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Configuring Active-Active Mode

Feb 13, 2017

On each NetScaler appliance that you want to deploy in active-active mode, you must add a Virtual MAC (VMAC) and bind the VMAC to a VIP. The VMAC for a given VIP must be same on each appliance. For example, if VIP 10.102.29.5, is created on the appliances, a virtual router ID (VRID) must be created on each NetScaler and bound to VIP 10.102.29.5 on each NetScaler. When you bind a VMAC to a VIP, the NetScaler sends VRRP advertisements to each VLAN that is bound to that VIP. The VMAC can be shared by different VIPs configured on the same NetScaler.

Configuring IPv4 Active-Active Mode

Perform the following tasks on each of the NetScaler appliances to be included in the active-active configuration:

  • Add a VMAC address.  Add a VMAC address by adding a VRID.  You can also specify a priority and enable or disable preemption and sharing on this VRID address.
  • Add a VIP address and associate the VMAC’s VRID.  Add a VIP address and set the VRID parameter to the newly created VRID. The attributes of the VRID (for example, priority and preemption) are bound to this VIP address.
    Note: The same VIP address must be added to all the other NetScaler appliances.

To add a VMAC address by using theNetScaler command line

At the command prompt, type:

  • add vrID <id> [-priority <positive_integer>] [-preemption (ENABLED|DISABLED)][-sharing (ENABLED|DISABLED)] [-tracking <tracking>]
  • show vrid

To add a VIP address by using the NetScaler command line

At the command prompt, type:

  • add ns ip <IPv4Address> -type VIP -vrid <value>
  • show ns ip

To configure a VMAC by using the configuration utility

  1. Navigate to System > Network > VMAC, on the VMAC tab, add a new VMAC, or edit an existing VMAC.
  2. Set the following parameters:
    • Virtual Router ID
    • Priority
    • Tracking
    • Preemption
    • Sharing

To configure a VIP address and associate the VRID to it by using the NetScaler configuration utility

  1. Navigate to System > Network > IPs, on the IPV4s tab, add an IP address of type VIP.
  2. While adding the IP address, select the virtual router ID from the Virtual Router Id drop down box. 

Sample Configuration

The following sample configuration is for deploying NetScaler appliances NS1 and NS2 in IPv4 active-active mode.  VIP address 203.0.113.10 is configured on both NS1 and NS2, with a different priority value on each appliance. On each appliance, this VIP address is bound to a VMAC address. 203.0.113.10 is master on NS2, because its priority (200) on NS2 is higher than on NS1 (100).

Sample Configuration Copy 
Settings on NS1



> add vrid 10 –Priority 100 –Preemption Enabled –sharing Enabled


Done



> add ns ip 203.0.113.10 –type VIP –vrid 10


Done



Settings on NS2



> add vrid 30 –Priority 200 –Preemption Enabled –sharing Enabled


Done



> add ns ip 2001:db8::5001 –type VIP –vrid 30


Done

Configuring IPv6 Active-Active Mode

Perform the following tasks on each of the NetScaler appliances to be included in the active-active configuration:

  • Add a VMAC6 address. Add a VMAC6 address by adding a VRID6.  You can also specify a priority and enable or disable preemption and sharing on this VRID6 address.
  • Add a VIP6 address. Add a VIP6 address. Set the VRID6 parameter to the VRID6 of the newly created VMAC6.The attributes of the VMAC6 (for example, priority and preemption) are bound to this VIP6 address.
    Note: The same VIP6 address must be added to all the other NetScaler appliances.

To add a VMAC6 address by using the NetScaler command line

At the command prompt, type:

  • add vrID6 <id> [-priority <positive_integer>] [-preemption ( ENABLED | DISABLED )] [-sharing (ENABLED | DISABLED )]
  • show vrID6

To add a VIP6 address by using the NetScaler command line

At the command prompt, type:

  • add ns ip6 <IPv6Address> -type VIP -vrid <value>
  • show ns ip6
To configure a VMAC6 by using the configuration utility
  1. Navigate to System > Network > VMAC, on the VMAC6 tab, add a new VMAC6, or edit an existing VMAC6.
  2. Set the following parameters:
    • Virtual Router ID
    • Priority
    • Preemption
    • Sharing

To configure a VIP6 address and associate the VRID to it by using the NetScaler configuration utility

  1. Navigate to System > Network > IPs, on the IPV6s tab, add an IPv6 address of type VIP.
  2. While adding the VIP6 address, select the VRID6 from the Virtual Router Id drop down box. 

Sample Configuration

The following sample configuration is for deploying NetScaler appliances NS1 and NS2 in IPv6 active-active mode.  VIP6 address 2001:db8::5001 is configured on both NS1 and NS2, with a different priority value on each appliance. On each appliance, this VIP6 address is bound to a VMAC6 address. 2001:db8::5001 is master on NS2, because it’s priority (200) on NS2 is higher than on NS1 (100).

Sample Configuration Copy 
Settings on NS1


> add vrid6 10 –Priority 100 –Preemption Enable –sharing Enable

Done


> add ns ip6 2001:db8::5001 –type VIP –vrid6 10

Done


Settings on NS2


> add vrid6 30 –Priority 200 –Preemption Enable –sharing Enable

Done


> add ns ip6 2001:db8::5001 –type VIP –vrid6 30

Done