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Mastering Netscaler VPX
Mastering Netscaler VPX

Mastering Netscaler VPX: Learn how to deploy and configure all the available Citrix NetScaler features with the best practices and techniques you need to know

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Profile Icon Marius Sandbu Profile Icon Paul Profile Icon Rick Roetenberg
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.9 (7 Ratings)
Paperback Nov 2015 218 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Marius Sandbu Profile Icon Paul Profile Icon Rick Roetenberg
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Paperback Nov 2015 218 pages 1st Edition
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Mastering Netscaler VPX

Chapter 2. Using the Features of NetScaler® AppExpert

AppExpert's features are one of the most used features available in Citrix NetScaler. Most of AppExpert's features are included in the Citrix NetScaler Standard licensing. With AppExpert's features, we're able to make adjustments too, for example, HTTP headers and prevent services for Denial-of-Service (DOS) attacks. Citrix NetScaler offers seamless compatibility with your infrastructure through configuration templates for key Microsoft applications and built-in system center integration. Setup wizards and AppExpert templates make integrating and configuring NetScaler with Microsoft technologies easy. These extensible templates provide preconfigured policies for advanced optimizations, such as caching and compression. They even replicate the exact configurations that your business needs by modifying existing templates.

NetScaler has been validated to enhance user experience with these applications,...

AppExpert applications and templates

Citrix provides templates that can be downloaded from their website. These templates simplify deployment of services. They include load balancing rules, compression, redirecting, caching rules, and so on. The template can be found at http://www.citrix.com/static/appexpert/appexpert-template.html.

Note that AppExpert templates are based on the default settings from Citrix and require adjustments before they can be used in a production environment. The AppExpert Templates feature is available under the AppExpert menu. After downloading the template from the URL mentioned previously, we can import the template and the deployment file. This can be done by clicking on Import Template under the Applications pane in the AppExpert menu:

  1. Fill in Application Name. In this case, we're implementing the Microsoft Exchange template, so the name should be something like MicrosoftExchange.
  2. Upload the template file and, if necessary, the deployment file.
  3. Click on Continue...

HTTP Callouts

The HTTP Callouts option will be used for configured types of requests, or when criteria are met during policy evaluation. When the criteria matches the type of request, you might want to stall the policy evaluation briefly, retrieve information from a server, and then perform an action depending on the retrieved information. Another option could be that you want to update a database or the content hosted on a web server based on the requests.

An HTTP Callout is an HTTP or HTTPS request that Citrix NetScaler generates and sends to an external resource when the criteria matches during policy evaluation. The information can be analyzed by default syntax policy expressions.

You can use HTTP Callouts to obtain information from external applications. The Callout policy sends an HTTP request to an external application. An agent that you deploy in front of the application formats the request for the application.

The HTTP Callout can be configured for HTTP or HTTPS content switching...

Rate limiting

With the rate limiting feature in Citrix NetScaler, we can define a maximum load for load balancing virtual servers or configured backend servers. With this feature, we can configure so as to let Citrix NetScaler monitor the rate of traffic. Based on the configured rate limiting, Citrix NetScaler can block access for example. This monitoring feature is real-time. The rate limiting feature is especially useful when the network is under attack. So, with rate limiting, it's possible to prevent Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. By using rate limiting, we can improve the reliability of the network and the resources that are presented by Citrix NetScaler.

Monitoring and controlling of the rate of traffic can be done based on:

  • Virtual servers
  • URLs
  • Domains
  • Combinations of URLs and domains
  • User-defined expressions

With rate limiting, it's possible to throttle the traffic rate when it's too high. It's also possible to redirect traffic to another load balancing...

Policies and expressions

In a lot of Citrix NetScaler's features, we can use policies and expressions based on our requirements. Also, based on our requirements, we can make a difference depending on particular expressions. For example, it's possible to show different information for Windows clients and Mac OS X clients.

An expression can enable NetScaler to accomplish the following:

  • Return the hostname in an HTTP request
  • Determine the IP address of a client that sent a TCP request
  • Identify the data that an HTTP request contains (for example, a popular spreadsheet or a word-processing application)
  • Calculate the length of an HTTP request

Citrix NetScaler supports classic and default syntax policies and expressions. Based on the feature, Citrix NetScaler supports one or both of the syntaxes. The default syntax provides greater capabilities than the classic syntax. The default syntax policies enable us to use more enhancements with respect to analyzing data, so it's possible to analyze...

Rewrite

The rewrite feature is a very useful feature when Citrix NetScaler is used to publish HTTP/SSL or TCP information. This feature can be used for request or response traffic. Rewrite is very useful for hiding/removing configurations, appending the default page, custom HTTP errors, hiding HTTP headers, and so on.

The working of the rewrite feature

The rewrite feature requires a rule and an action to perform the required tasks. The rule is used to identify whether the rule needs to be applied. The configured action will perform the actual action—what we like to rewrite. It's possible to bind multiple rewrite policies on every bind point. Based on the priority, we can define what needs to be applied first if the rule matches the request.

The bind point could be at a global level or defined for a specific Citrix NetScaler load balancing or content switching virtual server.

The rewrite feature also has some default rewrites installed, and these can't be deleted.

The policies...

AppExpert applications and templates


Citrix provides templates that can be downloaded from their website. These templates simplify deployment of services. They include load balancing rules, compression, redirecting, caching rules, and so on. The template can be found at http://www.citrix.com/static/appexpert/appexpert-template.html.

Note that AppExpert templates are based on the default settings from Citrix and require adjustments before they can be used in a production environment. The AppExpert Templates feature is available under the AppExpert menu. After downloading the template from the URL mentioned previously, we can import the template and the deployment file. This can be done by clicking on Import Template under the Applications pane in the AppExpert menu:

  1. Fill in Application Name. In this case, we're implementing the Microsoft Exchange template, so the name should be something like MicrosoftExchange.

  2. Upload the template file and, if necessary, the deployment file.

  3. Click on Continue...

HTTP Callouts


The HTTP Callouts option will be used for configured types of requests, or when criteria are met during policy evaluation. When the criteria matches the type of request, you might want to stall the policy evaluation briefly, retrieve information from a server, and then perform an action depending on the retrieved information. Another option could be that you want to update a database or the content hosted on a web server based on the requests.

An HTTP Callout is an HTTP or HTTPS request that Citrix NetScaler generates and sends to an external resource when the criteria matches during policy evaluation. The information can be analyzed by default syntax policy expressions.

You can use HTTP Callouts to obtain information from external applications. The Callout policy sends an HTTP request to an external application. An agent that you deploy in front of the application formats the request for the application.

The HTTP Callout can be configured for HTTP or HTTPS content switching,...

Rate limiting


With the rate limiting feature in Citrix NetScaler, we can define a maximum load for load balancing virtual servers or configured backend servers. With this feature, we can configure so as to let Citrix NetScaler monitor the rate of traffic. Based on the configured rate limiting, Citrix NetScaler can block access for example. This monitoring feature is real-time. The rate limiting feature is especially useful when the network is under attack. So, with rate limiting, it's possible to prevent Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. By using rate limiting, we can improve the reliability of the network and the resources that are presented by Citrix NetScaler.

Monitoring and controlling of the rate of traffic can be done based on:

  • Virtual servers

  • URLs

  • Domains

  • Combinations of URLs and domains

  • User-defined expressions

With rate limiting, it's possible to throttle the traffic rate when it's too high. It's also possible to redirect traffic to another load balancing virtual server if...

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Key benefits

  • Implement and configure all the available NetScaler Application Delivery features and monitor NetScaler VPX performance in your environment
  • Packed with real-word NetScaler deployment scenarios to help you see the configuration principles in action
  • Integrate NetScaler with other Citrix technologies, including CloudBridge, Application Delivery Controller, HDX Insight, and Command Center

Description

Citrix NetScaler is one of the best Application Delivery Controller products in the world. The Application Delivery Controllers are commonly used for load balancing purposes, to optimize traffic, and to perform extra security settings. This book will give you an insight into all the available features that the Citrix NetScaler appliance has to offer. The book will start with the commonly used NetScaler VPX features, such as load balancing and NetScaler Gateway functionality. Next, we cover features such as Responder, Rewrite, and the AppExpert templates, and how to configure these features. After that, you will learn more about the other available Citrix technologies that can interact with Citrix NetScaler. We also cover troubleshooting, optimizing traffic, caching, performing protection using Application Firewall, and denying HTTP DDoS attacks for web services. Finally, we will demonstrate the different configuration principles real-world Citrix NetScaler deployment scenarios.

Who is this book for?

If you’re an administrator with prior experience using NetScaler then you have everything you need to make the most of this book.

What you will learn

  • Configure the more commonly used NetScaler VPX features such as basic load balancing, authentication, NetScaler Gateway, and StoreFront
  • Configure the AppExpert features such as Responder, Rewrite, AppExpert templates, parsing HTTP, TCP, and UDP data
  • Integrate NetScaler with other Citrix technologies such as CloudBridge, Insight Center, and Command Center
  • Optimize traffic using caching, front-end optimization, and compression
  • Dive deep in the security, caching, and compression enhancements
  • Protect your environment with AAA and Application Firewall, or from HTTP DDoS attacks
  • Troubleshoot an environment using tools such as TaaS and WireShark
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Publication date : Nov 23, 2015
Length: 218 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785281730
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Table of Contents

8 Chapters
1. Configuring the Standard Features of NetScaler® Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Using the Features of NetScaler® AppExpert Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Integration with Citrix® Components Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Traffic Management Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Tuning and Monitoring NetScaler® Performances Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Security Features and Troubleshooting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Real-World Deployment Scenarios Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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Lance Dec 06, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Not a bad product - it didn't give me the info I was lo9oking for.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Yugandhar Dec 21, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I'm Yugandhar Ananda technical reviewer on this book. I have 5 years of experience on Citrix products.This is a very good book for Netscaler engineers who are beginning to implement independently. Its extremely touching, and i hope to read it again. I really enjoyed this book.This book covers all the advanced features of Netscaler. It has a lot of great information for optimizing the environment. If you are looking to implement a Citrix Netscaler environment and need a learning aid or guide then look no further, this book has everything you need from start to finish.
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Alby Aug 28, 2017
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Received the book good
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Michael W. Cropsey Aug 30, 2017
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Very good book and reference guide. Helped me get back up to speed after not working with NetScaler for a few years and definitely helped me with my support of the product.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Hugo Feb 22, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I am not am specialist in Citrix Technologies, but I want to use Netscaler and I can assure you that if you want to use this technology this book help you understand and master the Netscaler VPX. The book is well designed, from basic and most common used features to real world optimization that you may have to adapt your project to achieve your needs. Citrix Netscaler is a powerful tool, some features are complex to use, but is worth. This book will introduce you to what you need to know to start, manage, view in performance perspectives and adjust the security of your applications. I liked the book, thank you the authors for the good book.
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