---
name: dl-getting-started
title: Getting started with IBM Cloud Direct Link
description: Use Direct Link to seamlessly connect your on-premises resources to your cloud resources. The speed and reliability of Direct Link extends your organization’s data center network and offers more consistent, higher-throughput connectivity, keeping traffic within the IBM Cloud network.
last-updated: 2026-03-17
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Getting started with IBM Cloud Direct Link
{: #get-started-with-ibm-cloud-dl}

Use Direct Link to seamlessly connect your on-premises resources to your cloud resources. The speed and reliability of Direct Link extends your organization’s data center network and offers more consistent, higher-throughput connectivity, keeping traffic within the IBM Cloud network.
{: shortdesc}

Direct Link highlights include:

* Free global routing with bring your own IP (BYIOP) support
* Flexible bandwidth options (1, 2, 5, and 10 Gbps)
* Integrated support for virtual routing, dynamic path selection, and VPC connectivity
* Metered billing with no price increase compared to Direct Link on Classic (1.0)
* Automated ordering experience through API integration with partners

## Direct Link Connect
{: #get-started-with-direct-link-connect}

Use a service provider to quickly establish and deliver connectivity to IBM Cloud locations. These service providers are already connected to the IBM Cloud network that uses multi-tenant, high capacity links (also known as network-to-network interfaces, or NNI).

To get started using IBM Cloud Direct Link Connect, follow these [instructions](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-how-to-order-ibm-cloud-dl-connect&format=markdown) for ordering the service.

## Direct Link Dedicated
{: #get-started-with-direct-link-dedicated}

Terminate a single-tenant, fiber-based, cross-connect into your own IBM Cloud Private network connection. This offering is also used by colocation facilities that are next to IBM Cloud PoPs and data centers. To get started with IBM Cloud Direct Link Dedicated, follow these [instructions](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-how-to-order-ibm-cloud-dl-dedicated&format=markdown) for ordering the service.

When ordering Direct Link Dedicated, you can enable MACsec to secure Ethernet connections between your on-premises network and IBM Cloud. Direct Link now supports MACsec encryption and BGP MD5 authentication using IBM Cloud Secrets Manager for key management. Secrets Manager is the recommended alternative to Hyper Protect Crypto Services (HPCS) and Key Protect, providing centralized secret management with built-in versioning, rotation, and access control. For more information, see [Planning for the Direct Link MACsec feature](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-dl-planning-considerations&format=markdown#macsec-feature-dedicated).

## Learn more
{: #learn-more}

* IBM Cloud highly recommends that you establish a second, diverse direct link to prevent outages, whether unplanned, or planned due to maintenance. For more information, see [Models for diversity and redundancy in Direct Link](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-models-for-diversity-and-redundancy-in-direct-link&format=markdown).

* If you require a diverse, redundant, or multi-cloud deployment for Direct Link Connect, see [Alternatives for your Direct Link Connect deployment](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-alternatives-for-your-ibm-cloud-direct-link-deployment&format=markdown).

* For more information about Direct Link offerings, see the [FAQs](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/dl?topic=dl-faqs&format=markdown).

Currently, a migration path does not exist from Direct Link on Classic offerings to Direct Link. You must order a new Direct Link Dedicated or Direct Link Connect connection.
{: note}