Configure a virtual network gateway for ExpressRoute using the Azure portal

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This article walks you through the steps to add and remove a virtual network gateway for a pre-existing virtual network (virtual network). The steps for this configuration apply to VNets that were created using the Resource Manager deployment model for an ExpressRoute configuration. For more information about virtual network gateways and gateway configuration settings for ExpressRoute, see About virtual network gateways for ExpressRoute.

Diagram showing an ExpressRoute gateway connected to the ExpressRoute circuit.

Prerequisites

The steps for this tutorial use the values in the following configuration reference list. You can copy the list to use as a reference, replacing the values with your own.

Configuration reference list

  • Virtual Network Name = "vnet-1"

  • Virtual Network address space = 10.0.0.0/16

  • Subnet Name = "default"

    • Subnet address space = "10.0.0.0/24"

  • Resource Group = "vnetdemo"

  • Location = "China North 2"

  • Gateway Subnet name: "GatewaySubnet" You must always name a gateway subnet GatewaySubnet.

    • Gateway Subnet address space = "10.0.1.0/24"

  • Gateway Name = "myERGwScale"

  • Gateway Public IP Name = "myERGwScaleIP"

  • Gateway type = "ExpressRoute" This type is required for an ExpressRoute configuration.

    Important

    ExpressRoute Virtual Network Gateways no longer support the Basic Public IP SKU. Please associate a Standard IP to create the Virtual Network Gateway.

Create the gateway subnet

  1. In the portal, navigate to the Resource Manager virtual network for which you want to create a virtual network gateway.

  2. In the Settings section of your virtual network, select Subnets to expand the Subnet settings.

  3. Select + Gateway subnet to add a gateway subnet.

    Screenshot that shows the button to add the gateway subnet.

  4. The Name for your subnet is automatically filled in with the value 'GatewaySubnet'. This value is required in order for Azure to recognize the subnet as the gateway subnet. Adjust the autofilled Address range values to match your configuration requirements. You need to create the GatewaySubnet with a /27 or larger (/26, /25, and so on.). /28 or smaller subnets are not supported for new deployments. If you plan on connecting 16 ExpressRoute circuits to your gateway, you must create a gateway subnet of /26 or larger.

    If you're using a dual stack virtual network and plan to use IPv6-based private peering over ExpressRoute, select Add IPv6 address space and enter IPv6 address range values.

    Then, select OK to save the values and create the gateway subnet.

    Screenshot of the create an ExpressRoute gateway page with ErGwScale SKU selected.

Create the virtual network gateway

  1. In the portal, on the left side, select Create a resource, and type 'Virtual Network Gateway' in search. Locate Virtual network gateway in the search return and select the entry. On the Virtual network gateway page, select Create.

  2. On the Create virtual network gateway page, enter or select these settings:

    Screenshot that shows the Add subnet page for adding the gateway subnet.

    Setting Value
    Project details
    Subscription Verify that the correct subscription is selected.
    Resource Group The resource group gets automatically chosen once you select the virtual network.
    Instance details
    Name Name your gateway. This name isn't the same as naming a gateway subnet. It's the name of the gateway resource you're creating.
    Region Change the Region field to point to the location where your virtual network is located. If the region isn't pointing to the location where your virtual network is, the virtual network doesn't appear in the Virtual network dropdown.
    Gateway type Select ExpressRoute.
    SKU Select a gateway SKU from the dropdown. For more information, see About ExpressRoute gateway.
    Minimum Scale Units This option is only available when you select the ErGwScale (Preview) SKU. Enter the minimum number of scale units you want to use. For more information, see ExpressRoute Gateway Scale Units.
    Maximum Scale Units This option is only available when you select the ErGwScale (Preview) SKU. Enter the maximum number of scale units you want to use. For more information, see ExpressRoute Gateway Scale Units.
    Virtual network Select vnet-1.
    Public IP address
    Public IP address Select Create new.
    Public IP address name Provide a name for the public IP address.
    Public IP address SKU Select Standard. Scalable gateways only support Standard SKU IP address.
    Assignment By default, all Standard SKU public IP addresses are assigned statically.
    Availability zone Select if you want to use availability zones. For more information, see Zone redundant gateways.

    Important

    If you plan to use IPv6-based private peering over ExpressRoute, please make sure to create your gateway with a Public IP address of type Standard, Static using the PowerShell instructions.

  3. Select Review + Create, and then Create to begin creating the gateway. The settings are validated and the gateway deploys. Creating virtual network gateway can take up to 45 minutes to complete.

Enable or disable VNet to VNet or VNet to Virtual WAN traffic through ExpressRoute

You can enable or disable VNet to VNet or VNet to WAN connectivity through ExpressRoute. By default, VNet to VNet or VNet to WAN traffic is disabled through ExpressRoute. You can enable this traffic by using the following steps.

  1. In the Azure portal, navigate to the ExpressRoute virtual network gateway.

  2. In the Settings section, select Configuration.

  3. In the Configuration section, select the checkbox for Allow traffic from remote virtual networks. You can also enable traffic from remote Virtual WAN networks by selecting the checkbox for Allow traffic from remote Virtual WAN network.

    Screenshot that shows how to enable VNet to VNet and VNet to WAN traffic.

These steps will need to be completed on all virtual networks that need to communicate with each other through ExpressRoute.

Clean up resources

If you no longer need the ExpressRoute gateway, locate the gateway in the virtual network resource group and select Delete. Ensure the gateway doesn't have any connections to a circuit.

Screenshot that shows how to delete the virtual network gateway.

Next steps

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a virtual network gateway. For more information about virtual network gateways, see: ExpressRoute virtual network gateways.

To learn how to link your virtual network to an ExpressRoute circuit, advance to the next tutorial.

Link a Virtual Network to an ExpressRoute circuit