Configuring Netscaler Load Balancer to provide the PSC 6.5/6.7 High Availability

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

This article provide steps configure the Netscaler Load Balancer to provide the vSphere 6.5 Platform Services Controller (PSC) High Availability.

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.1.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.2.x
VMware vCenter Server 6.7.x

Resolution

Prerequisites:

• Netscaler is installed and licensed.
• Java Runtime Environment 7 Update 45 installed on the machine used to configure Netscaler.
• Virtual IP and Subnet addresses

To configure the Netscaler Load Balancer to provide the vSphere 6.5 Platform Services Controller (PSC) High Availability:

1. Add Platform Controller Servers
2. Add Services
3. Create Virtual Servers
4. Create a Persistency Group
5. Verify Servers, Services, Virtual Servers

Adding Platform Controller Servers

1. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Servers.
2. Select Add.
3. Enter a Server Name for the First PSC Node.
4. Enter an IP Address for the First PSC Node.
5. Click Create.
6. Repeat these steps for the Additional PSC Node.

Adding Services

1. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Services
2. Select Add.
3. Enter a Service Name.
4. Select Existing Server.
5. Select the First PSC Node from the Server drop down menu.
6. Click Protocol and then select TCP.
7. Click Port and enter 443.
8. Click OK.
9. Repeat for these ports 389, 636, 2012, 2014 and 2020 for both PSCs.

 

Creating the Virtual Servers

1. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Virtual Servers.
2. Select Add.
3. Enter a Name.
4. Click Protocol and then select TCP.
5. Click IP Address and enter the Load Balanced IP Address.
6. Click Port and then 443.
7. Click OK.
   
   Note: If you are asked to enable the 'LB' Feature, click Yes.
    
8. Under Services and Service Groups select No Load Balancing Virtual Server Service Binding.
9. Click >.
10. Select the two services for port 443.
11. Click OK. The added Services should appear in the Select Service box.
12. Click Bind.
13. Repeat the preceding steps for ports 389, 636, 2012, 2014 and 2020.
    
    Note: There should be 6 Virtual Servers after this process.

Create a Persistency Group

1. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Persistency Groups
2. Click Add.
3. Click Group Name provide a name.
4. Click Persistence and then select SOURCEIP.
5. Click Time-out and enter 1440.
6. Click Virtual Server Name and then click the + button.
7. Click the > button to move all six PSC VIPs to the Configured pane.
8. Click Create.

Verify Servers, Services, Virtual Servers

1. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Servers.
2. Verify that both PSC Servers are online and enabled.
3. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Services.
4. Verify that all Services are UP and that there are two Services for each Port
5. Navigate to Configuration > Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Virtual Servers.
6. Verify that all Virtual Servers are UP, that they map to the correct Load Balanced PSC HA IP Address and that there is a Virtual Server for each Port