Install a NetScaler VPX™ instance on VMware ESXi

Note:

This tech preview feature is provided for evaluation purposes only and is not intended for production use.

Overview

Starting with NetScaler® release 15.1, the NetScaler VPX virtual appliance for VMware ESXi is based on Linux, replacing the FreeBSD-based VPX available in release 14.1 and earlier. The installation workflow uses the standard VMware OVF deployment through the vSphere Client or vCenter.

In-place upgrade from 14.1 (FreeBSD-based) to 15.1 (Linux-based) is supported. The instance must be on 14.1 build 72.x or later before upgrading.

System requirements

The following tables list the minimum requirements for the ESXi host and the NetScaler VPX instance.

ESXi host

NetScaler VPX instance

Note:

For production-grade deployments, reserve 100% of memory and allocate CPU cycles equal to at least one physical ESXi core.

Before you begin

Before you install a NetScaler VPX instance on VMware ESXi, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:

• VMware vSphere Client is installed on a management workstation.

• A virtual switch and port group are configured on the ESXi host.

• VPX license files are available.

Obtain the VPX image

To download the VPX image package, complete the following steps:

1. Go to my.citrix.com and navigate to Downloads > NetScaler > Virtual Appliances.
2. Select NetScaler 15.1 and download the ESXi image package.

3. Copy all three files to the same folder on your workstation:

   NSVPX-ESX-15.1-<build>_lx_64-disk1.vmdk
   NSVPX-ESX-15.1-<build>_lx_64.ovf
   NSVPX-ESX-15.1-<build>_lx_64.mf
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

   Note:

   The _lx_64 suffix identifies the Linux-based image introduced in 15.1.

Install NetScaler VPX on ESXi

Deploy the VPX instance from the OVF template by using the vSphere Client. Complete the following steps:

Step 1. Deploy the OVF template.

1. Open the vSphere Client and connect to the ESXi host or vCenter.
2. Go to File > Deploy OVF Template.
3. Browse to the .ovf file and click Next.
4. Accept the defaults through the wizard. On the Network Mapping screen, map each OVF network to the appropriate port group on the ESXi host.
5. Click Finish to begin deployment.

Step 2. Power on the VM.

1. After deployment completes, right-click the VPX VM and select Power On.
2. Open the Console tab.

Step 3. Complete the initial configuration.

When the VPX boots for the first time, a configuration menu appears.

1. Enter the NSIP, subnet mask, and default gateway.
2. Select Save and Continue.

Step 4. Apply the license.

Log in at https://<NSIP> and apply the VPX license from System > Licenses.

Upgrade to NetScaler 15.1 Tech Preview

Perform an in-place upgrade of an existing NetScaler VPX instance to the 15.1 Tech Preview build. Complete the following steps:

Prerequisite:

Ensure that the NetScaler VPX instance is running version 14.1 build 72.x or later.

Step 1. Download the upgrade bundle.

Download the ESXi-specific bundle build-15.1-<build>_lx_64.tgz from my.citrix.com by navigating to Downloads > NetScaler > Virtual Appliances.

Important:

Use only the _lx_64 bundle. The standard FreeBSD upgrade bundle is not compatible and fails.

Step 2. Transfer and extract.

Copy the bundle to the VPX shell and extract it under /var/nsinstall/.

tar -xvzf build-15.1-<build>_lx_64.tgz -C /var/nsinstall/
<!--NeedCopy-->

Step 3. Install and reboot.

cd /var/nsinstall/build-15.1-<build>_lx_64
./installns
reboot
<!--NeedCopy-->

Note:

The same upgrade process applies to subsequent upgrades between 15.1 builds.

Limitations

Related information

For complete ESXi deployment details, including SR-IOV, VMXNET3, PCI passthrough, and VLAN configuration, see the Installing NetScaler VPX on VMware ESXi - 14.1 documentation.