CNS-205 Citrix NetScaler 10 Essentials and Networking
The objective of the Citrix NetScaler 10 Essentials and Networking course is to provide the foundational concepts and advanced skills necessary to implement, configure, secure, monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot a Citrix Netscaler system from within a networking framework. This course is designed specifically for learners who have limited or no previous NetScaler experience. In order to successfully complete this course, learners will have access to hands-on exercises within a virtual lab environment. This course is based on the Citrix NetScaler 10.0 product, but the skills and fundamental concepts learned are common to earlier product versions.Who should enroll in this course? This course is recommended for learners* who are:
New to the NetScaler platform
Currently networking professionals
*For administrators interested in integrating NetScaler as an access gateway, please refer CAG-200 Implementing Citrix Access Gateway 9.0 Enterprise Edition.
Skills and Key Topics
Upon successful completion of this course, learners are able to:
Identify the capabilities and functionality of the NetScaler
Explain basic NetScaler network architecture
Obtain, install, and manage NetScaler licenses
Explain how SSL is used to secure the NetScaler
Implement NetScaler TriScale Technology, including Clustering
Configure advanced load balancing and GSLB on the NetScaler system
Optimize the NetScaler system for traffic handling and management.
Customize the NetScaler system for traffic flow and content-specific requirements
Demonstrate monitoring and reporting through native NetScaler logging tools
Employ recommended tools and techniques to troubleshoot common NetScaler network and connectivity issues
Instructional Method
Self-paced online course, Instructor-led Course Length
30 hours or 5 days (estimated time needed to complete this course) Lab Activities
SPO courses offer unlimited lab access for 30 days from the date the first lab is launched. ILT and VILT offer lab access only during the duration of the course.
Certification Preparation
The CNS-205 course prepares learners for the A28 Citrix NetScaler 10 Essentials and Networking exam, a requirement for the NetScaler 10 Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) certification.
Topic Outline
Provided is the topic outline for CNS-205:
Getting Started
o Introduction to the NetScaler System o NetScaler Functionality
o Hardware Platforms o Hardware Components
o nCore Configuration Architecture o Deployment Scenarios
o Logging on to the NetScaler System o NetScaler Licenses
o Performing an Upgrade
Basic Networking
o OSI Networking Model
o NetScaler Architecture Overview o NetScaler-Owned IP Addresses o Network Topology
o NetScaler Network Interfaces
o Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) o IP Routing
o Determining the Source IP Address o Packet Forwarding
o Use Source IP Mode
o Client-IP HTTP Header Insertion o Path MTU Discovery
o Link Aggregation
o Network Address Translation (NAT)
High Availability
o High Availability Functionality o High Availability Node Configuration o Propagation and Synchronization o High Availability Management
Securing NetScaler
o NetScaler System Communication o Access Control Lists
o Access Control List Configuration
o Detailed Access Control List Configuration o Users, Groups, and Command Policies o External Authentication for System Users
o Authentication, Authorization, and Auditing (AAA) Issues o Authentication Troubleshooting
Basic Load Balancing
o Load Balancing Basics o Entity Management o Server Creation
o Services Configuration Overview o Virtual Server Creation
o Binding Virtual Servers to Services or a Service Group o Traffic Types
o Service Monitoring
o Persistence and Persistence Connections o Load-Balancing Configuration Protection o Advanced Services Options
o Specified Source IP Addresses for Back-end Communication Using Network Profiles
o Disabling Services
o Graceful Shutdown of Services o Removing Services
o Configuration Verification o The Load-Balancing Visualizer
o Configuring Load Balancing for DataStream o Link Load Balancing
o Configuration of Sessionless Load-Balancing Virtual Servers o Load-Balancing Issues
o Use of Telnet or Monitors to Check Ports
SSL Offload o SSL
o SSL Session Process o Feature and Benefits o Offload Performance o Digital Certificates o SSL Administration o SSL Offload Overview o Deployment Scenarios
o Citrix Recommendations for SSL o SSL Renegotiation Attack
o SSL Troubleshooting
o Intermediate Certificate Not Linked
Global Server Load Balancing o GSLB Deployment Methods o GSLB Concepts
o GSLB Entities o GSLB DNS Methods o Metric Exchange Protocol o Implementing GSLB
o Viewing and Configuring GSLB with the Visualizer o Configuring Site-to-Site Communication
o RPC Node Password
o Encryption of Site Metrics Exchange o Source IP Address for an RPC Node o GSLB Site Communication Example o Customizing the GSLB Configuration o Changing the GSLB Method
o GSLB Persistence
o Using Dynamic Weights for Services o Monitoring GSLB Services
o Binding Monitors to a GSLB Service o Monitoring GSLB Sites
o Protecting the GSLB Setup Against Failure
AppExpert Classic Policy Engine o Policies Overview
o Expression Structures o Content Filtering
o Content Filtering Actions o Content Filtering Rules
AppExpert Default Policy Engine
o Understanding Packet-Processing Flow o Understanding Policies
o Policy Process Evaluation Flow
o Identifying Default Policy Expressions o Actions
o Understanding Bind Points o Understanding Policy Labels o Pattern Sets
o Typecasting
Rewrite, Responder, and URL Transformation o Rewrite, Responder, and URL Transform o Configuring Rewrite Policies and Actions o Responder Actions
o Respondwith
o Responder Action for Timeouts o Responder Policies
o Responder HTML Page Imports o Binding Policies
o URL Transformation
o URL Transformation Actions o Binding of URL Transformations
Content Switching
o Introduction to Content Switching o Understanding Content Switching
o Content Switching Based on Network Characteristics
o Content-Switching Virtual Servers and Load-Balancing Virtual Servers o Configuring Content-Switching Virtual Servers
o Configure a Load-Balancing Setup for Content Switching o Content-Switching Policies
o Binding Content-Switching Policies
o Content-Switching Rule Precedence Without Priority Specified o Content-Switching Rule Precedence With Priority Specified o Configuring Content Switching for DataStream
Optimizing Traffic
o Introduction to Compression o Action Analytics
o AppExpert Templates o Terminiology
o Deploying NetScaler for an Application o Application Example
o AppExpert Template Deployment
o How Clustering Works o Cluster Synchronization o Cluster Connections
o Cluster Communication Interfaces o Striped and Spotted IP Addresses o Traffic Distribution
o Cluster and Node States o NetScaler Cluster Set up
o NetScaler Cluster Traffic Distribution Mechanisms
o To Configure a Cluster Link Aggregation Group Statically o Dynamic Configuration for a Cluster Link Aggregation Group o NetScaler Cluster Management
o NetScaler Cluster Troubleshooting
Monitoring and Management o Monitoring Needs
o NetScaler Log Management
o Simple Network Management Protocol o To Configure SMNPv1 and SMNPv2 o AppFlow on the NetScaler System
o AppFlow Collectors and EdgeSight Monitoring
o AppFlow Actions and EdgeSight Monitoring Responder Policies o Third-Party Collectors
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