# Step 1: Create a Direct Connect Connection

#### Scenarios

Create a Direct Connect connection for connecting a VPC to your data center before enabling your servers in the data center to access the Internet or to provide services accessible from the Internet through NAT gateways.

#### Procedure

For details on how to enable Direct Connect, see the Enabling Direct Connect in the Direct Connect User Guide. If you enable Direct Connect in self-service mode, you are advised to set the VPC CIDR block to 0.0.0.0/0.

Parent topic: Using SNAT and DNAT Rules to Allow On-premises Servers to Communicate Over the Internet