This article lists the device names assigned to the hard disks in the various models of the Citrix NetScaler appliance.

Background

• Checking free space:
  root@netscaler# df –h
  Filesystem Size Used Avail Capacity Mounted on
  /dev/md0c 161M 156M 2.6M 98% /
  /dev/ad0s1a 237M 133M 85M 61% /flash
  /dev/da0s1e 23G 8.7G 13G 41% /var
  procfs 4.0K 4.0K 0B 100% /proc

• Verifying the mount point on the /var directory:
  root@netscaler# mount
  /dev/md0c on / (ufs, local)
  /dev/ad0s1a on /flash (ufs, local)
  /dev/da0s1e on /var (ufs, local)
  procfs on /proc (procfs, local)

procfs on /proc (procfs, local)Mapping Fixed Disk Mount Device to the /var Directory

The following are the lists of the various Citrix NetScaler appliance models that use the respective hard disk names in the appliance:

• The following models use the /dev/ad2s1e device name for the hard disk:
  • 7000
  • 9010
  • 10010
  • 12000 series
• The following models use the /dev/ad4s1e device name for the hard disk:
  • MPX-15000
  • MPX-17000
  • MPX-8200
  • MPX-5650
  • MPX-8015
  • MPX-8005
• The following models use the /dev/ad6s1e device name for the hard disk:
  • MPX-5500***
  • MPX-7500***
  • MPX-9500***
  • MPX-9700
  • MPX-10500
  • MPX-12500
  • MPX-15500
  • These models use the /dev/ad0s1e device name for the hard disk if the appliance is shipped from manufacturing (not purchased) after 20th February, 2012. This is because of the move to Solid State Drives in these models.
    The appliance also uses the /dev/ad0s1e device name if the appliance was received as part of the RMA process after 20th February, 2012.
• The following models use the /dev/ad8s1e device name for the hard disk:
  • MPX-11500
  • MPX-17550
• The following models use the /dev/da0s1e device name for the hard disk:
  • 9950

Note: The device name assigned to the hard disk drive on the NetScaler MPX appliances depend on the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) version installed on the appliance. To know about the BIOS version and respective device name assigned to the hard disk drive on various NetScaler MPX appliances, refer to the Knowledge Center article CTX124609 – Device Names Assigned to the /var and /flash Partitions According to the BIOS Version Installed on a NetScaler MPX Appliance.

Exceptions

Citrix NetScaler appliance models 9400 and 9800 have an exception with respect to the device name. These devices are available in two versions. To determine the version, access the FreeBSD (UNIX) command prompt by using the serial console or an SSH session, and run the sysctl command.

Complete the following procedure to determine the version of the appliance model:

1. To switch to the FreeBSD command prompt from the serial console or the SSH session, run the following command:

   shell

2. To determine the version of the appliance model, run the following command:

   sysctl -a netscaler
   The following is the sample output of the preceding command:
   netscaler.developer: 0
   netscaler.recovery: 0
   netscaler.sysid: 980020
   netscaler.serial: <output for this field does not show for some older models>
   netscaler.descr: 9800 v2 1*BX+4*BX
   netscaler.version: NetScaler NS9.1: Build 95.3.cl, Date: Jun 21 2009, 08:55:45
   netscaler.pitboss_policy: 182
   netscaler.pitbossexitcode: -559039810
   netscaler.nCore: 0
   netscaler.Classic: 1
   netscaler.model: 0

• The NetScaler appliance models 9400 and 9800 use the /dev/ad2s1e device name for the hard disk if the output of the sysctl command displays any of the following values for the netscaler.sysid and netscaler.descr parameters:

• netscaler.sysid: 940030
  netscaler.descr: 7000 v1 6*EZ+2*EM

• netscaler.sysid: 940010
  netscaler.descr: 9800 v1 1*BX+4*BX

• The NetScaler appliance models 9400 and 9800 use the dev/da0s1e device name for the hard disk if the output of the sysctl command displays any of the following values for the netscaler.sysid and netscaler.descr parameters:

• netscaler.sysid: 940020
  netscaler.descr: 9400 v2 2*DC

• netscaler.sysid: 980020
  netscaler.descr: 9800 v2 1*BX+4*BX

Additional Resources

Refer to the following Knowledge Center articles for more information about troubleshooting the hard disk issues in the various models of the Citrix NetScaler appliance.

CTX109762 – How to Mount the Flash Directory on a NetScaler

CTX109006 – How to Recover the Password for a NetScaler Appliance