Citrix NetScaler ADC Overview

The Citrix® NetScaler® ADC product line optimizes delivery of applications over the Internet and

private networks. NetScaler is an application delivery controller (ADC) that accelerates application

performance, enhances application availability with advanced L4-7 load balancing, secures missioncritical apps from attacks and lowers server expenses by offloading computationally intensive tasks. All these capabilities are combined into a single, integrated appliance for increased productivity, with lower overall total cost of ownership.

NetScaler is deployed in front of web, application and database servers. It combines high-speed

L4-7 load balancing and content switching with application acceleration, data compression, static

and dynamic content caching, SSL acceleration, network optimization, application performance

monitoring application visibility and robust application security via an application firewall.

NetScaler appliances are installed in the data center and route all connections to back-end servers.

The NetScaler features are enabled and the policies configured are then applied to incoming

and outgoing traffic. NetScaler requires no additional client or server side software, and can be

configured using the NetScaler web-based GUI, RESTful API (“Nitro”) and CLI configuration utilities.

NetScaler is available as a high-performance network appliance and a virtual appliance for maximum

deployment flexibility. The hardware based MPX appliances with multi-core processor designs are

available with a wide range of appliance availability; from sub gigabit throughput to 50 Gbps. Each

leverages a fully hardened and secure operating system.

NetScaler appliances provide multi-dimensional scalability for a superior ROI. Pay-As-You-Grow and Burst Pack upgrade licenses enable specific models to be upgraded to higher-end models within a

particular platform via a software license. NetScaler SDX models allow up to 40 fully independently

managed NetScaler instances to run on a single platform. NetScaler with Citrix TriScale clustering

allows up to 32 NetScaler appliances (of the same platform, model and edition) to be aggregated

into a single group to increase aggregate app delivery capacity.

NetScaler solutions are available in three software editions: Standard, Enterprise, and Platinum.

These editions offer the following feature sets:

Standard Edition

NetScaler Standard Edition provides comprehensive layer 4-7 load balancing and content switching,

SSL acceleration and server offload capabilities.

Enterprise Edition

NetScaler Enterprise Edition is a highly integrated application delivery solution. It includes all

Standard Edition capabilities, plus dynamic routing support, data compression (AppCompress),

global server load balancing (GSLB), surge protection, priority queuing, L7 DoS protection, AAA for

traffic management and cache redirection. Enterprise Edition also includes Citrix Command Center

software.

Platinum Edition

NetScaler Platinum Edition is the most integrated and feature-rich NetScaler offering. It includes all

Enterprise Edition capabilities, plus content caching (AppCache), web application firewall, NetScaler

Cloud Bridge and EdgeSight for NetScaler application performance monitoring. It also includes Citrix Command Center software and NetScaler Cloud Bridge.

Software Options

The following options are available for NetScaler MPX appliances.

• Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB) - Directs user requests to the data center best

able to handle it. Requests can be redirected based on dynamic changes in global network

performance, site connectivity and availability. Server location, load and many other factors

determine the optimal server to use.

• NetScaler AppCompress™ - Improves end-user performance and reduces bandwidth

consumption by compressing HTML/text content before transmission to clients.

AppCompress supports both encrypted and unencrypted data.

• AppCache™ – Citrix NetScaler AppCache improves application performance by storing

cacheable content, both static and dynamic, directly on the NetScaler platform. Multiple

techniques ensure content freshness.

• NetScaler Application Firewall™ – NetScaler Application Firewall ensures security at the

application layer. It is an ICSA-certified web application firewall that automatically blocks

malicious web traffic.

• Citrix EdgeSight™ for NetScaler – EdgeSight for NetScaler is a transparent tool to

measure end-user performance, and does not require a client-based agent. EdgeSight for

NetScaler helps evaluate performance issues and monitor trends to anticipate future

unacceptable performance levels allowing proactive network changes. Numerous application

performance parameters, such as time to download a page and round trip response times,

are stored and displayed in a variety of formats.