Scheduling Netscaler Upgrades using Citrix ADM Service
How to automate Netscaler (ADC) upgrades using Citrix Cloud
I thought I would write up a quick post on upgrading netscalers using the Citrix Application Delivery Management service available in Citrix Cloud. This post assumes you already have your netscaler instances added the ADM service. I wrote this up because the official documentation is adequate but its missing an explanation on how to monitor the upgrade process in real-time if you wish. I also like very thorough step by step instructions with screenshots on every step.
Once logged into the ADM service, click Networks>Configuration Jobs>Maintenance Jobs
Click Create Job
In this scenario I'm upgrading our ADC HA Cluster
Give the maintenance job a name, then click Add Instances
In this instance, I'm selecting my HA pair. Then click OK
Click Next
The service will do a pre-check on each instance to ensure each is ready for upgrade.
The following page will show you the results of the pre-check. Obviously, take care of any needed items if there are any. In this case, we can proceed by clicking Next.
The next page is where you can set up any pre or post-upgrade scripts. In this example, we leave this page as defaults and click Next.
In the next page we can select an execution time. If this is the first time doing this, I would suggest either running the upgrade now or scheduling it for a time in which you can monitor it just so you can get an idea of how the service works. In this example, I'll be running it now but if you select the schedule option you get the following options. When upgrading an HA pair, be sure to check the box for the two stage upgrade to prevent downtime. Set the upgrade times an hour apart.
The final page is where you select which ns build you want to upgrade to any any additional options during upgrade. I always choose to upload the software now as thats one less thing needed to do during the actual upgrade job. Its also a good idea to create a backup as well although you should have already backed up your nsconfig folder prior to this step.
Finally, click Create Job
If you chose to upgrade immediately, the job will have already started and you would probably like to know how to monitor its progress. Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see how to do this in Citrix's documentation on this process. You'll want to take the following (many) steps so you can monitor the progress:
Under Networks>Configuration Jobs>Maintenance Jobs you should see the job you just created with a status of "In Progress".
Check the job and click the Execution Summary button
Next you will see the execution history screen giving you the start time of the job. Check the box and select details
You will now be at the Instance Log page. Check the instance or pair and select the command log button
From this screen (which automatically refreshes) you will be able to monitor the progress of the job (sort of)
