# Create Connection Type elements

Connection type elements allow you to define how NetLinks and VPN endpoints are used in a Multi-Link configuration, and which VPN endpoints can communicate with each other.

##

You can use the following default Connection Type elements for links in a Multi-Link configuration:

- Active — The link is always used. If there are multiple active links, the traffic is load-balanced between the links based on the load of the links. Traffic is directed to the link that has the lowest load.
- Aggregate — The link is always used, and each connection is load-balanced in round-robin fashion between all of the aggregate links. For example, if there are two aggregate links, a new connection is directed to both links.
- Standby — The link is used only when all active or aggregate links are unusable.

If the default Connection Type elements meet your needs, it is not necessary to create custom Connection Type elements.

The link type option in Connection Type elements is an identifier that allows you to group together similar types of ISP connections. You can use any link type to represent any type of ISP connection as long as you consistently use the same link type for the same type of ISP connection. The link type determines how the connection type is used in Link Usage Profile elements.

The connectivity group option in Connection Type elements defines which endpoints can communicate with each other. Only endpoints that belong to the same connectivity group can communicate with each other. The default Connection Type elements belong to connectivity group 1.

If you want to group VPN endpoints into multiple connectivity groups, you must create custom Connection Type elements. Grouping VPN endpoints into connectivity groups improves the efficiency of tunnel negotiation in VPNs, and reduces false positives related to failed tunnels in log entries and monitoring statistics. When you use multiple connectivity groups, tunnels are created only between VPN endpoints that belong to the same connectivity group. The SMC automatically disables tunnels between VPN endpoints that cannot communicate with each other. It is not necessary to manually disable unused gateway-to-gateway tunnels.

For example, you can group all endpoints that are connected to the Internet into one connectivity group, and group all endpoints that are connected to a private wide-area network that uses an MPLS connection into another connectivity group. Tunnels are not created between the endpoints that are connected to the Internet and the endpoints that are connected to a private wide-area network.

For more details about the product and how to configure features, click Help or press F1.

## Steps

1. Select Configuration, then browse to SD-WAN.
2. Browse to Other Elements > Connection Types.
3. Right-click Connection Types, then select New Connection Type.
4. Configure the settings, then click OK.

## Connection Type Properties dialog box

Use this dialog box to create and edit Connection Type elements that define which endpoints can communicate with each other, and how endpoints are used in a Multi-Link configuration.

Option | Definition
--- | ---
Name | The name of the element.
Link Type | Identifies the type of ISP connection.
Mode | Defines how the endpoint is used in a Multi-Link configuration. Active — The link is always used. If there are multiple links in Active mode between the Gateways, the VPN traffic is load-balanced between the links based on the load of the links. VPN traffic is directed to the link that has the lowest load. Aggregate — The link is always used, and each VPN connection is load-balanced in round-robin fashion between all the links that are in Aggregate mode. For example, if there are two links in Aggregate mode, a new VPN connection is directed to both links. Standby — The link is used only when all Active or Aggregate mode links are unusable.
Connectivity Group | The connectivity group to which the endpoint belongs. Tunnels are created only between endpoints that belong to the same connectivity group.
Category (Optional) | Includes the element in predefined categories. Click Select to select a category.
Comment (Optional) | A comment for your own reference.