VPN Server Breaks When Moving From Netscaler 11 to 12
The Virtual Private Network (VPN) server is one of the most important and most used appliances in a network. Many organizations – both large and small – use VPNs to securely access their networks from remote locations such as home or hotels. This blog post will discuss one such organization’s experience with a VPN server when moving from version 11 to version 12 of Netscaler.
Why A VPN Server In The First Place
Moving to a new, more secured platform is never easy, which is exactly why organizations like Netscaler create maintenance plans for their customers. With Netscaler version 11, which was released in October 2012, customers could use a free trial to evaluate the product’s capabilities and see how it compares to their current solution. At the end of the trial, customers who chose to keep the product were offered a discounted subscription rate, or they could pay the list price.
Netscaler 12, which was released in March 2013, offers significant improvements to the previous version. For one, all new features are available for free, including the ability to create VPN server plans based on security requirements. Plus, with the new version, customers can enjoy a better user experience while maintaining the same level of security.
VPN Server Installed In A Testing Or QA Environment
Many organizations use a combination of on-premises servers and cloud servers to provide VPN services. The cloud portion of the solution is used to provide network access from anywhere at any time, while the on-premises portion is used to provide additional security and to improve performance. During testing or quality assurance (QA) activities, it’s important to keep your VPN server up and running without any issues so that you can ensure the product is functioning as expected.
Moving A VPN Server From One Platform To Another
If you’re upgrading from one VPN server platform to another, you need to plan out the transition for when it’s finished. This involves taking your existing VPN server configuration and moving it over to the new platform. Along with the hardware and software requirements of the new platform, you’ll need to take into account what features you need and what features you can live without.
When moving from one version of Netscaler to another, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Back Up Your Configuration Files
You should make regular backups of your VPN server’s configuration files so that you can restore them in the event of a serious problem. While it’s not always the case, hardware issues are more common than software issues when it comes to VPN servers. If your VPN server stops working for some reason, it can usually be repaired quickly and you won’t lose much time in terms of uptime. However, if you don’t have your configuration files – or worse, if you forgot to make a backup – you’ll have to start completely over from scratch, resulting in a significant loss of time and potential revenue.
Installing And Configuring The Newest Platform
When moving to a new platform, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation work before you can start utilizing its features. First, make sure you have the correct drivers installed for the hardware devices on your server. Second, you’ll need to update the server’s operating system and any software that’s running on it. Third, you’ll need to configure the server’s network settings to be able to access the internet.
There are several tips and tricks to making the transition from version 11 to 12 easier. For example, if you’re using Cisco ASA to manage your VPN server, you can use the ASA’s CLI to create a rule that automatically configures the VPN server with the proper IP addresses. You can find out more about this here:
- ASA CLI Reference Guide
- Microsoft Windows Howto: Enable the Private Networking feature in Windows 7 / Server 2008 R2
- Linux Howto: Set up VPN for Uncomplicated Setup
- Mac OS X Howto: Set up VPN on a Mac
If you’re using an RPM-based distribution such as Red Hat, you can use the yum command to install the latest version of Netscaler. During the installation, you can choose to retain your existing configuration files or import a new configuration. You can restore your configuration from a backup once the installation is complete. For more information on using yum to install software, see the Red Hat documentation.
Moving From 11.2 To 12.0
Version 11.2 of Netscaler introduced several new features and enhancements that significantly improve the product’s functionality and user experience. If you’re interested in migrating to this latest version of Netscaler, you can find out more here:
- ASA Upgrade Guide
- Microsoft Windows Howto: Migrate to the Newer Netscaler Version
- Linux Howto: Migrate to the Newer Version of Netscaler
- Mac OS X Howto: Migrate to the Newer Version of Netscaler
If you’re interested in exploring this version of Netscaler further, you can start by reading our full review, which includes a detailed comparison of the product to other leading VPN solutions:
- ASA vs Cisco ASA – VPN Server
- ASA vs Cisco ASA – Cost
- ASA vs Cisco ASA – Scalability
- ASA vs Cisco ASA – Features
- Microsoft Windows vs Linux – VPN Server
- Microsoft Windows vs Linux – Cost
- Microsoft Windows vs Linux – Scalability
- Microsoft Windows vs Linux – Features
- Mac OS X vs Linux – VPN Server
- Mac OS X vs Linux – Cost
- Mac OS X vs Linux – Scalability
- Mac OS X vs Linux – Features
Final Thoughts
VPN servers are essential to any network, and as the number of organizations using them increases, the demand for high-quality and reliable products such as Netscaler will also increase. When selecting a VPN service, make sure to look for a product that is actively supported by the community, has a reliable source for patches, and offers enough features to meet your needs. If you’re planning on using a VPN server, be sure to conduct extensive research before making a decision. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether or not the product will work for your specific needs.