Quickstart: Create and modify an ExpressRoute circuit
This quickstart shows you how to create an ExpressRoute circuit using the Azure portal and the Azure Resource Manager deployment model. You can also check the status, update, delete, or deprovision a circuit.
Prerequisites
- An Azure account with an active subscription. Create an account for free.
- Review the prerequisites and workflows before you begin configuration.
Create and provision an ExpressRoute circuit
Sign in to the Azure portal
From a browser, sign in to the Azure portal and sign in with your Azure account.
Create a new ExpressRoute circuit
Important
Your ExpressRoute circuit is billed from the moment a service key is issued. Ensure that you perform this operation when the connectivity provider is ready to provision the circuit.
On the Azure portal menu, select + Create a resource. Search for ExpressRoute and then select Create.
On the Create ExpressRoute page. Provide the Resource Group, Region, and Name for the circuit. Then select Next: Configuration >.
Setting Value Resource group Select Create new. Enter ExpressRouteResourceGroup Select OK. Region West US 2 Name TestERCircuit 
When you're filling in the values on this page, make sure that you specify the correct SKU tier (Local, Standard, or Premium) and data metering billing model (Unlimited or Metered).
Setting Description Port type Select if you're connecting to a service provider or directly into Microsoft's global network at a peering location. Create new or import from classic Select if you're creating a new circuit or if you're migrating a classic circuit to Azure Resource Manager. Provider Select the internet service provider who you are requesting your service from. Peering Location Select the physical location where you're peering with Microsoft. SKU Select the SKU for the ExpressRoute circuit. You can specify Local to get the local SKU, Standard to get the standard SKU or Premium for the premium add-on. You can change between Local, Standard and Premium. Billing model Select the billing type for egress data charge. You can specify Metered for a metered data plan and Unlimited for an unlimited data plan. You can change the billing type from Metered to Unlimited. Allow classic operations Enable this option to allow classic virtual networks to link to the circuit. Important
- The Peering Location indicates the physical location where you are peering with Microsoft. This is not linked to "Location" property, which refers to the geography where the Azure Network Resource Provider is located. While they're not related, it is a good practice to choose a Network Resource Provider geographically close to the Peering Location of the circuit.
- You can't change the SKU from Standard/Premium to Local in Azure portal. To downgrade the SKU to Local, you can use Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI.
- You can't change the type from Unlimited to Metered.
Select Review + create and then select Create to deploy the ExpressRoute circuit.
View the circuits and properties
View all the circuits
You can view all the circuits that you created by searching for ExpressRoute circuits in the search box at the top of the portal.
All Expressroute circuits created in the subscription appear here.
View the properties
You can view the properties of the circuit by selecting it. On the Overview page for your circuit, you find the Service Key. Provide the service key to the service provider to complete the provisioning process. The service key is unique to your circuit.
Send the service key to your connectivity provider for provisioning
On this page, Provider status gives you the current state of provisioning on the service-provider side. Circuit status provides you with the state on the Microsoft side. For more information about circuit provisioning states, see the Workflows article.
When you create a new ExpressRoute circuit, the circuit is in the following state:
Provider status: Not provisioned
Circuit status: Enabled
The circuit changes to the following state when the connectivity provider is currently enabling it for you:
Provider status: Provisioning
Circuit status: Enabled
To use the ExpressRoute circuit, it must be in the following state:
Provider status: Provisioned
Circuit status: Enabled
Periodically check the status and the state of the circuit key
You can view the properties of the circuit that you're interested in by selecting it. Check the Provider status and ensure that it has moved to Provisioned before you continue.
Create your routing configuration
For step-by-step instructions, refer to the ExpressRoute circuit routing configuration article to create and modify circuit peerings.
Important
These instructions only apply to circuits that are created with service providers that offer layer 2 connectivity services. If you're using a service provider that offers managed layer 3 services (typically an IP VPN, like MPLS), your connectivity provider configures and manages routing for you.
Link a virtual network to an ExpressRoute circuit
Next, link a virtual network to your ExpressRoute circuit. Use the Linking virtual networks to ExpressRoute circuits article when you work with the Resource Manager deployment model.
Getting the status of an ExpressRoute circuit
You can view the status of a circuit by selecting it and viewing the Overview page.
Modifying an ExpressRoute circuit
You can modify certain properties of an ExpressRoute circuit without impacting connectivity. You can modify the bandwidth, SKU, billing model and allow classic operations on the Configuration page. For information on limits and limitations, see the ExpressRoute FAQ.
You can do the following tasks with no downtime:
Enable or disable an ExpressRoute Premium add-on for your ExpressRoute circuit.
Important
Changing the SKU from Standard/Premium to Local is not supported in Azure portal. To downgrade the SKU to Local, you can use Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI.
Increase the bandwidth of your ExpressRoute circuit, provided there's capacity available on the port.
Important
- Downgrading the bandwidth of a circuit is not supported.
- To determine if there is available capacity for a bandwidth upgrade, submit a support request.
Change the metering plan from Metered Data to Unlimited Data.
Important
Changing the metering plan from Unlimited Data to Metered Data is not supported.
You can enable and disable Allow Classic Operations.
Important
You may have to recreate the ExpressRoute circuit if there is inadequate capacity on the existing port. You cannot upgrade the circuit if there is no additional capacity available at that location.
Although you can seamlessly upgrade the bandwidth, you cannot reduce the bandwidth of an ExpressRoute circuit without disruption. Downgrading bandwidth requires you to deprovision the ExpressRoute circuit and then reprovision a new ExpressRoute circuit.
Disabling the Premium add-on operation can fail if you're using resources that are greater than what is permitted for the standard circuit.
To modify an ExpressRoute circuit, select Configuration.
Deprovisioning an ExpressRoute circuit
If the ExpressRoute circuit service provider provisioning state is Provisioning or Provisioned you must work with your service provider to deprovision the circuit on their side. We continue to reserve resources and bill you until the service provider completes deprovisioning the circuit and notifies us.
Note
- You must unlink all virtual networks from the ExpressRoute circuit before deprovisioning. If this operation fails, check whether any virtual networks are linked to the circuit.
- If the service provider has deprovisioned the circuit (the service provider provisioning state is set to Not provisioned), you can delete the circuit. This stops billing for the circuit.
Clean up resources
You can delete your ExpressRoute circuit by selecting the Delete icon. Ensure the provider status is Not provisioned before proceeding.
Next steps
After you create your circuit, continue with the following next step:
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