Pre-Requisites

  • NetScaler SDX Bundle pack
  • NetScaler VPX/MPX Bundle Pack

Note: Backups of all SDX & VPX should be taken prior to upgrade process

SDX Backup: https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX203918

VPX Backup: https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-adc/12-1/system/basic-operations/backup-restore-citrix-adc-appliance.html


Upgrading NetScaler SDX


Note: To avoid down time for connected/Active users make sure all VPX in the second/upgrading SDX appliance should be in Secondary due to multiple reboots of SDX and VPX in SDX upgrade process

To achieve this, we have done Stay Primary from Actively participate in HA on all available VPX from First SDX appliance.

  • Login to the SDX Management Service
  • Navigate to Configuration > System.
  • On the right, in the right column, click Upgrade Appliance.
  • Browse to the build-sdx-12.1.tgz software bundle and click OK.
  • It should show you the estimated installation time.
  • Check boxes next to the instances that need configs saved.
  • Click Upgrade.
  • Click Yes to continue with the upgrade.
  • The Management Service displays installation progress. It will take a while.
  • Once the upgrade is complete, click Login.
  • If you click the Configuration tab, the Information page will be displayed showing the version of XenServer, Management Service (Build), etc.
  • Once the SDX is upgraded successfully make all VPX to be actively participate in HA on first SDX appliance, Now turn on Stay Primary on all the VPXs in the upgraded SDX
  •  Please upgrade first SDX as same steps shown above.





Upgrade NetScaler VPX Appliance from 11.x to 12.1 Version


Note: If upgrading NetScaler VPX/MPX in HA make sure you are updating the Secondary NetScaler and change HA configuration in primary NetScaler to Stay Primary

  • Use an SSH client, such as PuTTy, to open an SSH connection to the appliance.
  • Login to NetScaler using nsroot credentials
  • Save the running configuration using the following command save config.
  • Copy latest firmware in to NetScaler using the SSH tool like WinSCP.
  • Enter the IP Address of the appliance and credentials, Click login.
  • Navigate to /var/nsinstall and create a new folder, copy the upgrade build as displayed below.
  • Open the Putty session and extract the file which was copied by navigating to the location by using shell.
  • Extract the upgrade file using tar –xvzf <filename> command
  • Upgrade NetScaler VPX/MPX using “./installns”
  • Click Yes (Y) to Reboot NetScaler once it is upgraded.
  •  Once rebooted login to Management console in a browser and verify all Load balancing services are UP and running.
  • If all successful, login to primary NetScaler and change HA configuration to actively participate in HA and do a force failover
  • Login to upgraded NetScaler and change HA configuration to Stay Primary.
  • Upgrade the secondary NetScaler using same steps as follows.
  • Once upgrade is done successfully navigate to primary and change HA configuration to actively participate in HA and do a force failover and check the services configured are working as expected and save the config if there is any unsaved configuration.
  • Upgrade the remaining NetScaler VPXs using above steps.