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NetScaler VPX support matrix

This document lists the different hypervisors and features supported on a NetScaler VPX instance. The document also describes their usage guidelines and known limitations.

VPX instance on VMware ESX hypervisor

ESXi version ESXi release date (YYYY/MM/DD) ESXi build number NetScaler VPX version Performance range
ESXi 8.0 update 3 2024/06/25 24022510 14.1-21.x and higher builds 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps










ESXi 8.0 update 2c 2024/05/21 23825572 14.1-21.x and higher builds
ESXi 8.0 update 2b 2024/02/29 23305546 14.1-17.x and higher builds
ESXi 8.0 update 2 2023/09/21 22380479 14.1-17.x and higher builds
ESXi 8.0 update 1 2023/04/18 21495797 14.1-4.x and higher builds
ESXi 8.0c 2023/03/30 21493926 14.1-4.x and higher builds
ESXi 8.0 2022/10/11 20513097 14.1-4.x and higher builds
ESXi 7.0 update 3q 2024/05/21 23794027 14.1-21.x and higher builds
ESXi 7.0 update 3p 2024/04/11 23307199 14.1-17.x and higher builds
ESXi 7.0 update 3o 2023/09/28 22348816 14.1-12.x and higher builds
ESXi 7.0 update 3n 2023/07/06 21930508 14.1-8.x and higher builds
ESXi 7.0 update 3m 2023/05/03 21686933 14.1-4.x and higher builds

Note:

Each ESXi patch support is validated on the NetScaler VPX version specified in the preceding table and is applicable for all the higher builds of NetScaler VPX 14.1 version.

For more information on usage guidelines, see Usage guidelines for VMware ESXi hypervisor.

VPX instance on XenServer or Citrix Hypervisor

XenServer or Citrix Hypervisor version SysID Performance range
8.4, supported from NetScaler VPX version 14.1 build 17.x onwards 450000

10 Mbps to 40 Gbps

8.2, supported from NetScaler VPX version 13.0 build 64.x onwards
8.0, 7.6, 7.1

VPX instance on Microsoft Hyper-V

Hyper-V version SysID Performance range
2016, 2019 450020 10 Mbps to 3 Gbps

VPX instance on Nutanix AHV

NetScaler VPX is supported on Nutanix AHV through the Citrix Ready partnership. Citrix Ready is a technology partner program that helps software and hardware vendors develop and integrate their products with NetScaler technology for digital workspace, networking, and analytics.

For more information on a step-by-step method to deploy a NetScaler VPX instance on Nutanix AHV, see Deploying a NetScaler VPX on Nutanix AHV.

Third-party support:

If you experience any issues with a particular third-party (Nutanix AHV) integration on a NetScaler environment, open a support incident directly with the third-party partner (Nutanix).

If the partner determines that the issue appears to be with NetScaler, the partner can approach NetScaler support for further assistance. A dedicated technical resource from partners works with the NetScaler support team until the issue is resolved.

For more information, see the Citrix Ready Partner Program FAQs.

VPX instance on generic KVM

Generic KVM version SysID Performance range
RHEL 7.6, RHEL 8.0, RHEL 9.3 450070
10 Mbps to 100 Gbps
Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 22.04

Points to note:

Consider the following points while using KVM hypervisors.

  • The VPX instance is qualified for hypervisor release versions mentioned in table 1–4, and not for patch releases within a version. However, the VPX instance is expected to work seamlessly with patch releases of a supported version. If it does not, log a support case for troubleshooting and debugging.

  • Before using RHEL 7.6, complete the following steps on the KVM host:
    1. Edit /etc/default/grub and append "kvm_intel.preemption_timer=0" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX variable.

    2. Regenerate grub.cfg with the command "# grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg".

    3. Restart the host machine.

  • Before using Ubuntu 18.04, complete the following steps on the KVM host:

    1. Edit /etc/default/grub and append "kvm_intel.preemption_timer=0" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX variable.
    2. Regenerate grub.cfg with the command "# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg “.
    3. Restart the host machine.

VPX instance on public clouds

Public cloud SysID Performance range
AWS 450040 10 Mbps to 30 Gbps
Azure 450020 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps
GCP 450070 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps

VPX features supported on hypervisors

Hypervisors →
Features ↓
VPX on XenServer
VPX on VMware ESX
VPX on Microsoft Hyper-V
VPX on generic KVM
Interfaces → PV SR-IOV PV SR-IOV Emulated PCI Passthrough PV PV SR-IOV PCI Passthrough
Multi-PE Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Clustering Support Yes Yes¹ Yes Yes¹ Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes¹ Yes
VLAN Tagging Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes(only on 2012R2) Yes Yes Yes
Detecting Link Events/HAMon No² Yes³ No² Yes³ No² Yes³ No² No² Yes³ Yes³
Interface Parameter Configuration No No No No No Yes No No No Yes
Static LA Yes² Yes³ Yes² No Yes² Yes³ Yes² Yes² Yes³ Yes³
LACP No Yes³ Yes² No Yes² Yes³ No Yes² Yes³ Yes³
Static CLAG No No No No No No No No No No
LACP CLAG No No Yes² No Yes² Yes³ No Yes² Yes³ Yes³
Hot-plug No No No No No No No No No No

VPX features supported on public clouds

Public clouds →
Features ↓
VPX on AWS
VPX on Azure
VPX on GCP
Multi-PE Support Yes Yes Yes
Clustering Support No No No
VLAN Tagging No No No
Detecting Link Events/HAMon No² No² No²
Interface Parameter Configuration No No No
Static LA No No No
LACP No No No
Static CLAG No No No
LACP CLAG No No No
Hot-plug Yes No No

The superscript numbers (1, 2, 3) used in the two preceding tables refers to the following points with respective numbering:

  1. Clustering support is available on SRIOV for client-facing and server-facing interfaces, and not for the backplane.
  2. Interface DOWN events are not recorded in NetScaler VPX instances.
  3. For Static LA, traffic might still be sent on the interface whose physical status is DOWN.

The following points apply to the respective features captured in the two preceding tables:

  • For LACP, the peer device knows the interface DOWN event based on the LACP timeout mechanism.

    • Short timeout: 3 seconds
    • Long timeout: 90 seconds
  • For LACP, do not share interfaces across VMs.
  • For Dynamic routing, convergence time depends on the Routing Protocol since link events aren’t detected.
  • Monitored static Route functionality fails if you do not bind monitors to static routes because the Route state depends on the VLAN status. The VLAN status depends on the link status.
  • Partial failure detection does not happen in high availability if there’s link failure. High availability-split brain condition might happen if there’s link failure.
    • When any link event (disable/enable, reset) is generated from a VPX instance, the physical status of the link does not change. For static LA, any traffic initiated by the peer gets dropped on the instance.
    • For the VLAN tagging feature to work, do the following:

      On the VMware ESX, set the port group’s VLAN ID to 1–4095 on the vSwitch of the VMware ESX server. For more information about setting a VLAN ID on the vSwitch of the VMware ESX server, see VMware ESX Server 3 802.1Q VLAN Solutions.

  • Hot-plug is not supported on VPX instances with ENA interfaces, and the behavior of the instances can be unpredictable if hot-plugging is attempted. Hot adding is supported only for PV and SRIOV interfaces with NetScaler on AWS.
  • Hot removing either through the AWS Web console or AWS CLI interface is not supported with the PV, SRIOV, and ENA interfaces for NetScaler. The behavior of the instances can be unpredictable if hot-removal is attempted.

Supported browsers

Operating system Browser and versions
Windows 7 Internet Explorer- 8, 9, 10, and 11; Mozilla Firefox 3.6.25 and above; Google Chrome- 15 and above
Windows 64 bit Internet Explorer - 8, 9; Google Chrome - 15 and above
MAC Mozilla Firefox - 12 and above; Safari - 5.1.3; Google Chrome - 15 and above

AMD processor support for VPX instances

From NetScaler release 13.1, the VPX instance supports both the Intel and AMD processors. VPX virtual appliances can be deployed on any instance type that has two or more virtualized cores and more than 2 GB memory. For more information on system requirements, see NetScaler VPX data sheet.

VPX platform vs. NIC matrix table

The following table lists the NICs supported on a VPX platform or cloud.

NICs →
Platforms ↓
Mellanox CX-3
Mellanox CX-4
Mellanox CX-5
Intel 82599 SRIOV VF
Intel X710/X722/XL710 SRIOV VF
Intel X710/XL710/XXV710 PCI-Passthrough Mode
VPX (ESXi) No Yes No Yes No Yes
VPX (Citrix Hypervisor) NA NA NA Yes Yes No
VPX (KVM) No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
VPX (Hyper-V) NA NA NA No No No
VPX (AWS) NA NA NA Yes NA NA
VPX (Azure) Yes Yes Yes NA NA NA
VPX (GCP) NA NA NA NA NA NA

Other References