Backend Transfer¶
All Equinix Metal™ servers are provisioned with a block of Private IPv4 addresses so that servers within the same Project and Metro can communicate in a private and secure manner without establishing VPN tunnels or sending data over the public Internet. This is also referred to as "backend" networking.
If you need to connect servers across Metros using their private IPv4 addresses, you will need to enable Backend Transfer.
Availability and Rates¶
Backend Transfer is available in all Equinix Metal Metros.
When transferring data between Metros, we have to move that traffic across our network, so Backend Transfer across Metros is billed on a usage basis. Data transfer rates are available on our Global Network product page.
Enabling and Disabling Backend Transfer¶
Backend Transfer is enabled on the Project level.
In the Equinix Metal console, Backend Transfer is managed from the IPs & Networks tab, on the Backend Transfer page. Use the toggle to enable and disable Backend Transfer.
To enable Backend Transfer through the Equinix Metal API, send a PUT request to the /projects/{id} endpoint. Send the backend_transfer_enabled parameter set to true in the body of the request.
curl -X PUT -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "X-Auth-Token: <API_TOKEN>" "https://api.equinix.com/metal/v1/projects/{id}" -d '{"backend_transfer_enabled": true}'
To disable backend transfer, use the same request, setting backend_transfer_enabled parameter set to false.
curl -X PUT -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "X-Auth-Token: <API_TOKEN>" "https://api.equinix.com/metal/v1/projects/{id}" -d '{"backend_transfer_enabled": false}'
Backend Transfer will be enabled on your project immediately, although you may have to wait up to 1 minute for the connectivity to be established.