NetScaler Freemium - rev2
Running NetScaler for free.
Good morning
I have had a few people ask me about test licenses for NetScaler. It usually starts with. something like this:
Andrew, I urgently need (multiple) evaluation licenses to test xyz with NetScaler!
Now I can go back and say:
Javier, its not a problem as an ‘unlicensed’ appliance can be used for testing now.
Okay, so how do I get that?
Assumptions
This really applies to VPX more than anything. Having a 20meg limit on a MPX16000 (a 250Gbps chassis) would be a bit weird…Although for testing, you can do a lot with a VPX.
I did the following process with a 14.1 & 13.1 build.
Process
Step 1: Download an appliance from the download site.
In this case, I am spinning up the latest 14.1-34.xx VPX build & a 13.1-56.18 on a hypervisor under my desk. This is sometimes called the ‘London’ data centre.
Step 2: Assign some resources and spin it up.
You will need a management address and mask, plus a gateway.
Step 3: Just wait while it comes up and then login to the GUI
You will see this:
Opening up the licensing module it will show all the features that you get
In this case the model ID is ‘20’, so there is a 20meg throughput limit on this appliance. I appreciate that isn’t a lot of capacity, but is pretty good for testing.
You can test all the features that are enabled! Things like GSLB, AppFirewall and SSL interception..etc.
I use 13.1, does this work for that too?
Yes, the 13.1-56.18 fixes this to allow Freemium on this build too. Thanks to Daniel Marsh for highlighting this.
The crosses mean that features are not enabled, so the advice is test on 14.1.
What if I put a license file in?
You don’t need a license at all, honest. Here is the license folder on my free 14.1 NetScaler.
Unless, of course you need more capacity/throughput.
What about cloud?
The behaviour is the same with the BYOL in public cloud too.
I love this NetScaler thing! I want to go LIVE with it.
Do you want to release the shackles of a 20meg limit? Obviously, some money will need to change hands….
You can take the ‘test’ NetScaler with its freemium license and have it become a licensed appliance and there will not need to be any sort of rebuild process. There will be a reboot, for the license service to see what you bought..There are two options:
Buy a fixed term license, add that local file to the appliance and reboot. There are only three options now a VPX1000 advanced which has 1000meg of throughput. The other model is the VPX5000 Premium which has, yes you guessed it 5000meg of throughput. There is also a VPX 5000 Premium FIPS for customer(s) that need that certification.
Install a copy of NetScaler Console and have that host your Universal Hybrid Muti-cloud capacity or Citrix Platform capacity. I wrote about how to set that up here
Summary
I hope that helps…
Hi Andrew,
Firstly want to say thank you for the content you put out, really appreciate and follow it religiously :)
I have a question:
A customer has old perpetual licenses VPX10 (no maintenance) can they use this "freemium" in a production environment? (I know it is according to sources not recommended due to the 20Mbs limitation) but they currently have half that. If Yes can you add on maintenance to freemium?
Trying to read up on this online but the information is limited, formal site does not mention testing license etc. just states what comes with it and the bandwidth limitation.
Hope this makes sense :)
Kind Regards
Ryno
FYI the 13.1 freemium has been fixed in the latest build released overnight :)