Set Up VPN Between Azure and AWS for Secure Cloud Connection

Connecting your Azure and AWS cloud environments via a VPN is a great way to create a secure and seamless connection between them. This setup allows for secure data transfer and communication between the two platforms.

To start, you'll need to create a Virtual Network Gateway in Azure, which will serve as the entry point for your VPN connection. This is a critical step, as it will enable the secure transfer of data between your Azure and AWS environments.

The Virtual Network Gateway in Azure will need to be configured to use the same IP address range as your AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). This ensures that your VPN connection is secure and reliable, and that data is transferred correctly between the two platforms.

By following these steps, you can create a secure and efficient VPN connection between your Azure and AWS environments, allowing for seamless communication and data transfer between the two platforms.

To set up a VPN between Azure and AWS, you'll first need to prepare your environment. This involves creating a Virtual Network (VNet) in Azure.

You'll need to create a Gateway Subnet, a VPN Gateway, and a Local Network gateway (your remote site, in this case, AWS). This will help establish the connection between your Azure and AWS environments.

A Windows server 2016 needs to be deployed to facilitate the VPN connection.

You'll also need to have valid subscriptions in both the Azure and AWS environment. This is a crucial prerequisite for setting up a Site-to-Site connection.

Public-facing IPv4 IP addresses are required for your VPN device when configuring a Site-to-Site connection.

If you have custom DNS Servers, make sure to enter these details in your Virtual Network settings > DNS servers.

Here's a quick rundown of the necessary steps:

To set up Azure and AWS configuration, start by creating a Virtual Network and a VPN gateway in Azure cloud. This involves configuring public IPs, usernames with passwords, and creating the required components for the Site-to-Site VPN connection.

You'll need to create a Virtual Network Gateway in Azure, which is a crucial step in establishing the VPN connection. This involves selecting the Virtual Network you plan to connect, going to Settings | Connections, and adding a new connection.

To configure the Azure VPN gateway, you'll need to set various parameters of the network tunnel, including the connection type, which must be set to Site-to-Site (IPSec). You'll also need to set a Shared key (PSK) that will be shared with the other end on the AWS. Make sure you note down the key and have it handy for the final part of this guide.

Here are the key parameters to note down:

Once you've completed the Azure configuration, you'll need to log in to the AWS instance to set up the VPN connection on the AWS side.

Choosing BGP APIPA addresses is a crucial step in setting up your Azure and AWS VPN configuration.

You can choose from the reserved APIPA addresses in the Azure-reserved APIPA range for VPN, which is from 169.254.21.0 to 169.254.22.255.

AWS requires a /30 Inside IPv4 CIDR in the APIPA range of 169.254.0.0/16 for each tunnel, and this CIDR must also be in the Azure-reserved APIPA range.

For example, if you set your AWS Inside IPv4 CIDR to be 169.254.21.0/30, AWS will use the BGP IP address 169.254.21.1 and Azure will use the IP address 169.254.21.2.

Here's a breakdown of the APIPA addresses for each tunnel:

You need to reserve space for two IP addresses in your AWS /30 CIDR, as Azure will use the second IP address of your /30 inside CIDR.

Make sure your APIPA addresses do not overlap between the on-premises VPN devices and all connected Azure VPN gateways.

To set up an IPSec configuration for your Azure and AWS connection, you'll need to follow these steps. First, select the connection type to Site-to-Site (IPSec) in the Azure portal. The Virtual Network Gateway is usually pre-selected, but verify it's associated with the network you want to connect to.

A Shared key (PSK) must be set that will be shared with the other end on the AWS side. Make sure you note down the key and have it handy for the final part of this guide. The protocol should be set to IKEv2.

Here's a summary of the key IPSec configuration parameters:

Lastly, enter the public IP address of the AWS instance created in the previous section, and the AWS VPC address range. This will let Azure know the range of addresses used on the remote Virtual Network.

To set up a site-to-site VPN between Azure and AWS, you'll need to create site-to-site connections using the most recent AWS documentation. These connections will allow your on-premises network to communicate with your cloud resources.

You'll need to create two site-to-site VPN connections, each with specific settings. For Site-to-site connection 1, the settings include a name of "ToAzureInstance0", a target gateway type of Virtual Private Gateway, and a virtual private gateway of "AzureGW". You'll also need to specify a customer gateway, routing options, and IP addresses for the tunnels.

Here are the specific settings for Site-to-site connection 1:

Similarly, you'll need to create Site-to-site connection 2 with the same settings, but with a different name and IP addresses.

Once you've created these site-to-site connections, you'll need to connect your AWS tunnels to Azure. This will involve creating connections for each of the four tunnels, using their respective outside IP addresses.

Here are the specific settings for creating connections:

Before continuing, verify that you have a local network gateway and connection for each of your four AWS tunnels.

To test site-to-site connectivity, you can log into your Azure Windows server and try to ping your AWS Linux server.

To set up a VPN between Azure and AWS, you'll need to create site-to-site VPN connections. Start by creating two site-to-site VPN connections using the following values: Name: ToAzureInstance0, Target Gateway Type: Virtual Private Gateway, Virtual Private Gateway: AzureGW, Customer Gateway: Existing, Customer Gateway: ToAzureInstance0, Routing Options: Dynamic (requires BGP), Local IPv4 Network CIDR: 0.0.0.0/0, Tunnel Inside Ip Version: IPv4, Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 1: 169.254.21.0/30, Pre-Shared Key for Tunnel 1: choose a secure key, Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 2: 169.254.22.0/30, Pre-Shared Key for Tunnel 2: choose a secure key, and Startup Action: Start.

You'll also need to create another site-to-site VPN connection with the following settings: Name: ToAzureInstance1, Target Gateway Type: Virtual Private Gateway, Virtual Private Gateway: AzureGW, Customer Gateway: Existing, Customer Gateway: ToAzureInstance1, Routing Options: Dynamic (requires BGP), Local IPv4 Network CIDR: 0.0.0.0/0, Tunnel Inside Ip Version: IPv4, Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 1: 169.254.21.4/30, Pre-Shared Key for Tunnel 1: choose a secure key, Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 2: 169.254.22.4/30, Pre-Shared Key for Tunnel 2: choose a secure key, and Startup Action: Start.

To complete the setup, you'll need to configure the following settings for each connection: Custom BGP Addresses, Primary Custom BGP Address, and Secondary Custom BGP Address. The APIPA configuration you chose will be used for Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 1 and Inside IPv4 CIDR for Tunnel 2.

Here's a summary of the Custom BGP Addresses settings for each connection:

After configuring the settings, select Save and review + create to create the connection. Repeat these steps to create additional connections. Before continuing to the next section, verify that you have a local network gateway and connection for each of your four AWS tunnels.

To set up a VPN between Azure and AWS, you'll need to create a local network gateway in Azure. This involves navigating to the Local network gateway resource in the Azure portal, selecting Create, and entering a name for your local network gateway. Leave IP Address as the value for Endpoint and enter the Outside IP Address from AWS for the tunnel you're creating.

You'll also need to create a Virtual Network (VNet) in Azure, which involves clicking + create a resource, selecting Networking > Virtual Network, and entering the details to create a single virtual network with one subnet.

Here are the key steps to create connections between your virtual networks:

Remember to repeat these steps to create additional connections, and verify that you have a local network gateway and connection for each of your four AWS tunnels before proceeding.

To configure the route table, you need to edit it to add the required route for the VPN connection. This is a crucial step in establishing the site-to-site VPN connection.

The route table needs to be edited to add the required route, which is a key step in the process. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid any mistakes.

To add the required route, you'll need to follow the steps outlined in the documentation. This will ensure that your route table is properly configured for the VPN connection.

Here's a summary of the steps to configure the route table:

* Edit the route table to add the required route for the VPN connection.

Note: For more detailed instructions, refer to the official documentation.

Underlying Infrastructure plays a crucial role in the overall performance of a network. The foundation of any network is its underlying infrastructure, which includes routers, switches, and servers.

Routers are responsible for directing traffic between different networks, ensuring that data reaches its intended destination. A single router can handle thousands of connections at the same time.

Switches, on the other hand, are responsible for forwarding data packets within a network, making it faster and more efficient. They are typically used in local area networks (LANs) to connect devices.

Servers are the backbone of any network, providing services such as email, file sharing, and web hosting. They are typically high-performance computers that are designed to handle multiple requests simultaneously.

The choice of underlying infrastructure depends on the specific needs of the network. For example, a small business may require a simple router and switch setup, while a large enterprise may need a more complex infrastructure that includes multiple servers and routers.

To set up a local network gateway, you'll need to navigate to the Local network gateway resource in the Azure portal. Select Create, and then choose the same Subscription, Resource Group, and Region you used for your virtual network gateway.

Enter a name for your local network gateway and leave IP Address as the value for Endpoint. For IP Address, enter the Outside IP Address from AWS for the tunnel you're creating. Leave Address Space blank and select Advanced.

To configure the local network gateway, follow these steps:

Note down the public IP given to the Azure VPN gateway, as you'll need it for the final part of this guide.

To set up a VPN connection, you'll need an Elastic IP address, which is a public IPv4 address that's reachable from the internet.

An Elastic IP address is required for your Windows server (RRAS) to act as the VPN device in AWS.

To create an Elastic IP address, you'll get a popup indicating a policy was created.

Click "Start this service" to get RRAS running, which is essential for the VPN connection.

The pre-shared key from Azure is used for the SharedSecret, which is crucial for the dial-in to the Azure gateway.

You can dial-in to the Azure gateway using the pre-shared key from Azure.