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AWS aws-backup documentation change

Service: aws-backup · 2025-11-13 · Documentation low

File: aws-backup/latest/devguide/working-with-gateways.md

Summary

Added manual gateway creation process with IPv6 support, activation key retrieval methods, and CLI instructions

Security assessment

While activation keys and network configuration details are security-adjacent, these changes primarily document feature expansion (IPv6 support) and operational procedures rather than addressing specific vulnerabilities or introducing new security controls.

Diff

diff --git a/aws-backup/latest/devguide/working-with-gateways.md b/aws-backup/latest/devguide/working-with-gateways.md
index 7beae1443..bd7ff1a37 100644
--- a//aws-backup/latest/devguide/working-with-gateways.md
+++ b//aws-backup/latest/devguide/working-with-gateways.md
@@ -14,0 +15,15 @@ A single gateway can run up to 4 backup or restore jobs at once. To run more tha
+You can create a backup gateway using two approaches:
+
+  * **Console method (standard)** : Creates IPv4-only gateways through the AWS Backup console with automatic activation
+
+  * **Manual method** : Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 by obtaining activation keys and using AWS CLI commands
+
+
+
+
+Both methods require downloading and deploying the OVF template first (see [Download VM software](./vm-backups.html#download-vm-software)).
+
+### Console method (IPv4 only)
+
+Use this method for standard IPv4 gateway creation through the AWS Backup console with automatic activation.
+
@@ -97,0 +113,83 @@ For more information, see [Create a VPC endpoint](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aw
+### Manual gateway creation (IPv4 and IPv6)
+
+For IPv6 support, create gateways manually using activation keys. IPv6 support requires gateway appliance version 2.x+ and additional firewall configuration on [dual-stack endpoints](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/configure-infrastructure-bgw.html#bgw-firewall-configuration).
+
+###### Important
+
+**IPv6 hypervisor requirement:** If your gateway is activated through IPv6, you **must** create a hypervisor with an IPv6 address. For example, use `2607:fda8:1001:210::252` instead of `10.0.0.252`. If you associate an IPv6 gateway with an IPv4 hypervisor, backup and restore jobs will likely fail.
+
+#### Getting an activation key
+
+To receive an activation key for your gateway, make a web request to the gateway virtual machine (VM) or use the gateway local console. The gateway VM returns a response that contains the activation key, which is then passed as one of the parameters for the `CreateGateway` API to specify the configuration of your gateway. 
+
+###### Tip
+
+Gateway activation keys expire in 30 minutes if unused.
+
+**Getting an activation key using web request**
+
+The following examples show you how to get an activation key using HTTP request. You can either use a web browser or Linux curl or equivalent command using the following URLs.
+
+###### Note
+
+Replace the highlighted variables with actual values for your gateway. Acceptable values are as follows:
+
+  * `gateway_ip_address` \- The IPv4 address of your gateway, for example `172.31.29.201`
+
+  * `region_code` \- The Region where you want to activate your gateway. See [Regional endpoints](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/general/latest/gr/rande.html#regional-endpoints) in the _AWS General Reference Guide_. If this parameter is not specified, or if the value provided is misspelled or doesn't match a valid region, the command will default to the `us-east-1` region.
+
+
+
+
+IPv4:
+    
+    
+    curl "http://gateway_ip_address/?activationRegion=region_code&gatewayType=BACKUP_VM&endpointType=DUALSTACK&ipVersion=ipv4&no_redirect"
+
+IPv6:
+    
+    
+    curl "http://gateway_ip_address/?activationRegion=region_code&gatewayType=BACKUP_VM&endpointType=DUALSTACK&ipVersion=ipv6&no_redirect"
+
+###### Getting an activation key using local console
+
+The following examples show you how to get an activation key using gateway host's local console
+
+  1. Log in to your virtual machine console. 
+
+  2. From the **AWS Appliance Activation - Configuration** main menu, select `0` to choose **Get activation key**
+
+  3. Select `2` **Backup Gateway** for gateway family option
+
+  4. Enter the AWS Region where you want to activate your gateway
+
+  5. For network type, enter `1` for Public or `2` for VPC endpoint
+
+  6. For endpoint type, enter `1` for standard endpoint or `2` for dual-stack endpoint
+
+    1. For dual-stack endpoint, select `1` for IPv4 or `2` for IPv6
+
+  7. Activation key will be populated automatically
+
+
+
+
+#### Creating the gateway
+
+Use the AWS CLI to create the gateway after obtaining an activation key:
+
+  1. Obtain activation key using curl commands or local console method
+
+  2. Create gateway using AWS CLI, for more information, see [CreateGateway](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/API_BGW_CreateGateway.html) in the _Backup gateway API Reference_.
+    
+        aws backup-gateway create-gateway \
+                        --region region_code \
+                        --activation-key activation_key \
+                        --gateway-display-name gateway_name \
+                        --gateway-type BACKUP_VM
+
+  3. Verify gateway appears in AWS Backup console under **External Resources** → **Gateways**
+
+
+
+