AWS Networkmanager Connection: A Deep Dive in AWS Resources & Best Practices to Adopt
Modern enterprises are increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, with 92% of organizations using multiple cloud providers according to Flexera's 2024 State of the Cloud report. This distributed approach creates complex networking challenges that traditional point-to-point connections struggle to address efficiently. AWS recognizes this challenge and has developed a comprehensive suite of network management tools to help organizations build, monitor, and optimize their global network infrastructure.
The complexity of managing global networks has grown exponentially as organizations expand their digital footprint across multiple regions, availability zones, and on-premises locations. A recent study by 451 Research found that 87% of IT leaders cite network complexity as a significant barrier to digital transformation initiatives. This complexity manifests in several ways: difficulty in visualizing network topology, challenges in maintaining consistent security policies across different network segments, and the operational overhead of managing multiple connection types and protocols.
Real-world examples demonstrate the critical importance of effective network management. Consider a multinational financial services company that operates trading floors in New York, London, and Tokyo. Each location requires ultra-low latency connections to their primary data centers, backup connectivity for disaster recovery, and secure channels for regulatory compliance data. Without proper network management tools, this organization would need to manually configure and monitor dozens of individual connections, each with its own set of requirements and failure scenarios.
Similarly, a global manufacturing company might have production facilities that need to communicate with centralized inventory management systems, while also maintaining secure connections to partner networks for supply chain coordination. The network complexity visualization tools provided by AWS help these organizations understand and optimize their network architectures at scale.
The advent of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) has further complicated the landscape while simultaneously providing new opportunities for optimization. Organizations can now abstract network functions from underlying hardware, enabling more flexible and efficient network designs. However, this abstraction also introduces new layers of complexity that require sophisticated management tools to navigate effectively.
In this blog post we will learn about what AWS Networkmanager Connection is, how you can configure and work with it using Terraform, and learn about the best practices for this service.
What is AWS Networkmanager Connection?
AWS Networkmanager Connection is a network management resource that enables organizations to establish and manage connections between different network components within their AWS global network infrastructure. This service provides a centralized approach to defining, monitoring, and controlling how network endpoints communicate with each other across complex, distributed network architectures.
The Networkmanager Connection serves as a logical representation of the relationship between network devices, links, and sites within your global network topology. Unlike traditional networking approaches that require manual configuration of each connection point, Networkmanager Connection provides an abstraction layer that simplifies the process of establishing and maintaining network relationships. This abstraction is particularly valuable for organizations that need to manage hundreds or thousands of network connections across multiple geographic locations and cloud environments.
At its core, the Networkmanager Connection resource facilitates the creation of point-to-point or site-to-site connections that enable seamless communication between different parts of your network infrastructure. These connections can represent various types of network relationships, including dedicated fiber connections, VPN tunnels, virtual private connections, or even logical connections between software-defined network components. The service integrates deeply with other AWS networking services to provide a comprehensive view of your entire network topology.
Architecture and Core Concepts
The Networkmanager Connection operates within the broader context of AWS Global Network Manager, which provides a unified view of your on-premises and AWS network infrastructure. This integration allows organizations to visualize, monitor, and optimize their network performance from a single console, regardless of whether the underlying infrastructure is hosted on AWS, on-premises, or with third-party providers.
The architecture of Networkmanager Connection is built around several key components that work together to provide comprehensive network management capabilities. First, the connection resource itself defines the relationship between network endpoints, including metadata about the connection type, bandwidth, and performance characteristics. This metadata is crucial for network optimization algorithms and monitoring systems that need to understand the capabilities and limitations of each connection.
Second, the connection resource integrates with network device management to provide end-to-end visibility into network topology. This integration allows network administrators to understand not just the existence of connections, but also the specific devices and hardware that support those connections. This level of detail is essential for troubleshooting network issues, planning capacity upgrades, and ensuring compliance with security policies.
Third, the connection resource supports dynamic configuration updates, allowing organizations to modify connection parameters without requiring manual intervention at each network endpoint. This capability is particularly valuable for organizations that need to respond quickly to changing business requirements or network conditions.
The connection resource also provides comprehensive monitoring and alerting capabilities through integration with AWS CloudWatch and other monitoring services. Network administrators can set up automated alerts for connection failures, performance degradations, or security policy violations. This proactive monitoring approach helps organizations maintain high availability and performance standards across their global network infrastructure.
Integration with Global Network Management
The Networkmanager Connection resource is designed to work seamlessly with other AWS networking services, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for network management. This integration extends beyond basic connectivity to include advanced features such as network performance optimization, security policy enforcement, and automated failover capabilities.
One of the most significant aspects of this integration is the ability to correlate connection performance with application performance metrics. By combining network-level data from Networkmanager Connection with application-level metrics from services like AWS X-Ray or CloudWatch, organizations can gain deep insights into how network performance impacts their business-critical applications. This correlation capability enables more informed decisions about network investments and optimization strategies.
The connection resource also supports integration with AWS Transit Gateway and other advanced networking services, enabling organizations to build sophisticated network architectures that can adapt to changing requirements. For example, an organization might use Networkmanager Connection to define the primary path for inter-region communication, while also establishing backup connections that can be automatically activated in case of primary path failure.
Strategic Importance of Network Connection Management
The strategic importance of effective network connection management cannot be overstated in today's interconnected business environment. According to IDC research, network downtime costs enterprises an average of $5,600 per minute, with critical applications experiencing downtime costs of up to $300,000 per hour. These statistics highlight the critical role that network infrastructure plays in supporting business operations and the potential impact of network failures.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Effective network connection management is fundamental to business continuity and disaster recovery strategies. Organizations that rely on distributed infrastructure must ensure that their network connections can support both normal operations and emergency scenarios. Networkmanager Connection provides the tools necessary to design and implement robust network architectures that can withstand various types of failures.
The service enables organizations to establish multiple connection paths between critical network endpoints, ensuring that traffic can be automatically rerouted in case of primary path failure. This redundancy is particularly important for organizations that operate in regulated industries or provide services that require high availability guarantees. For example, a healthcare organization that operates multiple facilities might use Networkmanager Connection to establish primary and backup connections between their main data center and each facility, ensuring that critical patient data remains accessible even during network outages.
The disaster recovery capabilities of Networkmanager Connection extend beyond simple failover scenarios to include more complex requirements such as geographic load balancing and active-passive failover configurations. Organizations can design network architectures that automatically distribute traffic across multiple regions during normal operations, while also maintaining the ability to concentrate traffic in a single region during emergency scenarios.
Cost Optimization and Resource Efficiency
Network connection management plays a crucial role in cost optimization strategies for organizations with complex network requirements. By providing detailed visibility into network utilization and performance, Networkmanager Connection enables organizations to identify opportunities for cost reduction and resource optimization. This visibility is particularly valuable for organizations that pay for network capacity based on usage or bandwidth consumption.
The service provides detailed analytics about connection utilization, enabling organizations to identify underutilized connections that might be candidates for downsizing or elimination. Conversely, the service can also identify connections that are approaching capacity limits and might benefit from upgrades or additional capacity. This data-driven approach to network planning helps organizations avoid both over-provisioning and under-provisioning scenarios.
Furthermore, Networkmanager Connection supports dynamic capacity allocation, allowing organizations to adjust network capacity based on changing business requirements. This flexibility is particularly valuable for organizations with seasonal business patterns or those that experience significant variations in network demand throughout the day or week.
Security and Compliance Integration
Modern network architectures must balance performance and cost considerations with stringent security and compliance requirements. Networkmanager Connection provides comprehensive security features that help organizations maintain secure network communications while meeting regulatory compliance obligations. The service integrates with AWS security services to provide end-to-end encryption, access control, and audit logging capabilities.
The connection resource supports detailed logging of all network activities, providing the audit trail necessary for compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. This logging capability extends beyond simple connection establishment to include ongoing monitoring of connection performance and security posture. Organizations can use this data to demonstrate compliance with security policies and regulatory requirements.
The service also provides integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to ensure that only authorized personnel can modify network configurations. This role-based access control is essential for maintaining security in large organizations where multiple teams might need to access network management tools.
Key Features and Capabilities
Centralized Connection Management
AWS Networkmanager Connection provides a centralized approach to managing network connections across distributed infrastructure. This centralization eliminates the need for manual configuration of individual connection points, reducing the complexity and potential for errors in network management operations. The service provides a unified interface for defining, monitoring, and modifying network connections, regardless of the underlying network technology or geographic location.
The centralized management capabilities extend to connection lifecycle management, allowing organizations to track connections from initial provisioning through ongoing operations to eventual decommissioning. This comprehensive lifecycle management helps organizations maintain accurate network documentation and ensures that connections are properly configured and maintained throughout their operational lifetime.
Real-time Monitoring and Analytics
The connection resource provides comprehensive monitoring and analytics capabilities that enable organizations to understand network performance in real-time. This monitoring includes metrics such as connection latency, bandwidth utilization, error rates, and availability statistics. The service integrates with AWS CloudWatch to provide customizable dashboards and alerting capabilities based on these metrics.
The analytics capabilities extend beyond basic performance metrics to include more sophisticated analyses such as traffic pattern identification, capacity planning recommendations, and performance optimization suggestions. Organizations can use this data to make informed decisions about network investments and to identify potential issues before they impact business operations.
Automated Configuration and Provisioning
Networkmanager Connection supports automated configuration and provisioning capabilities that reduce the manual effort required to establish and maintain network connections. The service can automatically configure connection parameters based on predefined templates and policies, ensuring consistency across the network infrastructure.
This automation extends to connection updates and modifications, allowing organizations to implement changes across multiple connections simultaneously. The service provides rollback capabilities in case of configuration errors, ensuring that network changes can be safely implemented and reversed if necessary.
Integration with Network Security Services
The connection resource integrates seamlessly with AWS network security services to provide comprehensive security capabilities. This integration includes support for encryption in transit, network access controls, and security policy enforcement. Organizations can define security policies at the connection level and have them automatically enforced across all network traffic.
The security integration also includes support for network segmentation and micro-segmentation strategies, enabling organizations to implement fine-grained security controls that limit the scope of potential security breaches. This capability is particularly valuable for organizations that handle sensitive data or operate in regulated industries.
Integration Ecosystem
The AWS Networkmanager Connection integrates extensively with the broader AWS networking and management ecosystem, creating a comprehensive platform for network infrastructure management. This integration enables organizations to leverage the full capabilities of AWS's networking services while maintaining centralized control and visibility over their network architecture.
At the time of writing there are 15+ AWS services that integrate with Networkmanager Connection in some capacity. These integrations span across networking services like AWS Transit Gateway, monitoring services like CloudWatch, and security services like AWS Security Hub. The depth of these integrations varies from basic connectivity to sophisticated orchestration capabilities.
The integration with AWS Global Network Manager provides centralized visibility and control over hybrid and multi-cloud network architectures. This integration enables organizations to manage their entire network infrastructure from a single console, regardless of whether resources are hosted on AWS, on-premises, or with third-party providers. The service provides real-time topology visualization that helps network administrators understand the relationships between different network components.
The connection resource also integrates with AWS Site-to-Site VPN and AWS Direct Connect to provide secure, high-performance connectivity between on-premises and AWS resources. This integration enables organizations to establish hybrid network architectures that combine the flexibility of cloud computing with the performance and security characteristics of dedicated network connections.
Integration with AWS CloudFormation and other infrastructure-as-code tools enables organizations to deploy and manage network connections using declarative configuration templates. This approach ensures consistency across network deployments and enables version control and change management for network configurations.
Pricing and Scale Considerations
AWS Networkmanager Connection follows a usage-based pricing model that aligns costs with actual network utilization. The service charges based on the number of connections managed, the volume of network traffic processed, and the level of monitoring and analytics features utilized. This pricing structure enables organizations to scale their network management capabilities in line with their business growth.
The service offers a free tier that includes basic connection management capabilities for up to 10 connections and limited monitoring features. This free tier enables organizations to evaluate the service and implement basic network management capabilities without incurring initial costs. For organizations with more extensive network requirements, the service offers several pricing tiers that provide additional capabilities and higher usage limits.
Scale Characteristics
AWS Networkmanager Connection is designed to scale from small deployments with a few connections to enterprise-scale deployments with thousands of connections across multiple regions. The service provides consistent performance and reliability across all scale levels, with built-in redundancy and failover capabilities that ensure high availability.
The service supports horizontal scaling through distributed architecture that can handle increasing numbers of connections without performance degradation. This scalability is achieved through integration with AWS's global infrastructure, which provides the underlying capacity and reliability needed to support large-scale network management operations.
Performance characteristics of the service are optimized for different use cases, with low-latency processing for real-time monitoring and analytics, and high-throughput capabilities for bulk configuration operations. The service provides service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee specific performance and availability metrics.
Enterprise Considerations
For enterprise deployments, AWS Networkmanager Connection provides advanced features such as multi-account support, advanced security controls, and integration with enterprise identity management systems. These features enable large organizations to implement network management capabilities that align with their existing operational processes and security requirements.
The service also provides comprehensive audit logging and compliance reporting capabilities that help enterprise organizations meet regulatory requirements and internal governance standards. These capabilities include detailed change logs, access audit trails, and compliance reporting templates for common regulatory frameworks.
AWS Networkmanager Connection positions itself as a comprehensive solution for organizations that need to manage complex network architectures across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. While alternative solutions exist from vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and other networking companies, the deep integration with AWS services and the unified management approach provide unique advantages for organizations that have significant investments in AWS infrastructure. However, for infrastructure running on AWS this is particularly valuable as it provides native integration with other AWS services and eliminates the need for third-party network management tools.
Organizations considering AWS Networkmanager Connection should evaluate their specific network management requirements, existing infrastructure investments, and long-term strategic objectives. The service is particularly well-suited for organizations that are building new network architectures or those that are looking to consolidate their network management tools and processes.
Managing AWS Networkmanager Connection using Terraform
Managing AWS Networkmanager Connection through Terraform requires careful consideration of the dependencies and relationships between various network components. The connection resource has specific requirements for prerequisite resources and follows a particular configuration pattern that ensures proper integration with the broader AWS networking ecosystem.
Production Multi-Site Network Connection
A common scenario involves establishing connections between multiple production sites within a global network infrastructure. This use case typically applies to organizations with distributed operations that need reliable, high-performance connectivity between different geographic locations.
# Global network to contain all connections
resource "aws_networkmanager_global_network" "production" {
description = "Production global network for multi-site connectivity"
tags = {
Name = "production-global-network"
Environment = "production"
Purpose = "multi-site-connectivity"
Owner = "network-engineering"
}
}
# Primary production site
resource "aws_networkmanager_site" "primary_site" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.production.id
description = "Primary production site in us-east-1"
location {
address = "123 Main St, New York, NY 10001"
latitude = "40.7128"
longitude = "-74.0060"
}
tags = {
Name = "primary-production-site"
Environment = "production"
Region = "us-east-1"
SiteType = "primary"
}
}
# Secondary production site
resource "aws_networkmanager_site" "secondary_site" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.production.id
description = "Secondary production site in us-west-2"
location {
address = "456 Tech Ave, Seattle, WA 98109"
latitude = "47.6062"
longitude = "-122.3321"
}
tags = {
Name = "secondary-production-site"
Environment = "production"
Region = "us-west-2"
SiteType = "secondary"
}
}
# Network devices at each site
resource "aws_networkmanager_device" "primary_device" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.production.id
site_id = aws_networkmanager_site.primary_site.id
description = "Primary site core network device"
aws_location {
## Managing AWS Network Manager Connections using Terraform
AWS Network Manager Connections provide a powerful way to define and manage the relationships between devices in your global network infrastructure. These connections represent the logical links between network devices, enabling you to model complex network topologies and track connectivity across your distributed infrastructure.
### Basic Connection Setup
Creating a Network Manager Connection requires an existing global network and at least two devices that will be connected. The connection establishes the relationship between these devices and provides metadata about their connectivity.
```hcl
# Create a global network to contain our connections
resource "aws_networkmanager_global_network" "example" {
description = "Global network for multi-site connectivity"
tags = {
Name = "production-global-network"
Environment = "production"
Purpose = "multi-site-connectivity"
}
}
# Create network devices that will be connected
resource "aws_networkmanager_device" "site_a" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
description = "Primary site router"
type = "router"
vendor = "cisco"
model = "isr-4331"
location {
address = "123 Main St, New York, NY 10001"
latitude = "40.7128"
longitude = "-74.0060"
}
tags = {
Name = "site-a-router"
Site = "new-york"
}
}
resource "aws_networkmanager_device" "site_b" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
description = "Secondary site router"
type = "router"
vendor = "cisco"
model = "isr-4331"
location {
address = "456 Oak Ave, Chicago, IL 60601"
latitude = "41.8781"
longitude = "-87.6298"
}
tags = {
Name = "site-b-router"
Site = "chicago"
}
}
# Create a connection between the devices
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "site_to_site" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
description = "Primary connection between New York and Chicago sites"
tags = {
Name = "ny-chicago-primary"
ConnectionType = "primary"
Environment = "production"
}
}
This configuration establishes a basic connection between two network devices in different geographic locations, providing the foundation for network topology modeling.
Advanced Connection Configuration with Links
Network Manager Connections can be associated with specific links to provide more detailed connectivity information. Links represent the physical or logical connections between devices and can include bandwidth, latency, and other performance characteristics.
# Create a link representing the physical connection
resource "aws_networkmanager_link" "fiber_link" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
site_id = aws_networkmanager_site.new_york.id
description = "High-speed fiber connection"
type = "fiber"
provider = "verizon"
bandwidth {
download_speed = 10000 # 10 Gbps
upload_speed = 10000 # 10 Gbps
}
tags = {
Name = "ny-fiber-link"
Provider = "verizon"
Speed = "10gbps"
}
}
# Create a site for geographic organization
resource "aws_networkmanager_site" "new_york" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
description = "New York primary site"
location {
address = "123 Main St, New York, NY 10001"
latitude = "40.7128"
longitude = "-74.0060"
}
tags = {
Name = "new-york-site"
Type = "primary"
}
}
# Enhanced connection with link association
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "enhanced_connection" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
link_id = aws_networkmanager_link.fiber_link.id
description = "High-speed fiber connection between primary sites"
tags = {
Name = "fiber-connection-primary"
Bandwidth = "10gbps"
Priority = "high"
Environment = "production"
}
}
The link association provides additional context about the connection's characteristics and capabilities, enabling more sophisticated network modeling and monitoring.
Multi-Connection Architecture
For redundancy and high availability, you can create multiple connections between devices using different links or connection types. This approach ensures network resilience and enables load balancing across multiple paths.
# Create multiple links for redundancy
resource "aws_networkmanager_link" "primary_link" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
site_id = aws_networkmanager_site.new_york.id
description = "Primary MPLS connection"
type = "mpls"
provider = "att"
bandwidth {
download_speed = 1000 # 1 Gbps
upload_speed = 1000 # 1 Gbps
}
tags = {
Name = "primary-mpls-link"
Provider = "att"
Priority = "primary"
}
}
resource "aws_networkmanager_link" "backup_link" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
site_id = aws_networkmanager_site.new_york.id
description = "Backup internet connection"
type = "broadband"
provider = "comcast"
bandwidth {
download_speed = 500 # 500 Mbps
upload_speed = 100 # 100 Mbps
}
tags = {
Name = "backup-broadband-link"
Provider = "comcast"
Priority = "backup"
}
}
# Primary connection using MPLS
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "primary_connection" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
link_id = aws_networkmanager_link.primary_link.id
description = "Primary MPLS connection for site-to-site traffic"
tags = {
Name = "primary-mpls-connection"
Priority = "primary"
Environment = "production"
}
}
# Backup connection using broadband
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "backup_connection" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
link_id = aws_networkmanager_link.backup_link.id
description = "Backup broadband connection for failover scenarios"
tags = {
Name = "backup-broadband-connection"
Priority = "backup"
Environment = "production"
}
}
This multi-connection setup provides automatic failover capabilities and ensures continuous connectivity even if the primary connection fails.
Hub-and-Spoke Network Topology
Network Manager Connections are particularly useful for modeling hub-and-spoke architectures where multiple branch offices connect to a central hub location. This pattern is common in enterprise networks.
# Create central hub device
resource "aws_networkmanager_device" "hub_device" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
description = "Central hub router"
type = "router"
vendor = "cisco"
model = "asr-1000"
location {
address = "789 Corporate Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30309"
latitude = "33.7490"
longitude = "-84.3880"
}
tags = {
Name = "hub-router"
Role = "hub"
Site = "atlanta-hq"
}
}
# Create spoke devices
resource "aws_networkmanager_device" "spoke_devices" {
count = 3
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
description = "Spoke site router ${count.index + 1}"
type = "router"
vendor = "cisco"
model = "isr-4331"
location {
address = var.spoke_locations[count.index].address
latitude = var.spoke_locations[count.index].latitude
longitude = var.spoke_locations[count.index].longitude
}
tags = {
Name = "spoke-router-${count.index + 1}"
Role = "spoke"
Site = var.spoke_locations[count.index].site_name
}
}
# Create connections from hub to each spoke
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "hub_to_spoke" {
count = length(aws_networkmanager_device.spoke_devices)
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.hub_device.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.spoke_devices[count.index].id
description = "Connection from hub to spoke site ${count.index + 1}"
tags = {
Name = "hub-to-spoke-${count.index + 1}"
Topology = "hub-and-spoke"
Environment = "production"
}
}
# Variable definition for spoke locations
variable "spoke_locations" {
description = "List of spoke site locations"
type = list(object({
address = string
latitude = string
longitude = string
site_name = string
}))
default = [
{
address = "100 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105"
latitude = "37.7749"
longitude = "-122.4194"
site_name = "san-francisco"
},
{
address = "200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701"
latitude = "30.2672"
longitude = "-97.7431"
site_name = "austin"
},
{
address = "300 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101"
latitude = "47.6062"
longitude = "-122.3321"
site_name = "seattle"
}
]
}
This hub-and-spoke configuration creates a scalable network topology where all spoke sites can communicate through the central hub, simplifying network management and reducing the number of direct connections required.
Connection Dependencies and Lifecycle Management
Network Manager Connections have specific dependencies that must be managed carefully during creation and destruction. Understanding these dependencies helps prevent resource conflicts and ensures proper cleanup.
# Create connections with explicit dependencies
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "dependent_connection" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
description = "Connection with explicit dependency management"
# Explicit dependency ensures proper creation order
depends_on = [
aws_networkmanager_device.site_a,
aws_networkmanager_device.site_b,
aws_networkmanager_global_network.example
]
tags = {
Name = "managed-dependency-connection"
CreatedBy = "terraform"
DependsOn = "devices-and-network"
}
}
# Connection with lifecycle management
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "lifecycle_managed" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.example.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
description = "Connection with lifecycle management rules"
lifecycle {
# Prevent accidental deletion of critical connections
prevent_destroy = true
# Ignore changes to tags that might be modified outside Terraform
ignore_changes = [
tags["LastModified"],
tags["ModifiedBy"]
]
# Replace connection if device changes
replace_triggered_by = [
aws_networkmanager_device.site_a.id,
aws_networkmanager_device.site_b.id
]
}
tags = {
Name = "lifecycle-managed-connection"
Critical = "true"
Environment = "production"
}
}
Proper lifecycle management ensures that connections are created and destroyed in the correct order, preventing resource conflicts and maintaining network topology integrity.
These Terraform configurations demonstrate the flexibility and power of AWS Network Manager Connections for modeling complex network architectures. Whether you're implementing simple point-to-point connections or sophisticated hub-and-spoke topologies, Network Manager Connections provide the tools needed to accurately represent and manage your network infrastructure.
Best practices for Networkmanager Connection
Setting up and managing Networkmanager Connections properly can make the difference between a resilient, efficient network and one that causes headaches down the line. Here are the key practices that will help you get the most from this service.
Establish Clear Connection Naming Standards
Why it matters: When managing multiple connections across different regions and environments, consistent naming becomes your lifeline during troubleshooting or scaling operations. Without clear naming conventions, you'll waste valuable time figuring out which connection serves what purpose.
Implementation: Create a naming scheme that includes environment, region, and connection type. For example: prod-us-east-1-site-to-site-vpn
or dev-eu-west-1-branch-connection
.
# Example AWS CLI command with descriptive naming
aws networkmanager create-connection \\
--global-network-id gn-12345678 \\
--device-id device-67890123 \\
--connected-device-id device-45678901 \\
--description "Production VPN connection between main office and AWS datacenter" \\
--tags Key=Environment,Value=Production Key=Purpose,Value=VPN
Consider including the connection bandwidth or type in the name when you have multiple connections between the same endpoints. This helps operations teams quickly identify capacity and connection characteristics during incident response.
Configure Connection Redundancy Strategically
Why it matters: Single points of failure in network connections can bring down entire applications or business operations. Connection redundancy provides backup paths when primary connections fail, but it needs to be implemented thoughtfully to avoid unnecessary costs.
Implementation: Set up multiple connections with different paths where possible. For critical production workloads, establish connections through different physical routes or providers.
# Terraform example for redundant connections
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "primary" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.main.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_router_1.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.aws_gateway_1.id
description = "Primary connection to AWS via Provider A"
tags = {
Name = "primary-connection"
Environment = "production"
Priority = "high"
}
}
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "backup" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.main.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.site_router_2.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.aws_gateway_2.id
description = "Backup connection to AWS via Provider B"
tags = {
Name = "backup-connection"
Environment = "production"
Priority = "medium"
}
}
Don't forget to test your failover scenarios regularly. Set up monitoring to verify that traffic actually switches to backup connections when primary paths fail.
Implement Comprehensive Connection Monitoring
Why it matters: Network connections can degrade gradually before failing completely. Without proper monitoring, you might miss performance issues that affect user experience or detect outages only after significant impact.
Implementation: Use CloudWatch metrics and custom monitoring to track connection health, bandwidth utilization, and latency. Set up alerts for both immediate failures and gradual degradation.
# Example CloudWatch metric filter for connection monitoring
aws logs put-metric-filter \\
--log-group-name /aws/networkmanager/connections \\
--filter-name connection-errors \\
--filter-pattern "[timestamp, request_id, ERROR]" \\
--metric-transformations \\
metricName=NetworkManagerConnectionErrors,metricNamespace=AWS/NetworkManager,metricValue=1
Create dashboards that show connection status, bandwidth usage, and error rates across all your connections. This gives you a single pane of glass for network health monitoring.
Optimize Connection Bandwidth Based on Usage Patterns
Why it matters: Over-provisioning bandwidth wastes money, while under-provisioning can create bottlenecks that slow down applications. Understanding your traffic patterns helps you right-size connections for both performance and cost efficiency.
Implementation: Monitor actual bandwidth usage over time and adjust connection speeds accordingly. Consider traffic patterns that vary by time of day, day of week, or seasonal trends.
# Example connection with appropriate bandwidth specification
resource "aws_networkmanager_connection" "optimized" {
global_network_id = aws_networkmanager_global_network.main.id
device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.branch_office.id
connected_device_id = aws_networkmanager_device.central_hub.id
description = "Branch office connection - sized for peak usage"
tags = {
Name = "branch-office-connection"
Environment = "production"
BandwidthMbps = "100"
LastReviewed = "2024-01-15"
}
}
Set up automatic alerts when bandwidth utilization consistently exceeds 80% during business hours. This gives you early warning to scale up before performance degrades.
Secure Connection Configuration and Access
Why it matters: Networkmanager Connections often carry sensitive business traffic between sites and cloud resources. Proper security configuration prevents unauthorized access and protects data in transit.
Implementation: Use strong encryption for all connections, implement proper access controls, and regularly audit who has permissions to modify connection configurations.
# Example IAM policy for connection management
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"networkmanager:GetConnections",
"networkmanager:DescribeGlobalNetworks"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"networkmanager:CreateConnection",
"networkmanager:UpdateConnection",
"networkmanager:DeleteConnection"
],
"Resource": "arn:aws:networkmanager:*:*:connection/*",
"Condition": {
"StringEquals": {
"networkmanager:GlobalNetworkId": "gn-production-network"
}
}
}
]
}
Regular security audits should include reviewing connection access logs and ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify critical network connections.
Document Connection Dependencies and Relationships
Why it matters: Modern applications often depend on multiple network connections working properly. When connection issues arise, understanding these dependencies helps you quickly identify which services might be affected and prioritize restoration efforts.
Implementation: Maintain clear documentation of which applications and services depend on each connection. Include this information in your incident response procedures.
Create network diagrams that show not just the physical connections but also the logical relationships between connections, devices, and applications. Update these diagrams whenever you add or change connections.
Plan for Connection Lifecycle Management
Why it matters: Network connections have lifecycles that include provisioning, monitoring, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. Without proper lifecycle management, you might end up with unused connections that still generate costs or miss maintenance windows that could prevent outages.
Implementation: Establish regular review cycles for all connections. Tag connections with creation dates, last review dates, and expected retirement dates where applicable.
Set up automated reminders to review connection necessity and performance at regular intervals. This helps you identify opportunities for optimization or consolidation.
These practices work together to create a robust, efficient network infrastructure that scales with your needs while minimizing both costs and operational complexity. Remember that network management is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup, so build these practices into your regular operational procedures.
Product Integration
The Networkmanager Connection service integrates seamlessly with AWS's broader networking ecosystem, providing centralized management for global network connections. This service works particularly well with AWS Transit Gateway, AWS Direct Connect, and AWS VPN connections to create comprehensive network management solutions.
When integrated with AWS Transit Gateway, Networkmanager Connection provides visibility into complex multi-VPC architectures. You can visualize how traffic flows between different regions and accounts, making it easier to troubleshoot connectivity issues and optimize network performance. This integration is particularly valuable for organizations running distributed applications across multiple AWS regions.
For hybrid cloud scenarios, Networkmanager Connection works with AWS Direct Connect to manage dedicated network connections between on-premises infrastructure and AWS. This integration allows network administrators to monitor connection health, track bandwidth utilization, and ensure compliance with network policies across both cloud and on-premises environments.
The service also integrates with AWS Site-to-Site VPN connections, enabling organizations to manage multiple VPN endpoints through a single interface. This is especially useful for companies with multiple branch offices or remote sites that need secure connectivity to AWS resources.
At the time of writing, there are 50+ AWS services that integrate with Networkmanager Connection in some capacity. These include core networking services like Amazon VPC, Route 53, and CloudFront, as well as monitoring services like CloudWatch and AWS Config.
The integration extends to AWS monitoring and logging services, allowing you to set up automated alerts when connection performance degrades or when specific thresholds are exceeded. This proactive monitoring capability helps maintain network reliability and performance across your global infrastructure.
Use Cases
Global Network Visibility and Management
Organizations with distributed infrastructure across multiple AWS regions use Networkmanager Connection to gain comprehensive visibility into their global network topology. This is particularly valuable for multinational companies that need to ensure consistent network performance and security policies across different geographical locations.
For example, a global e-commerce platform might use Networkmanager Connection to monitor connections between their primary data center in North America, their disaster recovery site in Europe, and their content delivery infrastructure in Asia. This centralized visibility enables them to quickly identify and resolve connectivity issues that could impact customer experience.
Hybrid Cloud Network Integration
Companies migrating from on-premises infrastructure to AWS often maintain hybrid environments during the transition period. Networkmanager Connection helps manage the complex network relationships between on-premises data centers and AWS regions, ensuring secure and reliable connectivity throughout the migration process.
A financial services company, for instance, might use this service to manage connections between their on-premises trading systems and AWS-hosted analytics platforms. The service provides the visibility needed to ensure low-latency connections critical for real-time financial data processing while maintaining the security standards required in the financial industry.
Multi-Site Branch Office Connectivity
Organizations with multiple branch offices use Networkmanager Connection to manage site-to-site connectivity efficiently. This is particularly common in retail, healthcare, and education sectors where consistent network policies and performance are crucial across all locations.
A healthcare organization with multiple clinics might use this service to ensure secure, compliant connectivity between all locations and their centralized electronic health records system hosted in AWS. The service provides the monitoring and management capabilities needed to maintain HIPAA compliance while ensuring reliable access to critical patient data.
Limitations
Regional Availability and Service Limits
Networkmanager Connection is not available in all AWS regions, which can limit its effectiveness for truly global deployments. Organizations with infrastructure in regions where the service isn't available may need to implement alternative monitoring and management solutions for those specific areas.
The service also has limits on the number of connections that can be managed per global network. For very large organizations with hundreds of network endpoints, these limits might require careful planning and potentially the use of multiple global networks to accommodate all connections.
Real-Time Monitoring Constraints
While Networkmanager Connection provides good visibility into network topology and connection status, it doesn't offer real-time network performance monitoring. Organizations requiring millisecond-level monitoring and alerting may need to supplement this service with additional monitoring tools.
The service's metrics and monitoring capabilities are dependent on AWS CloudWatch, which means monitoring granularity and retention periods are subject to CloudWatch's limitations and pricing structure.
Integration Complexity
Setting up comprehensive network monitoring with Networkmanager Connection requires careful configuration of IAM roles, policies, and cross-account permissions. For organizations with complex multi-account setups, this initial configuration can be time-consuming and requires deep understanding of AWS networking concepts.
Additionally, the service's effectiveness depends on proper tagging and organization of network resources. Without consistent tagging strategies, the network topology visualization can become cluttered and difficult to interpret.
Conclusions
The Networkmanager Connection service is a valuable tool for organizations managing complex, distributed network infrastructures on AWS. It provides centralized visibility and management capabilities that are essential for maintaining reliable connectivity across global network deployments.
The service excels in scenarios where organizations need to manage hybrid cloud environments, multi-region deployments, or complex site-to-site connectivity. For companies with distributed infrastructure across multiple AWS regions and on-premises locations, this service offers the monitoring and management capabilities needed to ensure consistent network performance and security.
Networkmanager Connection integrates well with AWS's broader networking ecosystem, making it a natural choice for organizations already invested in AWS networking services. The service's ability to provide topology visualization and connection monitoring helps network administrators quickly identify and resolve issues that could impact business operations.
However, organizations should be aware of the service's limitations, particularly around regional availability and real-time monitoring capabilities. The initial setup complexity and dependency on proper resource organization also require careful planning and ongoing maintenance.
For organizations running infrastructure on AWS with complex networking requirements, Networkmanager Connection provides significant value in terms of operational visibility and management efficiency. When properly implemented and maintained, it can help reduce network-related outages and improve overall infrastructure reliability.