EVPN to Managed AVPN Service Upgrade FAQs
Installation of a new access circuit and a new router
AT&T will be installing the new AVPN circuit and router in parallel with the existing connection. There is a reference to site readiness requirements. Where can I find information about the actions I need to take to get my site ready for AVPN?
The AT&T Order Manager will inform the site contact about site readiness requirements. These requirements are to be fulfilled by the customer prior to Test & Turn-Up.
The embedded document contains a generic overview of site readiness requirements including inside wiring, rack space, power and POTS.
Download AVPN Site Readiness Requirements Document (DOCX).
Why is a POTS line (Plain Old Telephone Service) required?
Customer responsibilities include provisioning of an analog line (aka POTS – Plain Old Telephone Service). This customer provided analog line allows AT&T to dial directly into the diagnostic modem which AT&T provides.
The preferred option is for a dedicated analog line to be provisioned. This allows AT&T 24 x 7 access in the event we detect a problem or need to complete a requested change to your service. If there is a problem during the evening for example, AT&T can begin diagnostics and potentially correct the problem before business hours begin.
The AT&T Order Manager will ask the site contact for the telephone number of this line before scheduling Test & Turn-Up.
What if no POTS line is available at my site and none can be ordered?
The migration to AVPN can still be completed without POTS.
However if no analog line is made available for out of band access, then AT&T’s resulting inability to remotely access the router may require site visits for work that could otherwise be done remotely and will delay diagnostics and trouble resolution. AT&T may charge a fee where a POTS line has not been provided and where additional site visits are required.
Is there a more modern alternative than POTS for out of band access to the router?
AT&T is working on alternative solutions – including wireless – for out of band access. Until these alternatives are rolled out globally, POTS remains the strategy for out of band access to the router.
Which equipment will I receive for the new AVPN connection?
- A Cisco router – 1900 or 2900 series (depending on circuit bandwidth)
- A USRobotics V. Everything analog modem for out of band access to the router
- Power and network cables
The equipment will arrive in one box. The site contact is expected to store this equipment and hand it over to the engineer at Test & Turn-Up.
Which touchpoint letters will I receive to keep me appraised of progress of the order?
There are 3 standard touchpoint letters that are sent by the AT&T Order Manager to the local site contact via email.
- Order Confirmation – email confirming that the implementation process has started. An indicative date is provided for circuit delivery based on standard interval
- Circuit Installation Schedule – email confirming the firm date for circuit delivery
- Circuit Completion – email confirming the site is ready for Test & Turn-Up
In addition to this, the AT&T Order Manager will be reaching out to the site contact to schedule Test & Turn-Up and LAN migration and will be available for all questions about the implementation.
Which activities are performed during Test & Turn-Up?
Test & Turn-Up is the physical installation of the router. It takes place after the AVPN circuit and router have been delivered. During an agreed window with the customer, an engineer will visit the site to install the router and test connectivity. There will be no downtime to the network during Test & Turn-Up as all network traffic will continue to flow over EVPN.
What happens after Test & Turn-Up?
After the router installation completes and circuit is tested by the on-site engineer, AT&T will remotely complete an additional series of quality checks. These typically complete within 48 hours after Test & Turn-up and when they do, the site is ready for LAN migration.
The quality checks are referred to as QA6 and AVPN billing is triggered on the day QA6 completes.
Which activities are performed during LAN migration?
LAN migration can be scheduled after the AVPN connection has been tested and is declared ready for service by AT&T (QA6 completed)
During an agreed window with the customer, a remote AT&T engineer will apply the LAN configuration on the router. The site contact will be asked to move the LAN cable from the EVPN to the AVPN router.
The AT&T engineer will perform testing.
The site contact will be asked to validate network performance after this.
Will there be downtime at any point during the upgrade?
There will be downtime during the final step of the migration. Up until this final LAN migration, the new AVPN solution will be built in parallel with the existing EVPN connection.
This means that AVPN circuit installation and AVPN router installation are non-network intrusive events.
For the final, network impacting LAN migration, AT&T will request a 1.5 hour window from the customer. During LAN migration the local site contact is expected to move the LAN cable from the EVPN router to the AVPN router. An outage will occur while the LAN cable is being shifted. LAN migration can be performed at any time convenient for the site, including off-hours or during (non-AT&T maintenance) weekends.
Will IP addresses change when upgrading from EVPN to AVPN?
No. The EVPN LAN IP addresses can be reused.
Will I receive a new VPN box?
No. The VPN box will be reused.
Will the assurance id change?
Yes. The AVPN assurance id will be different from the EVPN assurance id. The customer should update all internal documentation with the new assurance id.
Will a portability order be required?
No. Assurance id will change automatically. It is however important that customers record the new assurance id in all internal documents.
Is there a rollback scenario in case the network does not come up on AVPN?
Yes. If at any point during LAN migration there is an issue, the remote AT&T engineer can perform a rollback to EVPN. The site contact will need to move the LAN cable back to the EVPN router for rollback.
If issues occur after LAN migration they will be handled under the BAU incident process that starts with reporting the issue that you experience to SWIFT customer support.
How about the EVPN disconnect after migration is finalized?
Before submitting and order, AT&T will request customer’s approval to disconnect EVPN after migration to AVPN.
AT&T will use this approval to raise the order as a coordinated add and disconnect order, preventing billing overlap between EVPN and AVPN.
The approval will also be used to automatically raise an EVPN disconnect after the migration completes. As a result of this, empty boxes will be shipped to the customer location. The boxes should be stored until the equipment is dismounted and picked up. Standard practice is for AT&T to send an engineer on site to disconnect the EVPN equipment and use the boxes that were previously shipped to send back the equipment. If the customer does not wish to receive an engineer visit to the IT floor, the site contact is invited to remove the obsolete EVPN equipment and leave it at the reception for pick-up.
AT&T will be working with the site contact to determine the preferred approach and coordinate equipment pick-up.
When will AVPN billing start and EVPN billing stop?
AVPN billing will start at the QA6 milestone. QA6 is the date when the AVPN service is fully tested and ready to be taken into production.
After the migration completes, AT&T will submit an EVPN disconnect. The last day of charge for EVPN will be documented in the request. The last day of charge for EVPN is the AVPN QA6 date minus 1 day.
This means that there is no billing overlap between EVPN and AVPN:
EVPN billing stops 1 day before AVPN billing starts.
In the event that the disconnect request is not closed out before the next billing cycle, the customer will automatically receive a credit for all EVPN invoices they have received after the recorded last day of charge.
Is there a link available to a full-version AVPN service guide?
Yes. Please click here: AVPN Service Guide
What if I want to postpone the upgrade to AVPN?
Customers are kindly requested to inform AT&T in case they are temporarily unable to have the upgrade performed, e.g. due to other ongoing or planned projects.
AT&T will then work with the customer to identify the best time to launch the AVPN order and complete the upgrade.
If customers plan to have the upgrade postponed until after 2018, they are requested to put in place a contingency plan to ensure connectivity to SWIFT as AT&T will be withdrawing the existing EVPN service and cannot guarantee EVPN connectivity after Q4 of 2018.