Use Private Networks

How to use Private Networks

Published on 18 January 2022

Private Network enable you to build a virtual Layer 2 network between your Scaleway resources, such as Instances, Elastic Metal servers and Database Instances, allowing them to communicate in an isolated and secure network. You can also opt to attach a Public Gateway to your Private Networks to provide extra functionality including IP autoconfiguration and NAT. Each resource and Public Gateway can be connected to one or several Private Networks, letting you build your own network topologies.

Private Networks are a LAN-like layer 2 ethernet network. A new network interface with a unique media access control address (MAC address) is configured on each device in a Private Network.

Security & Identity (IAM):

You may need certain IAM permissions to carry out some actions described on this page. This means:

you are the Owner of the Scaleway Organization in which the actions will be carried out, or
you are an IAM user of the Organization, with a policy granting you the necessary permission sets

Requirements:

You have an account and are logged into the Scaleway console
You have created an Instance or Elastic Metal Server

How to create a Private Network

Click Private Networks in the Network section of the side menu.
Click the Create a Private Network button. The creation wizard displays.
Complete the following steps in the wizard:
- Enter a Name for your Private Network, or leave the randomly-generated name in place. Optionally, you can also add tags to help you organize your Private Networks.
- Choose an Availability Zone, which is the geographical region where your Private Network will be deployed. You can only add resources from this same Availability Zone to the Private Network.
Click Create a Private Network to finish. Your Private Network is created. You are taken back to the Private Networks dashboard, where your new Private Network is now displayed in the list.

How to attach and detach resources to/from a Private Network

Remember that resources must be within the same Availability Zone as a Private Network in order to be attached to it.

Click Private Networks in the Network section of the side menu.
Click the Private Network you want to add/remove resources to/from. Alternatively, click «See more Icon» next to the Private Network in question and select More Info from the dropdown list. You are taken to the Overview page for that network.
Click the Attached Resources tab.
Use the dropdown menu to select a resource type to add to your Private Network, then select the resource itself. Click Add Resource to finish. Remember, only resources in the same Availability Zone as the Private Network will appear in the dropdown list.

To detach a resource, use the «Unlink Icon» icon next to the resource in question to remove it from your Private Network. Confirm this action when prompted by clicking Detach this resource.

How to attach and detach Public Gateways to/from a Private Network

Learn more about attaching Public Gateways to Private Networks and detaching them here.

How to delete a Private Network

Note:

Prior to deleting a Private Network, resources attached to it must be detached.

Click Private Networks in the Network section of the side menu.
Click «See more Icon» next to the Private Network you wish to delete, and select Delete. A pop up displays asking you to confirm the action.
Confirm by typing DELETE in the box, and clicking Delete this Private Network.

You are taken back to the Private Networks dashboard, where the network you just deleted no longer displays.