Learning Path: NetScaler licensing FAQ

I get a few of the same questions...

Hello

I created a few articles that covered NetScaler licensing, I sometimes get questions so I have put the common ones into this post.

Question 1: We bought Universal Hybrid Multi-cloud(UHMC from now on), which includes all that NetScaler capacity. NetScaler Console is optional right?

Response: It is essential, it will not be possible to license any NetScalar appliances without it. So the answer is it is ‘not optional’.

Question 2: We have perpetual licensed NetScaler <blah blah blah>, can it be used with UHMC?

Response: Of course, just point the appliance at the NetScaler Console (or agent if using service) to allocate capacity. Typically, you can just buy a one-off Hardware maintenance pack for $1000 that will cover the appliance until it goes end of Life.

Question 3: Can we renew our Pooled capacity?

Response: No. It is the End of Renewal now, buy UHMC or fixed licenses.

Question 4: Does UHMC include hardware too?

Response: The software element of hardware appliances is included in UHMC, the licenses for MPX and SDX of instances and bandwidth, but there is no hardware. You can either use what you have or buy some new hardware.

Question 5: When does my hardware appliance go end of life?

Response: These are published online <link> and open up the NetScaler ADC section. It lists hardware and firmware versions. Typically, when an appliance gets released it is sold for a few years and then it is ‘End of Sale’. This is when it is no longer available to buy new. It will then be supported for 5 years from then. There is typically a support document describing the specifics like this <link>. The lifecycle matrix has links to them too.

Question 6: Where can I get a developer license? I used to get one with each hardware box I bought.

Response: They were removed once the 20-meg freemium edition was released, as it offers something similar and does not need any ‘license’ as such.

Question 7: What is the difference between hardware and software NetScaler?

Response: In simple terms, they run the same firmware, so the capabilities are the same (in terms of what they can do). Hardware has these benefits:

• Stronger SSL performance, which might be important

• Offers a level of physical separation between security zones.

The only downside is that hardware does take longer to get (8 weeks typically).

Question 8: We have a couple of VPX200 with the Standard feature set, can we upgrade them to Premium?

Response: The option to upgrade is no longer offered. There are two VPX fixed term / fixed capacity options (assuming you don’t have UHMC), a VPX1000 advanced or a VPX5000 premium. There is a VPX5000 FIPS one too, but I don’t get asked for it much. Pick one of them or get UHMC.

Question 9: Can a NetScaler VPX license be split up to run multiple smaller VPX’s?

Response: No. You can do something like this with Pooled / UHMC licenses. However, a typical VPX license is just ‘one instance’.

Question 10: Can I run a HA pair with a license for only one node?

Response: We did this for CSP in the past, but normal licenses require that both nodes be licensed to run high availability.

Question 11: How much does NetScaler Console cost? I used to buy VIP packs and storage.

Response: It is free, you can run it on-premise and take it as a service in the cloud. VIPS are unlimited for both on-premise(14.1) and cloud editions.

Question 12: What is the difference between ‘Advanced’ and ‘Premium’ editions?

Response: The main differences are the ‘security features’.

Summary

Hopefully, that makes sense.