Cloud Router
Definition
Google's service for dynamic routing in virtual networks using BGP, facilitating efficient network management and connectivity in cloud environments.
Use Cases
- Spotify: Hybrid connectivity between Google Cloud workloads and on-premises networks with dynamic route exchange for resilient connectivity. — Used Google Cloud networking primitives for hybrid connectivity and relied on BGP-based dynamic routing (via Cloud Router) with dedicated connectivity/VPN to automatically learn and advertise routes as networks changed. (Reduced manual route management and improved resilience by allowing routing changes and failover to be handled dynamically through BGP.)
- The Home Depot: Enterprise hybrid network connectivity to support cloud migration and ongoing integration with existing data centers. — Adopted Google Cloud hybrid connectivity patterns using BGP-based dynamic routing (Cloud Router) with private connectivity to exchange routes between VPCs and on-premises networks. (Improved operational efficiency by avoiding static route updates and enabling scalable connectivity as cloud footprints expanded.)
- HSBC: Secure, scalable connectivity between cloud environments and enterprise networks for regulated workloads. — Implemented private connectivity and dynamic route exchange using BGP (Cloud Router) to integrate Google Cloud VPC networks with existing enterprise routing domains. (Enabled scalable network growth and simplified routing operations by using dynamic routing rather than maintaining large sets of static routes.)
Provider Equivalents
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the difference between Cloud Router and Cloud VPN?
- Cloud VPN creates the encrypted tunnel between your network and Google Cloud. Cloud Router doesn’t encrypt traffic; it uses BGP to automatically exchange routes over that tunnel (or over Cloud Interconnect). In practice, Cloud VPN is the “secure pipe,” while Cloud Router is the “dynamic route advertisement and learning” that tells each side which IP ranges are reachable.
- When should I use Cloud Router?
- Use Cloud Router when you need dynamic routing (BGP) between a VPC and another network—most commonly with Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect. It’s especially useful if your on-prem routes change, you have multiple tunnels/links for high availability, you want automatic failover, or you need to scale to many prefixes without managing static routes manually.
- How much does Cloud Router cost?
- Cloud Router is billed as a managed networking service, typically based on the number of Cloud Router instances and the number of BGP sessions (peering connections). Your total cost also depends on the connectivity you use with it (for example, Cloud VPN tunnel charges, Cloud Interconnect port/VLAN attachment charges, and data transfer/egress). Check the Google Cloud pricing page for current rates and regional pricing.
Category: networking
Difficulty: advanced
Related Terms
See Also