This article describes licensing information for Citrix Access Gateway 5.0.

Citrix Access Gateway 5.0 Now Requires a Platform License

Like Citrix NetScaler and Citrix Branch Repeater, the Access Gateway appliance itself must be licensed to function. After that has been done, the gateway allows unlimited connections through Basic logon points. The appliance license is called the Access Gateway Platform License and is delivered electronically when you order an appliance (whether physical or virtual).

For Access Gateway 5.0, in retail licensing mode, both Access Gateway Platform and Access Gateway Universal Concurrent User Licenses are required. In express mode, only the Access Gateway VPX Express License is required.

Install Licenses Onboard or Use a Citrix License Server

Platform and user licenses can be loaded directly onto the appliance or you can use a Citrix License Server and point the gateway to the license server's IP address. When you allocate your licenses through My Account on www.citrix.com, you are prompted to provide a license server host name. If you are using a license server, enter the case-sensitive license server hostname; if you are going to install licenses directly onto the appliance, enter the hostname of the gateway appliance. The gateway's hostname is configured on the Networking panel and must match the Fully Qualified Domain Name that users connect to. Unlike earlier versions, one Access Gateway cannot act as a license server for other gateways; that task is best served by the Citrix License Server virtual appliance.

License Traffic is Always Sourced from the Appliance

If you are using the optional Access Controller Server, note that both platform and user licenses are always consumed by the gateway appliance, not by the Access Controller. This is a change from the way Access Gateway Advanced Edition worked, where license traffic was sourced from the controller. Therefore, you might need to configure your firewall settings to allow traffic from the gateway in the DMZ to reach your Citrix License Server on the LAN.

Upgrade Eligibility

If you are an existing Access Gateway customer with a Model 2010 appliance that is covered by warranty and user licenses covered by Subscription Advantage, you are entitled to upgrade to version 5.0 at no charge. You can reuse your existing Citrix Access Gateway Standard Edition or Citrix Access Gateway Universal user licenses as long as they have a Subscription Advantage expiration date that falls on or after September 1, 2010. Citrix Access Gateway Standard Edition CCUs are no longer sold, but are honored as long as the Subscription Advantage is valid, effectively a free upgrade from Standard Edition to SmartAccess.

Also bear in mind about the new platform license requirement. If you upgrade from 4.6 to 5.0 and do not have a platform license in place, you will see a warning on the administrator’s console and users cannot log on. If you have an eligible appliance, you can obtain the required platform license using the All Licensing Tools link available through My Account on www.citrix.com.