Upgrading ExpressRoute Standard Gateway for FastPath

AZ-700 By islever Editorial Last updated Oct 6, 2026

Design, implement, and manage Azure ExpressRoute

Short answer

A Use the Ultra Performance SKU to upgrade from Standard to support FastPath via seamless migration.

Question

You have an Azure subscription that contains an ExpressRoute Standard gateway named GW1. You need to upgrade GW1 to support ExpressRoute FastPath. The solution must minimize downtime. Which SKU should you use?

Ultra performance Correct Answer
ErGw3AZ
ErGw2AZ
High performance

Key Takeaways

The question tests knowledge of ExpressRoute gateway SKU upgrade paths and FastPath compatibility, with the common trap being the selection of an AZ-enabled SKU which cannot be migrated seamlessly from a Standard non-AZ gateway.

This page explains how to upgrade an Azure ExpressRoute Standard gateway to support FastPath while minimizing downtime. It establishes that Ultra Performance is the correct SKU choice because it supports FastPath and allows seamless migration from Standard, unlike Availability Zone (AZ) SKUs.

Common mistake: Many learners select ErGw3AZ because it supports FastPath and offers high availability, but they overlook the constraint that Seamless Gateway Migration does not support upgrading from a Standard (non-AZ) gateway to an AZ-enabled SKU.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

To support ExpressRoute FastPath, the gateway must be either an Ultra Performance or an ErGw3AZ SKU. The requirement to "minimize downtime" points directly to using the Seamless Gateway Migration feature. This feature supports specific upgrade paths, including Standard to Ultra Performance. Since the starting gateway is Standard (which implies a non-AZ deployment), migrating to an AZ-enabled SKU like ErGw3AZ is not supported via seamless migration; it would require a full replacement, causing significant downtime. Therefore, Ultra Performance is the only valid option that meets both the FastPath and minimal downtime criteria.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

ErGw1AZ and ErGw2AZ do not support FastPath, so they are incorrect regardless of migration constraints. ErGw3AZ supports FastPath but requires a full gateway replacement when upgrading from a Standard SKU, leading to extended downtime rather than minimized downtime. High Performance also does not support FastPath.

Community Comment Notes

Community consensus strongly favors Ultra Performance, with users noting that standard-to-AZ upgrades are not supported for seamless migration. As one user noted, "only ErGw3AZ and Ultra Performance are supported by FastPath... you cannot upgrade from Standard to ErGw3AZ." Another commenter highlighted the supported upgrade matrix, confirming that Standard to Ultra Performance is a valid path while Standard to ErGw3AZ is not.

Official Reference

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/expressroute/expressroute-about-virtual-network-gateways

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

When asked about minimizing downtime in Azure network upgrades, always look for 'Seamless' or 'In-place' migration options. Distinguish between SKUs that support new features (like FastPath) and those that allow seamless upgrades from your current configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I upgrade Standard to ErGw3AZ for FastPath?

Seamless Gateway Migration does not support upgrading from a Standard (non-AZ) gateway to an AZ-enabled SKU like ErGw3AZ. Doing so requires a full replacement, causing downtime.

Does High Performance support ExpressRoute FastPath?

No, High Performance does not support FastPath. Only Ultra Performance and ErGw3AZ SKUs support this feature.

More AZ-700 FAQ →

Community Votes

82%

18%

82% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 12 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 12

amitnahmias 👍 21 Answered A

only ErGw3AZ and Ultra Performance are supported by FastPath. However, you cannot upgrade from Standard to ErGw3AZ. so answer is A
youngjosephm 👍 4 Answered B

Ultra Performance will support the FastPath but I think the criteria "Must minimize down time" implies you need to go with an AZ SKU and ErGw3AZ is the only one that support FastPath
felipeaol 👍 4 Answered A

Standard to High Performance Standard to Ultra Performance High Performance to Ultra Performance ErGw1Az to ErGw2Az ErGw1Az to ErGw3Az ErGw2Az to ErGw3Az Default to Standard
thekhijir 👍 2 Answered A

If you want to upgrade your gateway to a higher capacity gateway SKU, you can use the Resize-AzVirtualNetworkGateway PowerShell cmdlet or perform the upgrade directly in the ExpressRoute virtual network gateway configuration page in the Azure portal. The following upgrades are supported: Standard to High Performance Standard to Ultra Performance High Performance to Ultra Performance ErGw1Az to ErGw2Az ErGw1Az to ErGw3Az ErGw2Az to ErGw3Az Default to Standard
tc0369 👍 2 Answered B

B FastPath ->narrow down the choices to A & B. Minimize downtime -> indicate seamless gateway migration, which only support the below 3 cases. But from the question, can't tell if it's baisc or standard IP, so upgrade to az-enabled gw is more acceptable. Non-Az-enabled SKU on Basic IP to Non-az enabled SKU on Standard IP. Non-Az-enabled SKU on Basic IP to Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP. Non-Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP to Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP.

Show 7 more comments

Jackdisuin 👍 2

Correct Answer is A. Ultra performance. The following upgrades are supported: Standard to High Performance Standard to Ultra Performance High Performance to Ultra Performance ErGw1Az to ErGw2Az https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/expressroute/expressroute-about-virtual-network-gateways
cryptonite 👍 1 Answered B

For FastPath, the options are between A and B, but I'll go with B. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/expressroute/expressroute-about-virtual-network-gateways From the comments, this link that everyone who chose A refers to was updated in Jan 2025 to show that: If you want to upgrade your gateway to a higher-capacity gateway SKU, you can use the Seamless Gateway Migration tool in either the Azure portal or PowerShell. The following upgrades are supported: Non-Az-enabled SKU on Basic IP to Non-Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP Non-Az-enabled SKU on Basic IP to Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP Non-Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP to Az-enabled SKU on Standard IP Also, in this other link updated in March 2025, Microsoft recommends "migrating to an Az-enabled SKU for enhanced reliability and high availability" - which addresses the criteria to minimise downtime. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/expressroute/gateway-migration
GabiBT 👍 1 Answered A

La opción correcta sería A. Ultra Performance. Sin embargo, si también necesitas alta disponibilidad y resiliencia, ErGw3AZ sería la mejor opción, ya que está habilitado para zonas de disponibilidad (AZ), proporcionando mayor redundancia.
BigV00 👍 1 Answered A

As explained by an other user you can only transition from Standard to Ultra Performance
ajinkyap 👍 1 Answered A

As mentioned by others, we cannot upgrade standard to AZ SKU. answer is A
Eddie_Sli 👍 1

amitnahmias is correct, Answer: A
nk_exam 👍 1 Answered A

A is correct

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