Shulou(Shulou.com)06/01 Report--

With the rapid development of Citrix Netscaler, many people often do not understand how to view and select the version of Netscaler software when maintaining equipment, whether the current software needs to be upgraded, whether the current software is stable, and so on. Based on the above problems, this paper briefly introduces the relevant situation of Netscaler software version.

How to choose a version

After logging in to the firmware download page of the official citrix website, you can see the following page to select the version. So what is the meaning of these suffixes?

The one without a suffix is the standard version, such as 11.0jue 11.1.

Safe harbor is a secure version, which is generally highly recommended after a small version is stable.

NDPP is a version of the composite NDPP specification (not applicable to China)

.e is a specific version that is enhanced or supplemented for a particular scenario.

So how do you choose which version?

In most cases, the generic version is chosen first.

Versions below 11.0:

This version of safe harbor will be recommended. Although it is the recommended version, do we have to use it? There is obviously a better choice. The following figure is an example:

10.5 bulid 61.11 is the recommended version, and if you see that this version is the first version (that is, there is no 62.9 version yet), there is no doubt that it is a good choice. But the versions you see are already higher than 61.11, so they fix the new bug version on the basis of safe harbor, and their stability is significantly higher than 61.11. However, it is recommended that it is best not to choose the latest version, but to choose the second highest (10.5.64.9 is obviously appropriate as an example in the above figure). This recommendation is only to appropriately reduce the risk, although it has been strictly tested at the time of release, but a longer period of market verification is obviously more reliable.

Version 11.0 and above:

For versions above 11.9, there is a new formulation of the official suffix. The version previously identified by F has become Feature Phase, and the version without suffix has become Maintenance Phase. Selecting Maintenance when downloading the version means that the version has entered a stable period; the version of Feature Phase is not recommended for use on the production network, only for scenarios in the test environment or in order to use the new features in a timely manner. Similarly, in the choice of version number, it is still the second highest version (the following figure is an example: 11.0.68.10apt 68.12)

The significance of software version number

After downloading Firmware, you will see the name logo as shown above. The CitrixNetScaler software system uses a three-digit software version format. The three-digit format provides a better boundary between product release ranges, which makes it easy for customers to choose software versions to deploy in the lifecycle.

General version (GA): this date indicates that the new product has been released, can be ordered, and can be used in all supported language types, discount programs, and shipping methods worldwide.

Status change Notification (NSC): this date is the specific date that Citrix publicly announced the end of sales of the product (EOS), the date of end of maintenance (EOM), and the date of end of life cycle (EOL). This information is posted on the Citrix official website product matrix (ProductMatrix) or previous product matrix (Legacy ProductMatrix Tables).

End of Sale (EOS): this date indicates that a particular software version or device model will be discontinued from public sale.

End of maintenance (EOM): this date represents a specific product that will not have any additional code-level maintenance except for updates that Citrix believes are critical security-related. Security issues should be open security vulnerabilities.

End of Life cycle (EOL): this date indicates that product maintenance, technical support via phone, e-mail or online services, and product downloads will no longer be available. The relevant information of Citrix knowledge Center (CitrixKnowledge Center) will also be limited updated, and if the problem cannot be corrected, you need to migrate to the latest version of the software or update the hardware through the upgrade path.

Citrix network product software version, from release to end of sale (EOS) at least 18 months. Six months before the end of sale (EOS) date, Citrix will provide a status change notice (NSC) to the customer.

For all Citrix network product software versions, Citrix will maintain a maintenance period of at least 24 months. In the meantime, the software release series will maintain bug fixes, improvements and enhancements.

Twelve months after EOM, the software version supports the transition from complete software maintenance to limited technical support by phone, email and web page until the end of life date. During this phase, the software version will continue to be available, but there will be no enhancements. Citrix customer support Center will directly deal with the customer's problem, resolve the problem through existing patches / patches, or suggest that the customer can upgrade directly to a newer version of the software.

After the EOL date, Citrix will no longer provide technical support for the software version and delete the software image from the appropriate download site. Product materials will be limited to the Citrix knowledge base or other existing online resources and may be deleted at some point in the future.

Software stability

Many people often ask, "which stable version should I use? which version does not have bug?"

In fact, the first thing to emphasize is that bug and software are born to coexist, there is no bug-free software, only software that does not affect a scenario.

Stability is relative, and the so-called "stable version" in many hardware does not mean that it is the most stable, secure, bug and least vulnerable version. Netscaler is a product that has long gone beyond ADC and has a wide range of functional options. In fact, even if you already know that there are a lot of bug, but the functions involved in these bug are not used by your current environment, then these bug have nothing to do with you, that is, relatively stable. Before quitting the maintenance, there is no need to upgrade in order to catch up with the new, what is suitable for you is the best!

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