Create and modify a Network Fabric Controller using Azure CLI
This article describes how to create a Network Fabric Controller (NFC) by using the Azure Command Line Interface (AzureCLI). This document also shows you how to check the status, or delete a Network Fabric Controller.
Prerequisites
You must implement all the prerequisites prior to creating an NFC.
Names, such as for resources, shouldn't contain the underscore (_) character.
Validate ExpressRoute circuit
Validate the ExpressRoute circuit(s) for correct connectivity (CircuitID)(AuthID); NFC provisioning would fail if connectivity is incorrect.
Create a Network Fabric Controller
You must create a resource group before you create your NFC.
Note: You should create a separate Resource Group for each NFC.
You create resource groups by running the following commands:
az group create -n NFCResourceGroupName -l "<Location>"
Attributes for NFC creation
Parameter | Description | values | Example | Required | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Resource-Group | A resource group is a container that holds related resources for an Azure solution. | NFCResourceGroupName | XYZNFCResourceGroupName | True | String |
Location | The Azure Region is mandatory to provision your deployment. | eastus, westus3, southcentralus, eastus2euap | eastus | True | String |
Resource-Name | The Resource-name will be the name of the Network Fabric Controller | nfcname | XYZnfcname | True | String |
ipv4-address-space | IPv4 Network Fabric Controller Address Space, the default subnet block is 10.0.0.0/19, and it also shouldn't overlap with any of the ExpressRoute IPs | 10.0.0.0/19 | 10.0.0.0/19 | Not Required | String |
ipv6-address-space | IPv6 Network Fabric Controller Address Space, this parameter defaults to FC00::/59, with the permissible range being /59 | "FC00::/59" | "FC00::/59" | Not Required | String |
Express Route Circuits | The ExpressRoute circuit is a dedicated 10G link that connects Azure and on-premises. You need to know the ExpressRoute Circuit ID and Auth key for an NFC to successfully provision. There are two Express Route Circuits, one for the Infrastructure services and other one for Workload (Tenant) services | --infra-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId": "xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx"}]' --workload-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId": "xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx"}]' |
subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx"}] | True | string |
Managed-Resource-Group | Managed Resource Group configuration properties. | NFCManagedResourceGroupName | XYZNFCManagedResourceGroupName | True | String |
Here's an example of how you can create an NFC using the Azure CLI. For more information, see attributes section.
az networkfabric controller create \
--resource-group "NFCResourceGroupName" \
--location "<Location>" \
--resource-name "nfcname" \
--ipv4-address-space "10.0.0.0/19" \
--ipv6-address-space "FC00::/59" \
--infra-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "<auth-key>"}]'
--workload-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01"", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "<auth-key>"}]' \
--debug --no-wait
Note: The NFC creation takes between 30-45 mins.
Use the show
command to monitor NFC creation progress.
You'll see different provisioning states such as, Accepted, updating and Succeeded/Failed.
Delete and recreate the NFC if the creation fails (Failed
).
The expected output only shows running as soon as you execute via AzureCLI
Expected output:
{
"id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/NFCResourceGroupName/providers/Microsoft.ManagedNetworkFabric/networkFabricControllers/nfcname",
"infrastructureExpressRouteConnections": [
{
"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-02"
}
],
"infrastructureServices": {
"ipv4AddressSpaces": [
"10.0.0.0/21"
],
"ipv6AddressSpaces": []
},
"ipv4AddressSpace": "10.0.0.0/19",
"ipv6AddressSpace": "FC00::/59",
"isWorkloadManagementNetworkEnabled": "True",
"location": "<Location>",
"managedResourceGroupConfiguration": {},
"name": "NFCName",
"provisioningState": "Succeeded",
"resourceGroup": "NFCResourceGroupName",
"systemData": {
"createdAt": "2023XX-XXT18:59:41.7805324Z",
"createdBy": "email@address.com",
"createdByType": "User",
"lastModifiedAt": "2023-XX-XXT09:50:27.4598499Z",
"lastModifiedBy": "d1bd24c7-b27f-477e-86dd-939e107873d7",
"lastModifiedByType": "Application"
},
"type": "microsoft.managednetworkfabric/networkfabriccontrollers",
"workloadExpressRouteConnections": [
{
"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx//resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-03"
}
],
"workloadManagementNetwork": true,
"workloadServices": {
"ipv4AddressSpaces": [
"10.0.28.0/22"
],
"ipv6AddressSpaces": []
}
}
Get Network Fabric Controller
az networkfabric controller show --resource-group "NFCResourceGroupName" --resource-name "nfcname"
Expected output:
{
"id": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/NFCResourceGroupName/providers/Microsoft.ManagedNetworkFabric/networkFabricControllers/nfcname",
"infrastructureExpressRouteConnections": [
{
"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-02"
}
],
"infrastructureServices": {
"ipv4AddressSpaces": [
"10.0.0.0/21"
],
"ipv6AddressSpaces": []
},
"ipv4AddressSpace": "10.0.0.0/19",
"ipv6AddressSpace": "FC00::/59",
"isWorkloadManagementNetworkEnabled": "True",
"location": "<Location>",
"managedResourceGroupConfiguration": {},
"name": "NFCName",
"provisioningState": "Succeeded",
"resourceGroup": "NFCResourceGroupName",
"systemData": {
"createdAt": "2023XX-XXT18:59:41.7805324Z",
"createdBy": "email@address.com",
"createdByType": "User",
"lastModifiedAt": "2023-XX-XXT09:50:27.4598499Z",
"lastModifiedBy": "d1bd24c7-b27f-477e-86dd-939e107873d7",
"lastModifiedByType": "Application"
},
"type": "microsoft.managednetworkfabric/networkfabriccontrollers",
"workloadExpressRouteConnections": [
{
"expressRouteCircuitId": "/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx//resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-03"
}
],
"workloadManagementNetwork": true,
"workloadServices": {
"ipv4AddressSpaces": [
"10.0.28.0/22"
],
"ipv6AddressSpaces": []
}
}
Update Network Fabric Controller
The PATCH feature in the Network Fabric Controller provides users the ability to effortlessly add or replace additional Express Routes circuits. This functionality is particularly useful during periods of failure or potential migration events. In such cases, the Network Operator has the flexibility to modify an active Network Fabric Controller by adding or removing Express Routes and Keys, all while ensuring the operation remains unaffected.
Note
When initiating an update command, it's crucial to supply all the parameters provided during the creation process. This is because the update command will overwrite the existing content, necessitating the inclusion of all relevant parameters to ensure comprehensive and accurate modifications.
az networkfabric controller update \
--resource-group "NFCResourceGroupName" \
--location "<Location>" \
--resource-name "nfcname" \
--ipv4-address-space "10.0.0.0/19" \
--infra-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId":"/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "<auth-key>"}]'
--workload-er-connections '[{"expressRouteCircuitId":"/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01"", "expressRouteAuthorizationKey": "<auth-key>"}]'
Note
Run az networkfabric controller show to retrieve information about a network fabric controller.
Update Network Fabric Controller with multiple ExpressRoute
circuits.
az networkfabric controller update \
--resource-group "NFCResourceGroupName" \
--location "eastus" \
--resource-name "nfcname" \
--ipv4-address-space "10.0.0.0/19" \
--infra-er-connections "[{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-01',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'},{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-02',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'}]"
--workload-er-connections "[{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-03',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'},{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-04',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'}]"
Command | Description |
---|---|
az networkfabric controller update |
Command to update an existing network fabric controller in Azure |
Parameter | Description | Example Value |
---|---|---|
--resource-group |
Specifies the resource group where the network fabric controller is located. | "NFCResourceGroupName" |
--location |
Specifies the Azure region where the network fabric controller is deployed. | "eastus" |
--resource-name |
The name of the network fabric controller resource that you want to update. | "nfcname" |
--ipv4-address-space |
Defines the IPv4 address space for the network fabric controller. | "10.0.0.0/19" |
--infra-er-connections |
Specifies the infrastructure ExpressRoute connections in a JSON array format. | "[{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-11',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'},{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-13',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'}]" |
--workload-er-connections |
Specifies the workload ExpressRoute connections in a JSON array format. | "[{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-11',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'},{expressRouteCircuitId:'/subscriptions/xxxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxx/resourceGroups/ER-Dedicated-WUS2-AFO-Circuits/providers/Microsoft.Network/expressRouteCircuits/MSFT-ER-Dedicated-PvtPeering-WestUS2-AFO-Ckt-12',expressRouteAuthorizationKey:'<auth-key>'}]" |
Note
Replace the placeholders like "NFCResourceGroupName"
, "nfcname"
, and "<auth-key>"
with actual values relevant to your setup.
Delete Network Fabric Controller
You should delete an NFC only after deleting all associated network fabrics.
az networkfabric controller delete --resource-group "NFCResourceGroupName" --resource-name "nfcname"
Expected output:
"name": "nfcname",
"networkFabricIds": [],
"operationalState": null,
"provisioningState": "succeeded",
"resourceGroup": "NFCResourceGroupName",
"systemData": {
"createdAt": "2022-10-31T10:47:08.072025+00:00",
Note
It takes 30 mins to delete the NFC. In the Azure portal, verify that the hosted resources have been deleted.
Next steps
After you successfully create an NFC, the next step is to create a cluster manager.