Summary

The NetScaler VPX virtual appliance for VMWare ESX servers is available for Tech Preview. This document provides installation instructions for importing and configuring the NetScaler VPX VM in an ESX 4.0 environment.

Contents

Install and Configure ESXi 4.0 on Your Server 1

Steps to Deploy Netscaler VM 5

Netscaler VM Adding More Ports 8

Netscaler VM Shutdown Procedure 10

More Information 11

Procedure

Install and Configure ESXi 4.0 on Your Server

If you do not have a server with VMWare ESX 4.0 installed, you will need one. To get a 60 day evaluation version of VMWare ESX 4.0:

1. Make a CD of the EXSi 4.0 VMVisor evaluation (60 day) installer located at http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/ .

2. Access the VGA console and install the .iso onto the server. The install takes about 40 minutes.
Note: The BIOS must be changed to enable virtualization.

3. Once the install completes, access the VGA console to configure the IP address of the hypervisor.

4. Install the vSphere client on your Windows workstation or server. The client can be downloaded from http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/ .

5. Once installed, use the IP address of the hypervisor (username = root, blank password) to access the client. If the vSphere client and hypervisor are seperated by a firewall, you must open TCP ports 80, 443 and 902.

6. On the vSphere client, select the Configuration tab and click on Networking.

7. Click on Add Networking on the top right corner to start the Add Network Wizard. Select Virtual Machine as the Connection Type and click Next.

8. Scroll down the list of vSwitch physical adapters and choose the physical port to map to interface 1/1 on the Netscaler VPX virtual appliance.

9. Enter a name for the vSwitch to associated with interface 1/1 of the NetScaler VPX VM, for instance NS_NIC_1_1.

10. Click Next to finish the vSwitch creation. Repeat steps 6 through 10 to add additional interfaces to also be used by the NetScaler VPX virtual appliance. When adding a second interface, select another physical adapter and create a unique name label such as NS_NIC_1_2.

Steps to Deploy Netscaler VM

11. The Netscaler VPX for VMWare ESX VM follows the Open Virtual Machine format standard. Necessary files can be downloaded from MyCitrix.com. You require a MyCitrix account to login. If you do not have a MyCitrix account, access the home page at www.mycitrix.com , click the Log In link and follow the instructions for New Users.

NetScaler VPX Platinum Evaluation/VMWare ESX Tech Preview download page
https://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=1857217&productId=21679

Or follow this path from the MyCitrix home page:
MyCitrix.com > Downloads > NetScaler > NetScaler VPX Platinum Evaluation/VMWare ESX Tech Preview

Copy the following three files to a location on the same network as the hypervisor. All files should be copied into the same folder.

NetScaler-VPX-disk1.vmdk or NetScaler-VPX-disk1.vmdk.gz
NetScaler-VPX.ovf
NetScaler-VPX.mf

12. On the vSphere client, select the Virtual Machine tab. Select File > Deploy OVF Template and then select Deploy from file and browse to the location of the .ovf file downloaded in step 13. Click Next.

13. From the Network Mapping screen, verify that the Netscaler VPX VM networking information matches that of your hypervisor. Initially, one VPX interface (NS_NIC_1_1) is sufficient.

In the example below, the VM Network maps to port 0/1 on the VPX which is same port used for hypervisor management. The current NetScaler VPX for ESX virtual appliance supports up to four interfaces, including the management port 0/1.

Once deployed, the number of ports assigned to the VPX can be changed. When adding interfaces to the NetScaler VPX VM, a new license must be allocated from the MyCitrix licensing portal and copied to the virtual appliance. Evaluation licenses can be downloaded any number of times during the Tech Preview. For more information on licensing NetScaler VPX products, see CTX122426 - NetScaler VPX Licensing Guide.

Click Next.

14. Successful deployment results in this screen. A pop-up window reports success as well.

If you do not need more than two ports (0/1 and 1/1), you may remove the unwanted ports from the Virtual Machine tab (select Properties).

15. You are now ready to start the NetScaler VPX for ESX virtual appliance. Power on the VM and click on the Console tab to emulate a console port. You are prompted with a Configuration Wizard. Follow the prompts to provide the necessary network addresses. When finished, login with the default credentials: nsroot / nsroot.

16. To fully utilize the platinum edition features of the NetScaler VPX, a license must be copied to the virtual appliance. For instructions on NetScaler VPX license allocation and installtion, see CTX122426 - NetScaler VPX Licensing Guide. We recommend you use the NetScaler VPX-1000 Platinum 90 day EVAL license for the Tech Preview. You can download this license from: https://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=1857217&productId=21679

17. For further instructions on configuring the NetScaler VPX virtual appliance, see CTX121819 - Citrix NetScaler Getting Started Guide - Release 9.1.

Netscaler VM Adding More Ports

18. Follow steps 6 through 10 to add vSwitches and NetScaler VPX ports (NS_NIC_1_2... NS_NIC_1_3).

19. Shut down the NetScalear VPX VM by following the steps in section Netscaler VM Shutdown Procedure.

After graceful shutdown, open the Virtual Machines tab, select the NetScaler VPX VM and click Properties. Click Add.

20. Select the proper device type (Ethernet Adapter). Click Next.

22. Enter the type of adapter (1Gbps) and the correct Network Label which is being added (NS_NIC_1_2). Click Next.

23. Verify the new network adapter has been successfully added. Click OK.

Netscaler VM Shutdown Procedure

21. From the console, type save config at the NetScaler CLI prompt.

22. Type shell to drop into FreeBSD. Then type halt and wait for the “Please press any key to reboot" message on the screen.

23. From the vSphere client, select the NetScaler VPX VM and click Power off (Ctrl+E).

More Information

NetScaler VPX Knowledge Center -- http://support.citrix.com/product/nsad/vpx9.1/

NetScaler VPX Discussion Forum -- http://forums.citrix.com/forum.jspa?forumID=834

CTX121819 - Citrix NetScaler Getting Started Guide - Release 9.1

CTX122426 - NetScaler VPX Licensing Guide

CTX121291 - NetScaler VPX Release 9.1 FAQ