Citrix NetScaler VPX Cloud Bridge: Install Walkthrough Part 2/2: Configuring Cloud Bridge and Testing

1: Configuring the CloudBridge

1) Log in to the GUIs for NSVPXA ( http://10.10.10.5 ) and NSVPXB ( http://10.10.20.5 )
*The per NetScaler configuration so far, consists of a name and couple of configured IPs as in the images below


2) To setup WAN side addresses and routing across the router

i:
From the root folder > expand the 'Network' folder > Right-click on 'IPs' and select Add.
On NSVPXA, create a Mapped IP with these details
IP Address = 192.168.30.15
Netmask = 255.255.255.0
On NSVPXB, create a Mapped IP with these details
IP Address = 192.168.40.15
Netmask = 255.255.255.0

ii:
From the root folder > expand the 'Network' folder > Right-click on 'Routes' and select Add.
On NSVPXA, create the route with these details:
Network = 192.168.40.0
Netmask = 255.255.255.0
Gateway = 192.168.30.1
On NSVPXB, create the route with these details:
Network = 192.168.30.0
Netmask = 255.255.255.0
Gateway = 192.168.40.1

iii:
On both NSVXPA and NSVPXB: 'Save' the configuration and run a 'Refresh All'
*To check everything is all setup and working okay at this stage; try a ping test from the NetScaler's CLI across the router to the remote Netscaler's WAN side IP – this should be successful!

3) To configure the Cloud Bridge, do the following on NSVPXA and NSVPXB
*At this stage start a ping test running from your endpoints!

i: From the root folder > click on the 'Cloud Bridge' folder and click on 'Configure Cloud Bridge'

ii: Complete the Configure Cloud Bridge window

NSVPXA
Name: CloudBridge
Local IP: 192.168.30.5
Remote IP: 192.168.40.5
Pre-Shared Key: cloudtest
And click 'Create'

NSVPXB
Name: CloudBridge
Local IP: 192.168.40.5
Remote IP: 192.168.30.5
Pre-Shared Key: cloudtest
And click 'Create'

Image below taken from NSVPXA's configuration:

iii: On both NSVXPA and NSVPXB: 'Save' the configuration and run a 'Refresh All'

4) At the point of completing both Cloud Bridge configurations, we should have a succesful Cloud Bridge up and running!

Ping from 10.10.10.10 to 10.10.10.20
Ping from 10.10.10.20 to 10.10.10.10

5) To make certain that this is a successful test of a the CloudBridge:
From either one of the NetScalers:
From the root folder > expand the 'Cloud Bridge' folder > click on 'Network Bridge' > right-click on the newly created CloudBridge and select Open.
Simply un-ticking the 'Active' box and clicking OK, should stop the flow across the Cloud Bridge.

2: Final Comment

Some readers may question why I have not had to configure the VLANs or IP Subnets tabs for the Cloud Bridge in this lab (on neither NetScaler was the Default VLAN 1 enabled as Active, nor were any IP Subnets added into the configuration.) The answer (probably) lies in the existence of SNIPs for the 10.10.10.X network at either end. This lab is only intended as a Walkthrough guide to demonstrate getting Cloud Bridge up and running, and from a working model we can tinker around further to see what effect different options/configurations have on the Cloud Bridge.

Comments

  1. I've been trying to configure this today but not had any joy. However I am using version 10 and things are a little different. I can get the ping to work across the router to the opposite MIP but when it comes to setting up the bridge it where I am stuck. Any advice?

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