# Adding a new external connection

External connections represent physical (L1) ports in the network fabric that act as uplinks outside of the network fabric. By configuring an external connection as part of a **Network Profile** the VLANs/VNIs configured will be terminated on the respective external connection.

To configure an external connection:
1. Go to the configuration tab of the switch you want to add and mark the device as a border device.
2. Navigate to the external connections tab on the datacenter

![](/assets/guides/adding_external_conenctions_1.png) 

3. Click *Add external connection*
4. Fill in a name and a description
5. Click edit on the newly created external connection
6. Go to the switches tab
7. Click *Add external connection switch*

![](/assets/guides/add_external_connections_2.png) 

8. Select the and input the ports that will be used for external connections on that switch

![](/assets/guides/add_external_connections_4.jpg) 

The list should show up like this:

![](/assets/guides/add_external_connections_3.jpg)