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Migrate Citrix ADC application configuration using StyleBooks Configuration Builder

January 29, 2021
Contributed by: 
R S G

The StyleBooks Configuration Builder is used to migrate an existing ADC configuration to StyleBooks. This feature also automates the application configuration migration from one Citrix ADC instance to another instance or an Autoscale group.

The Configuration Builder provides a structured application StyleBook that can be used to any variants of the ADC configuration. This feature helps you get started with StyleBooks without in-depth knowledge of StyleBooks grammar and constructs. Otherwise, the knowledge of StyleBooks grammar and constructs is necessary to create a StyleBook.

The Configuration Builder also creates a configuration pack that reflects the same ADC configuration on a new ADC instance. With this configuration pack, the initial ADC configuration from one ADC instance can be duplicated to another ADC instance. The initial configuration source can be one of the following:

  • A Citrix ADC instance: Specify the instance where the application configuration that you want to duplicate is hosted.

    The Configuration Builder converts the ADC configuration to StyleBook and configuration pack even if you do not specify the target instance. You can later use this configuration pack to migrate the ADC configuration to other ADC instances.

    If the target instance is an Autoscale group, the configuration pack appears in the Network > AutoScale Group page. Under the Configuration tab.

  • A set of CLI Commands: Paste the configuration from ns.conf or Application config.

The Configuration Builder identifies the list of distinct applications embedded in the source configuration. When you select the application configuration of your interest, the Configuration Builder extracts the set of CLI commands for the selected application. These CLI commands are extracted from the source configuration. Also it identifies the deployment and configuration attributes that might require your input.

  • IP Address/ports - You can view and edit the IP address and port of the virtual servers, services, service group members from the original configuration.

  • Configuration Files/Secrets - These attributes can be passwords or certificates specified in the source configuration.

After specifying the necessary information, start migrating or duplicating the application configuration on a target ADC instance.

StyleBooks Configuration Builder workflow

After the application creation and migration, a configuration pack is created in Citrix ADM using adc_nitro_application StyleBook. This StyleBook is created based on the ADC NITRO resources. This configuration pack represents the application configuration on the target ADC instance. To view the created configuration pack, navigate to Applications > StyleBooks > Configurations.

Supported Citrix ADC Features

The StyleBook Configuration Builder recognizes and supports the following Citrix ADC features in the source configuration:

  • Content Switching
  • Load Balancing
  • Monitoring
  • SSL Offloading
  • Rate limiting
  • Rewrite
  • Responder
  • Web application firewall (WAF)

Create a StyleBook to migrate the Citrix ADC application configuration

The following procedure is to create a StyleBook that migrates the Citrix ADC application migration in Citrix ADM:

  1. Navigate to Applications > StyleBooks > Configurations.

  2. Click Migrate ADC Configuration.

  3. Click Get Started.

  4. In Specify Configuration, select the configuration source:

    • Import from an ADC: This option discovers the active applications on the selected ADC instance.

    • Import using CLI Commands: This option analyses the CLI commands and extracts the applications from the CLI commands.

  5. Specify the Source ADC Instance from which you want to migrate or duplicate the application configuration.

    To migrate the application configuration to an Autoscale group, ensure the following information is not included in the source configuration:

    • IPset
    • Device profile
    • Protocol
    • Port

  6. Specify the Target ADC Instance to which you want to migrate or duplicate the application configuration.

    To migrate an application configuration to an Autoscale group, select the Autoscale group from the list.

  7. In Define Application,

    1. In Application Name, specify the name of the application.

      If the target instance is an Autoscale group, specify the following Autoscale parameters:

      • Access Type - You can use the ADM autoscaling solution to both external and internal applications. Select the required application access type.

      • Domain Name - Specify the domain name of an application. This option is applicable only when you select User-Defined FQDN type.

      • Zone of the Domain - Select the zone name of an application from the list. This option is applicable only when you select User-Defined FQDN type.

        This domain and zone name redirects to the virtual servers in Azure. For example, if you host an application in app.example.com, the app is the domain name and example.com is the zone name.

    2. Select the virtual servers that you want to migrate.

      Select virtual servers that you want to migrate

    3. Click Next.

  8. In Equivalent CLI Commands, review the commands and click Next.

    These commands are specific to the selected application configuration.

    Note

    You can also add or edit the configuration if needed.

  9. In Deployment Attributes, you can view and edit the IP address and port of the virtual servers, services, and service group members.

    To edit the IP address and port, click the edit icon on the virtual server, service, or service group member in the flow diagram.

    Edit the deployment attributes

    Note

    If the target instance is an Autoscale group, editing the front end IP address is disabled.

    This tab appears only in the following cases:

    • The source and target instances are different.

    • Import configurations using CLI commands.

  10. In Configuration Attributes, specify the necessary details and click Next.

    This tab lists the secrets such as keys to decrypt passwords and certificates.

    Note

    Before you start the migration, the missed or unsupported configurations are displayed in any of the following tabs:

    • Unsupported Configurations

    • Unsupported Global Configurations

    To migrate these configurations successfully, you must apply the missed or unsupported configurations separately on the target instance. And, click Next.

  11. In Migrate, click Migrate.

Limitations

  • The named expressions and responderhtmlpages mentioned in the source instance are not identified. Make sure to configure the named expressions and responderhtmlpages on the target instance before migration.

  • If the source has a configuration for servicegroup and monitor binding as follows:

    bind serviceGroup <Name> <Port> -monitorName <Monitor_Name>

    The following error appears:

     CLI Command conversion failed: 100 - No such command [{ "errorcode": 1090, "message": "No such argument [XXX]", "severity": "ERROR" }]

    This error occurs because Citrix ADC saves the binding between Service Group and Monitor in an invalid format. This issue is fixed from Citrix ADC 12.1.52.15 build.

Migrate Citrix ADC application configuration using StyleBooks Configuration Builder
January 29, 2021
Contributed by: 
R S G
January 29, 2021
Contributed by: 
R S G

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