
- Use two physically diverse routes between critical sites.
- Choose protected services that switch automatically if a route is affected.
- Keep latency low for synchronous replication by choosing direct routes.
- Monitor every link 24/7.
Planning your interconnect
- Map your sites: data centres, colocation and cloud regions.
- Estimate traffic for replication, backup and applications, with room to grow.
- Choose the service for each route: Ethernet, wavelengths or dark fiber.
- Design diversity for every critical link.
- Test failover before going live.
How Telxer can help
Telxer Fiber provides Ethernet, wavelengths from 10G to 400G, dark fiber and IX and data centre connectivity, plus private cloud on-ramps. See our cloud and data centre connectivity solution.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity do I need between data centres?
It depends on replication, backup and application traffic. Many organisations start at 10G and move to 100G or 400G wavelengths as traffic grows.
Should I choose wavelengths or dark fiber?
Wavelengths are a managed optical service at a set capacity. Dark fiber gives you full control and unlimited capacity, but you run the equipment.
Can DCI connect to cloud platforms?
Yes. Cloud on-ramps extend your interconnect privately into public cloud platforms, bypassing the public internet.
Want help applying this? Our team can review your setup and recommend next steps.
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