AWS DX connection

re:Post is a community forum. No one here can act on your issue but we can suggest actions you should take. I see that you say you do not have a support contract but for some issues, support is still your best path to resolution. For an issue such as you describe, your best path to resolution will be to open a support case. In the top right of this page, choose Resources > AWS Support Center.

If you're experiencing issues with your AWS Direct Connect (DX) connection, particularly with a low "ConnectionLightLevelRx" reading, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue before reaching out to AWS support:

1. Check the physical connection: Ensure that the fiber optic cables are properly connected and there are no visible damages. Sometimes, simply cleaning the fiber optic connectors can improve the signal strength.

2. Verify the cross-connect: Contact your colocation provider and request a written report for the Tx/Rx optical signal across the cross-connect. This can help identify if the issue is on the AWS side or within your network infrastructure.

3. Try flipping (also known as rolling) the Tx/Rx fiber strands: This is a common troubleshooting step for fiber optic connections.

4. Review CloudWatch metrics: You've already taken this step by checking the "ConnectionLightLevelRx" metric. Keep monitoring other relevant metrics like physical error count and operational status.

5. Verify equipment compatibility: Ensure that your networking equipment is compatible with the 10G DX connection and is configured correctly.

If these steps don't resolve the issue and you don't have a business support plan, you can still reach out to AWS for assistance:

1. Use the AWS Support Center: Even without a business support plan, you can open a support case through the AWS Management Console. Choose the account and region associated with your Direct Connect, and select "Direct Connect" as the service.

2. Provide detailed information: When submitting your case, include all relevant details such as your Direct Connect ID, the troubleshooting steps you've already taken, and the CloudWatch metrics you've observed.

3. Community support: You can also post your question on AWS re:Post, the official AWS community forum. While this isn't direct AWS support, you might get helpful suggestions from other AWS users or even AWS employees who monitor the forum.

Remember, while AWS support might be limited without a business support plan, they should still be able to assist with critical connectivity issues related to Direct Connect. If the problem persists and significantly impacts your operations, you might want to consider upgrading your support plan temporarily to get more comprehensive assistance.
Sources
Troubleshooting AWS Direct Connect - AWS Direct Connect
Not light being received from AWS Direct Connect cross connect panel | AWS re:Post