Implementing NetScaler VPX™

by Marius Sandbu

Implement the new features of Citrix NetScaler 11 to optimize and deploy secure web services on multiple virtualization platforms

About This Book Learn how to design, set up, and deploy NetScaler VPX along with the new Jumbo frames in a virtual environment using your GUI as well as your CLI for both public and private clouds to make all your web applications faster and more secure Enrich your networking skills utilizing the new features of AAA by following the instructions to optimize network traffic A step-by-step guide that will show you how to work with the latest NetScaler, 11, by implementing its new features using sample scenarios and real-world examples Who This Book Is For

This book is for Citrix administrators who are just getting started with NetScaler, have some basic networking skills This book does not require prior experience of NetScaler.

What You Will Learn Configure different VPN solutions and learn about ICA Proxy, Unified Gateway and SSL VPN Set up load balancing for SharePoint, Exchange, Lync, SQL and other Citrix components Gain insights into traffic management with NetScaler, Wireshark, and Citrix Insight Protect your web services with an application firewall, HTTP, DOS, and AAA Optimize traffic using front-end optimization, caching, and compression Deploy a high availability environment Use NetScaler in public cloud providers such as Azure or Amazon Advance your network knowledge of TCP and SSL optimization In Detail

With a large demand for responsive websites and availability of services, IT administrators are faced with an ever-rising need for services that are optimized for speed. NetScaler VPX is a software-based virtual appliance that provides users with the comprehensive NetScaler feature set. Implementing apps and cloud-based services is much easier with its increased service performance and integrated security features.

This book will give you an insight into all the new features that NetScaler VPX™ has to offer. Starting off with the basics, you will learn how to set NetScaler up and configure it in a virtual environment including the new features available in version 11, such as unified gateway and portal theme customization. Next, the book will cover how to deploy NetScalar on Azure and Amazon, and you will also discover how to integrate it with an existing Citrix infrastructure. Next, you will venture into other topics such as load balancing Microsoft and Citrix solutions, configuring different forms of high availability Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), and network optimization. You will also learn how to troubleshoot and analyze data using NetScaler's extensive array of features.

Finally, you will discover how to protect web services using an application firewall and will get to grips with other features such as HTTP, DOS, and AAA.

Style and approach

This easy-to-follow guide is full of detailed step-by step-instructions on how to implement the key components in NetScaler, using real-world examples and sample scenarios.

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Hudan Studiawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives us a brief introduction to install and configure NetScaler VPX in the first chapter. NetScaler also supports virtualization environment like Xen. We can easy maintain NetScaler using main administration GUI that consists of three parts: Dashboard, Configuration, and Reporting. In Dashboard panel, we can monitor computer resource in complete and real time fashion.

User can remotely manage infrastructure in their company using NetScaler Gateway. This book clearly gives explicit instruction how to do it. NetScaler Gateway supports ICA proxy and VPN. Since NetScaler is one of Citrix product, it also can connect with other Citrix product like SmartAccess. We also should tune our configuration to make sure everything goes well. All of these materials are provided in Chapter 2.

The main feature of NetScaler is conducting load balance between servers is well described in Chapter 3. Marius Sandhu, the author, tells about balancing the user request in many applications such as web application, XML broker, and some of Microsoft products such as SharePoint, Exchange, and MSSQL. These applications are very common so it will help us to make load balancing.

To fasten the user access to our system, NetScaler also provides classic but effective technique: compression and caching. In the end of the book, we can see that NetScaler give us high availability infrastructure using several methods like clustering and global server. Both are implemented with Equal Cost Multiple Path(ECMP) and Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), respectively.

[Phil Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just maybe lacked some screen shots when describing the situation / scenario. Apart from that it was great with some very helpful info on not only the background behind each platform, but also load balancing different technologies and access gateway. Due to the size of the book (under 200 pages), the author would reference external links for additional reading. For someone who though has been using the product for about 5 years on and off, I still found myself picking up nuggets of information. I wish the author could have continued on further as you could tell, he was very knowledgeable about the product.
I am in no way affiliated with Packt Publishing, but they do make a good job of churning out books which provide their audience not with huge Tome's but books with a practical and pragmatic way of delivering technology solutions.
Keep it up Packt Pub

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been asked by Packt Publishing to read and review this book. I've reviewed books in the past and I must admit that this book is easy to read and understand it. The author has explained the various features quit well and is understandable for the novice and the more experienced users. Only downside I find in this book is the small troubleshooting part. I would have liked a more in depth chapter on troubleshooting various common issues admins can run into and how to solve them.

Otherwise this is a great book to have on your (digital) shelf.

[Delhi Irc]

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