Upgrade Citrix NetScaler from 13 to 14.1

Overview:

Upgrading Citrix NetScaler is essential for:

• Security Enhancements: Patches and fixes for known vulnerabilities.

• Performance Improvements: Optimized traffic management and processing.

• New Features: Access to advanced networking and security functionalities.

• Compatibility: Ensures seamless integration with newer Citrix infrastructure and third-party applications.

• Bug Fixes: Resolves known issues and improves system stability.

While Citrix Netscaler provide GUI based upgrade process, it is not recommended method due to several factors like stability and reliability. GUI is known to occasionally free, time out or fail. It has higher risk of corrupting the system due to not properly clean up old files.

Based on experience, success rate upgrade using GUI is around 70%++ only.

Upgrade NetScaler Implementation Plan

Pre-Upgrade Planning:

• Before upgrading, create a full virtual machine (VM) snapshot if NetScaler is running on a virtualized environment. This ensures a quick recovery in case of upgrade failure. Ensure sufficient storage space for the snapshot.

• Log in to vCenter.

• Locate your NetScaler virtual machine.

• Create a snapshot for the NetScaler

Create Full Backup via Web Interface

• Log in to NetScaler using your web browser.

• Navigate to Configuration > System > Backup and Restore.

• For naming format: File name [DD-MM-YY], select full in level option

• Create a full backup and download it to your local machine

Filename: [date]

level: Full

Comment: Any reference like CHG number

Backup ns.conf using WinSCP

Open WinSCP.

• Enter the IP address of your NetScaler, username, and password. Use SCP protocol

• Click "Login".

• Navigate to the /flash/nsconfig directory.

• Backup the ns.conf file by copying it to your local machine

• This backup allows quick restoration of the primary configuration file in case of errors

Upgrade NetScaler

• In WinSCP, navigate to the /var/nsinstall/Builds directory

• Create a new folder named after the firmware version you are upgrading to. Normally need to download the firmware from https://www.citrix.com/downloads/

• Upload the firmware file to this newly created folder.

• Open putty and Enter the IP address of your NetScaler

• Enter the IP address of your NetScaler and connect

Access Shell:

• Once connected, type shell to access the shell prompt

Check Disk Space:

• Type df -h to view the available disk space.

• Ensure the /var partition has at least 4GB of free space.

Navigate to Firmware Directory:

• Type cd /var/nsinstall/ to navigate to the firmware directory.

• Type ls to see all the list that available

Extract Firmware:

• Type tar -xvzf to extract the firmware files.

It stands for:

x → Extract: This tells tar to extract files from an archive.

v → Verbose: Displays the files being extracted, providing progress output.

z → Gzip: Specifies that the archive is compressed using gzip (.tgz or .tar.gz format).

f → File: Indicates that the next argument is the filename of the archive.

• Type ls -tl once the extraction completed to see list is available

Install Firmware:

• Type installns to start the firmware installation process.tar

• Respond to any confirmation prompts as needed. Delete old signature files and kernel images if asked

Wait for Reboot:

• The NetScaler will automatically reboot once the firmware installation is complete.

• Can monitor the process at the vCenter

Verify Firmware Version:

• After the reboot, log in to the NetScaler via the web interface.

• Make sure it does not change to freemium

• Check the firmware version by clicking on the nsroot account in the top right corner.

• Can also try validation by launching the storefront

Ensure 4GB of /var disk space is available. By checking on the configuration > System Upgrade > Check Disk Space