NetScaler

The NetScaler line of products are the networking business unit for Cloud Software Group It includes NetScaler ADCs, NetScaler Unified Gateway, NetScaler AppFirewall, NetScaler Intelligent Traffic Management, and NetScaler Application Delivery Manager.{{Cite web |last=Dix |first=John |date=2016-04-18 |title=Introducing the new Citrix |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/3058015/introducing-the-new-citrix.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Network World |language=en}} The products can work in conjunction with other Cloud Software Group offerings, including its Citrix and Xen line of products.

NetScaler is integrated with OpenStack as part of Cloud Software Group's sponsorship of the OpenStack Foundation.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-08 |title=Citrix joins OpenStack, aims at interoperability in the cloud- The Inquirer |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2405182/citrix-joins-openstack-aims-at-interoperability-in-the-cloud |access-date=2023-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708211104/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2405182/citrix-joins-openstack-aims-at-interoperability-in-the-cloud |archive-date=2015-07-08 }}

NetScaler is Cloud Software Group’s core networking product. It is an application delivery controller (ADC),{{cite news |title=Citrix's new NetScaler CPX brings container technologies to developers |author=Michael Otey |url=http://searchcloudapplications.techtarget.com/feature/Citrixs-new-NetScaler-CPX-brings-container-technologies-to-developers |work=TechTarget |date=August 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016}} a tool that improves the delivery speed and quality of applications to an end user.{{cite news |title=Citrix integrates Netscaler with VMware's network virtualization platform |author=Mikael Ricknäs |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2047529/citrix-integrates-netscaler-with-vmwares-network-virtualization-platform.html |work=PC World |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=June 14, 2017}} The product is aimed at business customers and it performs tasks such as traffic optimization, L4-L7 load balancing,{{cite news |title=Citrix Showcases Cloud-first Innovations at Citrix Synergy 2016 |author=Darryl Linington |url=http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2016/05/citrix-showcases-cloud-first-innovations-at-citrix-synergy-2016/ |work=IT News Africa |date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=16 December 2016}} and web app acceleration while maintaining data security.

NetScaler monitors server health and allocates network and application traffic to additional servers for efficient use of resources.{{cite news |title=NetScaler load balancer can squash network latency |author=Carlos A Soto |url=https://gcn.com/Articles/2011/05/02/Review-of-Citrix-NetScaler-9-2-load-balancer-web-servers.aspx |work=GCN |date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=16 December 2016}} It also performs several kinds of caching and compression. It can be made a server proxy, process SSL requests, and offers VPN and micro-app VPN operations. It also includes NetScaler application firewall and SSL encryption capabilities. NetScaler ADC can manage traffic during DDoS attacks, making sure traffic gets to critical applications.{{cite news |title=NetScaler: Making the Mobile Enterprise Happen |author=Stan Gibson |url=http://www.cio.com/article/2921487/mobile/netscaler-making-the-mobile-enterprise-happen.html |work=CIO magazine |date=May 12, 2015 |access-date=19 December 2016}} Additionally, NetScaler's logs of network activity feed into Citrix's cloud-based analytics service and are used to analyze and identify security risks.{{cite news |title=More companies are using artificial intelligence and analytics to fight against cyber threats |author=Lynn Greiner |url=http://business.financialpost.com/technology/cio/more-companies-are-using-artificial-intelligence-and-analytics-to-fight-against-cyber-threats |work=Financial Post |date=May 29, 2017 |access-date=19 June 2017}}

There are five versions of NetScaler: NetScaler MPX, a hardware-based appliance for use in data centers; NetScaler SDX, a hardware-based appliance intended for service providers that provides virtualization delivering multitenancy for virtual and cloud-based data centers;{{cite news |title=Citrix pushes the pedal on NetScaler appliance metal |author=Timothy Prickett Morgan |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/10/citrixl_netscaler_mpx_sdx/ |work=The Register |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=16 December 2016}} NetScaler VPX, a software-based application that is implemented as a virtual machine and intended for small business use; and NetScaler CPX, a NetScaler ADC packaged in a container and designed for cloud and microservices applications. NetScaler BLX, a bare metal solution that can run on top of any Linux, while offering line-rate performance.

In addition, the NetScaler line of products include Citrix SD-WAN, formerly CloudBridge SD-WAN, which provides software-defined wide-area networking and branch networking. the SD-WAN product was end of sale on December 31, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Notice Of Change Announcement For Citrix - Citrix SD-WAN |url=https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX465114/notice-of-change-announcement-for-citrix-citrix-sdwan |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=support.citrix.com}} NetScaler Unified Gateway offers secure remote access of virtual desktops and a variety applications from a single point of entry and with single sign-on (SSO).{{cite news |title=Citrix NetScaler Gateway, the basics! |author=Bas van Kaam |url=http://www.basvankaam.com/2014/09/23/citrix-netscaler-gateway-the-basics/ |date=September 23, 2014 |access-date=16 February 2017}}{{cite news |title=Three benefits Citrix NetScaler Unified Gateway delivers to VDI shops |author=Brian Posey |url=http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/tip/Three-benefits-Citrix-NetScaler-Unified-Gateway-delivers-to-VDI-shops |work=Search Virtual Desktop |date=October 31, 2016 |access-date=23 March 2017}}

The NetScaler Application Delivery Management (ADM) is a platform designed for the organization and automation of policy management across devices and applications. The tool is intended for IT professionals to manage the various NetScaler products from a single dashboard.{{cite news |title=Citrix dodges death, returns with bigger XenServer and NetScaler |author=Simon Sharwood |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/25/citrix_dodges_death_returns_with_bigger_xenserver_and_netscaler/ |work=The Register |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016}} This dashboard is applicable to all 5 versions (SDX/MPX/VPX/CPX/BLX) and works regardless of whether the device is deployed in the cloud or on-premises. The platform also provides real-time analytics. The NetScaler ADM is also available as a service. You can use this cloud solution to manage, monitor, and troubleshoot the entire global application delivery infrastructure from a single, unified, and centralized cloud-based console.

1997 - Entrepreneur Michel K. Susai founded NetScaler December 1, 1997 in San Jose, California.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} He created NetScaler as a solution for reducing infrastructure during the growth of the Internet in the late 1990s.{{cite news |author=pisbcredenz |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Challenges we tackled while interviewing Michel Susai |work=WordPress |url=https://pisbcredenz.wordpress.com/2015/07/05/6-challenges-we-tackled-while-interviewing-michel-susai/ |access-date=5 July 2015}}

2000 - NetScaler ships the first product, the WebScaler 3000,  a transmultiplexer.

2001 - The company repositioned NetScaler as a security and optimization tool in 2001. NetScaler releases the NetScaler 6000, a load balancer.

2002 - NetScaler releases the NetScaler 9000, a load balancer with integrated SSL and compression offload. The NetScaler 9000 goes on to a position of market dominance within three years

2004 – NetScaler offers a complete Load Balancer with integrated SSLVPN. Security Weekly tests the NetScaler RS9800HA-T and states "This was the fastest unit in the test. If you need the performance then this is the unit to choose.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=S. C. |date=2004-01-01 |title=Netscaler RS9800HA-T |url=https://www.scmagazine.com/product-test/content/netscaler-rs9800ha-t |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=SC Media |language=en}}"

By 2005, NetScaler estimated 75 percent of Internet users used its systems through clients including Google and Amazon. Citrix acquired NetScaler in 2005 for approximately $300 million in cash and stock.{{cite news |title=Gaining speed, Citrix buys NetScaler |author=Stacy Cowley |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/865742/software-gaining-speed-citrix-buys-netscaler.html |work=Network World |date=June 6, 2005 |access-date=4 February 2015}}

2006 – NetScaler offers the 11000 series systems, the most successful and ubiquitous HW Load Balancer of its time.{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Tim |date=2008-04-28 |title=Citrix, A10 bolster application delivery gear |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2278646/citrix--a10-bolster-application-delivery-gear.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Network World |language=en}}

2007 – NetScaler offers the MPX-17xxx series systems, the first NetScaler with 10G connectivity.

2008/2009 – NetScaler transitions from the uniprocessor to the multiprocessor packet engine implementation, known as nCore. nCore allowed NetScaler to take advantage of the new Intel multicore chips to continue to increase performance. NetScaler offers the MPX-10500-FIPS platform for high security markets.

2009 - NetScaler introduced the VPX edition the following year.{{cite news |title=Citrix ships virtual NetScaler accelerator |author=Timothy Prickett Morgan |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/23/citrix_ships_netscaler_vpx/ |work=The Register |date=September 23, 2009 |access-date=15 December 2016}}

2011 - NetScaler offers the MPX-115xx series of systems, an enormously popular platform. NetScaler also releases the first multi-tenant ADC hardware platform, the SDX{{cite news |title=Product Launch: Citrix NetScaler SDX |author=Robin Wauters |url=http://virtualization.com/2011/05/16/product-launch-citrix-netscaler-sdx/ |work=Virtualization.com |date=May 16, 2011 |access-date=15 December 2016}} which combined the flexibility of virtualization with powerful, purpose built hardware.

2016 - Citrix transitioned all of its delivery products under the NetScaler brand. Citrix CloudBridge SD-WAN became NetScaler SD-WAN. The company also introduced "NetScaler Management and Analytics System", a console for users to manage all NetScaler products, including the ADCs and SD-WAN, and a containerized version of NetScaler called NetScaler CPX.{{cite news |title=Citrix unwraps XenApp, XenDesktop 7.9, adds centralized analytics to NetScaler |author=Natalie Gagliordi |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/citrix-unwraps-xenapp-xendesktop-7-9/ |work=ZDNet |date=May 24, 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016}} Citrix released a free developer version of NetScaler CPX called NetScaler CPX Express in August 2016.{{cite news |title=Citrix Gives Away Netscaler Containers for Free |author=Craig Matsumoto |url=https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/citrix-gives-away-free-netscaler-cpx-containers/2016/08/ |work=SDNCentral |date=August 24, 2016 |access-date=6 December 2016}}

Reviewing NetScaler ADC in 2007, InfoWorld gave it a score of 8.6 out of 10. The reviewer noted that it was easy to set up and administer, and provided performance improvements in load balancing and Web application speed. However, there were variable results with features such as TCP session buffering and TCP session consolidation, as these would depend on other factors. As well, InfoWorld said that NetScaler is best suited for "organizations making corporate applications available over the Web for internal or external customers" and "large, heavily trafficked Web sites" but was more costly than other available solutions for a "small, three-node Web farm that will be lightly loaded".{{cite news |title=Citrix NetScaler meets the need for speed |author=Logan Harbaugh |url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2650558/networking/citrix-netscaler-meets-the-need-for-speed.html |work=InfoWorld |date=November 12, 2007 |access-date=26 July 2017}}

GCN wrote in 2011 that NetScaler is "much more than a load balancer; it’s really an all-in-one Web application delivery system". The site gave NetScaler an A+ rating for features, B− for ease of use, A+ for performance and a C for value. The same article noted that it was difficult to learn and expensive.

{{As of|2016|12}}, annual net revenue from sales of NetScaler products and services was {{US$|782,875,000}}.{{cite web |date=December 31, 2016 |title=Citrix 2016 Annual Report |url=http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/CITRIX/4668017247x0x939663/77DDCCB6-21E7-416E-AEEC-27BC5886D513/citrix_2016_Annual_Report_Final.pdf |access-date=26 July 2017 |publisher=Citrix |page=F-31 |type=PDF}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024}}

In 2023, reports emerged of cyber criminals exploiting a vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler and the French Agence Nationale de la Cybersécurité issued advisories to correct "Citrix Bleed".{{Cite web |last=ZDNet |first=Extern |date=2023-11-27 |title=Comment les cybercriminels font leur miel de la faille Citrix Bleed |url=https://www.zdnet.fr/actualites/comment-les-cybercriminels-font-leur-miel-de-la-faille-citrix-bleed-39962596.htm |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=ZDNET |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Attention aux tentatives d’exploitation de la vulnérabilité " Citrix Bleed " de Citrix NetScaler. |url=https://www.ancs.tn/fr/veille/alertes-de-securite/attention-aux-tentatives-d-exploitation-de-la-vuln-rabilit-citrix-bleed |quote=02/11/2023 L’Agence Nationale de la Cybersécurité ANCS sollicite votre vigilance face à des tentatives d’exploitation de la vulnérabilité « Citrix Bleed » :CVE-2023-4966. En effet, cette vulnérabilité pourrait permettre à un attaquant de prendre le contrôle des sessions d'utilisateurs légitimes sur NetScaler ADC et NetScaler Gateway pour procéder à une reconnaissance du réseau, voler les informations d'identification des comptes et se déplacer latéralement dans le réseau via RDP.}}{{Cite news |title='Mass exploitation' of Citrix Bleed as ransomware moves in |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/31/mass_exploitation_citrix_bleed/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250125104856/https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/31/mass_exploitation_citrix_bleed/ |archive-date=2025-01-25 |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=en}}

{{reflist|2}}

Category:Citrix Systems

Category:Load balancing (computing)

Category:Cloud applications

Category:Servers (computing)

Category:Networking hardware

Category:Configuration management