The Challenge with Traditional Licensing

Traditional NetScaler licensing models require each instance to have its own individual licenses. This can lead to:

• Complexity: Managing numerous licenses for multiple instances.
• Inefficiency: Difficulty in optimizing license usage across the organization.

Introducing Pooled Capacity Licensing

To address these challenges, NetScaler offers pooled capacity licensing as part of its Application Delivery Management (ADM) service. This cloud-based platform provides tools to:

• Manage: Monitor and troubleshoot various NetScaler appliances (MPX, SDX, VPX, CPX, and BLX).
• Allocate: Dynamically distribute licenses across multiple instances as needed.

Benefits of Pooled Licensing

• Centralized Management: Admins can efficiently allocate licenses across appliances, reducing administrative time and improving consistency.
• Cost Optimization: Streamlined license utilization helps lower costs.
• Dynamic Allocation: Instances can borrow and return licenses based on real-time demand, ensuring efficient distribution.

Setting Up NetScaler ADM Service

1. Onboarding: Sign up for a cloud account and request ADM service access.

2. Agent Installation: Install the ADM agent on your on-premise environment (minimum specs: 8 GB RAM, 4 vCPU, 30 GB storage). Supported hypervisors include:

   • XenServer
   • VMware ESXi
   • Microsoft Hyper-V
   • Linux KVM
   • Cloud environments (Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)

3. Firewall Configuration: Open TCP ports 443, 27000, and 7279 to enable communication between the ADM agent and NetScaler instances.

4. Registration: Register the ADM agent with the ADM service using the provided link Installing Agent On-Prem..

Understanding License Management

• Pooled Capacity Files: The ADM service uses bandwidth and instance pool license files linked to a unique HOST ID.
• Bandwidth Pool: A shared resource divided by software editions (Standard, Advanced, Premium) for both physical and virtual instances.
• Instance Pool: Defines how many software instances (CPX, BLX, VPX) can be managed within the pooled capacity framework.

Important Notes for Appliance Licenses

• Zero-Capacity Appliances (MPX, SDX): Require a platform license to access bandwidth and instance licenses.
• VPX, CPX, BLX Appliances: Can directly access licenses from the pool without needing a platform license.

Final Steps

To complete your setup:

1. Set Up ADM Agent Server: Install and configure the agent in your on-prem environment.
2. NetScaler Configuration:
   • Log in to your NetScaler.
   • Go to System > Licenses.
   • Select the Pooled License type and enter your ADM agent server IP.
3. Verification: If communication is successful, you’ll see the license and bandwidth reflected in both your NetScaler and the ADM console.

Conclusion

By implementing NetScaler ADM pooled licensing, organizations can simplify their licensing processes, reduce costs, and enhance the scalability of their infrastructure. This approach not only optimizes licensing costs but also facilitates a more efficient deployment across your organization.