Clustering

CNS 205-5I: Citrix NetScaler 10.5 Essentials and Networking

Overview
After completing this module, you will be able to:
Describe the NetScaler nCore Clustering feature.
Describe the steps to set up a NetScaler nCore cluster.
Manage and configure a NetScaler nCore cluster.
Troubleshoot a NetScaler nCore cluster.

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How Clustering Works

A NetScaler cluster is formed by grouping NetScaler systems
The NetScaler systems must satisfy specified in hardware and software
requirements
One of the cluster nodes is designated as a configuration coordinator (CCO) and
coordinates all cluster configurations

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Clustering Synchronization
The NetScaler configurations and the files that are available on the CCO are
synchronized on all the other cluster nodes when:
A node joins the cluster
A node rejoins the cluster
A sync command is executed on the CCO

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Cluster Connections

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Cluster Communication Interfaces

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Striped and Spotted IP Addresses

In a clustered deployment, VIP, MIP, and SNIP addresses can be striped or
spotted.
Striped IP address are active on all nodes of the cluster
Spotted IP address are active on and owned exclusively by one node

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Striped and Spotted IP Addresses

NetScaler-owned IP
Address

Striped IP Address

Spotted IP Address

NSIP

No

Yes

Cluster IP Address

No

No

VIP

Yes

No

MIP/SNIP

Yes

Yes (recommended)

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Traffic Distribution
Client requests are sent to the striped VIP address on the NetScaler and
processed through these components:
Client-data plane
Flow receiver
Flow processor

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Cluster and Node States

Cluster-node classification includes three types of states:
Admin state
Operational state
Health state

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NetScaler Cluster Setup

To set up a NetScaler cluster:
1. Set up the cluster backplane network
2. Create the cluster by adding the first node, which becomes the initial configuration coordinator
(CCO)
3. Assign a cluster IP address to that node
4. Once the cluster IP address is defined on the CCO, you can add more nodes to the cluster.

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To Set Up a Cluster Backplane

To set up the cluster backplane, perform the following steps for every node:
1. Identify the network interface that you want to use for the backplane
2. Connect an Ethernet or optical cable from the selected network interface to the cluster
backplane switch

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To Add the Initial Configuration Coordinator

1. Add a cluster instance
Note: The cluster instance is an entity that identifies the cluster
2. Add the NetScaler system to the cluster
3. Add the cluster IP address to this node
4. Enable the cluster instance to create the cluster
5. Save the configuration
6. Warm restart the system

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Cluster Node Addition

To seamlessly scaling the size of a cluster to include a maximum of 32 nodes:
Ensure the system is added to the cluster
Verify the licenses on that system are checked against the licenses available on the CCO

If the licenses match:

The system is added to the cluster
The existing configurations of the node are cleared
The cluster configurations are synchronized with the node

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NetScaler Cluster Traffic Distribution Mechanisms

Equal Cost Multiple Path (ECMP)
Linksets
Cluster Link Aggregation Group (CLAG)

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Dynamic Configuration for a Cluster Link Aggregation Group

Use Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to create a CLA channel
dynamically
Configure a CLA channel dynamically if you do not have control of the link
aggregation configurations on the external connecting device

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Test Your Knowledge

Complete the Test Your Knowledge items and review with your instructor.

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NetScaler Cluster Management

Typical cluster-management tasks are:
Removing a cluster node
Disabling a cluster node
Viewing cluster instances and node details
Synchronizing files on a cluster
Upgrading or downgrading software on the cluster

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Removing a Cluster Node

1. Remove the reference to the cluster instance from the node
This command internally executes the clear ns config extended command on that node
The MIP and SNIP addresses and all VLAN configurations (except default VLAN and NSVLAN)
are cleared from the node

2.

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Remove the node from the cluster

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To Disable a Cluster Node

You can temporarily remove a node from a cluster by disabling the cluster
instance on that node
A disabled node is not synchronized with the cluster configuration and is unable to
serve traffic

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To Synchronize Files on a Cluster

To synchronize cluster configurations by using the NetScaler command line
interface, type the following command:
force cluster sync

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Cluster Node Software Upgrades and Downgrades

All cluster nodes must be running the same software version
To upgrade or downgrade the software of a cluster, you must upgrade or
downgrade the software on each node, one node at a time

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NetScaler Cluster Troubleshooting

If a failure occurs in a NetScaler cluster, the first step in troubleshooting is to get
information on the cluster instance and the cluster nodes by running these
commands:
show cluster instance <clId>
show cluster node <nodeId>

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

Why does the node state show INACTIVE when the node health shows UP?
How can I resolve the health of a node when its health shows NOT UP?
When I run the set vserver command, I get the following message, "No such
resource." What must I do to resolve this issue?
I cannot configure the cluster over a Telnet session. What must I do?
When configuring a cluster node, I get the following message, "ERROR: Session
is read-only; connect to the cluster IP address to modify the configuration."

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Test Your Knowledge

Complete the Test Your Knowledge items and review with your instructor.

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WORK BETTER. LIVE BETTER.

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