Secure Private Access (ZPA)
About Branch Connectors
Branch Connectors are virtual machine (VM) images that simplify traffic forwarding to Zscaler services (i.e., Zscaler Internet Access and Zscaler Private Access) without using shared server software. To learn more, see What Is Zscaler Branch Connector?
Branch Connectors provide the following benefits and enable you to:
- Supply branches and data centers with fast and reliable access to the internet and private applications with a direct-to-cloud architecture.
- Simplify branch communications by eliminating complex routing, virtual private networks (VPNs), and firewalls while allowing for flexible forwarding and simple policy management.
Configuring Branch Connectors involves the following tasks:
- Configure a Branch Provisioning Template. To learn more, see Configuring a Branch Provisioning Template.
- Download the Branch Connector VM image from the Zscaler Cloud & Branch Connector Admin Portal. To learn more, see Downloading Branch Connector Images.
- Deploy the Branch Connector. To learn more, see Branch Connector Deployment Management.
Zscaler recommends you consider the following when configuring Branch Connectors:
- All existing Branch Connectors appear as Cloud Connectors in the ZPA Admin Portal after April 10, 2023. You must configure a new Branch Connector in the Zscaler Cloud & Branch Connector Admin Portal for it to be visible in the Branch Connector and Branch Connector Groups pages of the ZPA Admin Portal.
- Provisioning templates created before April 10, 2023, are no longer valid and must not be used. New provisioning templates must be used to properly provision a Branch Connector.
About the Branch Connectors Page
On the Branch Connectors page in the ZPA Admin Portal (Configuration & Control > Private Infrastructure > Branch Connector Management > Branch Connectors), you can do the following:
- Refresh the Branch Connectors page to reflect the most current information.
- Expand all the rows in the table to see more information about each Branch Connector.
- Filter the Branch Connector information that appears in the table. By default, no filters are applied.
- View a list of all deployed Branch Connectors. For each deployed Branch Connector, you can see:
- Name: The name of the Branch Connector.
- Branch Connector Group: The name of the group that the Branch Connector is part of.
- Go to the Branch Connector Groups page to review your Branch Connector Groups.