SDN at VMworld 2013: Citrix Releases NetScaler Control Center for VMware

Written by Chris Talbot 1
August 27, 2013

Citrix unveiled a version of NetScaler Control Center that uses the new VMware NSX network virtualization platform at VMworld. This new partnership may enable joint customers to get the best of both worlds from the two virtualization-focused vendors.

Citrix Systems (CTXS) unveiled VMware (VMW) integration for its NetScaler Control Center at VMworld 2013 in San Francisco. According to Citrix, NetScaler Control Center for VMware will automate the deployment and configuration NetScaler functionality within networks that use the VMware NSX network virtualization platform — a software-defined networking (SDN) effort — as well as other VMware virtualization technologies.

NetScaler Control Center uses Citrix Triscale technology to enable cloud administrators to “programmatically insert best-in-class NetScaler services into software-defined data centers built on VMware virtualization technologies,” Citrix noted in its announcement. And according to the vendor, open network virtualization architecture is a critical element of the software-defined data center.

“Openness, programmability and automation are the core tenants of a cloud networking architecture. We are excited to collaborate with VMware to seamlessly integrate NetScaler services into networks built using the VMware NSX network virtualization platform,” said Sunil Potti, vice president and general manager of the NetScaler product group at Citrix, in a prepared statement.

When it’s released, Citrix NetScaler Control Center for VMware will provide several features to customers, including:

The ability for end-users to spin up NetScaler services in VMware-based cloud environments while they are also spinning up virtual servers, virtual storage and the larger virtual network.
Self-service NetScaler configuration that can be achieved by end-users directly from the VMware vCloud GUI.
It frees users from dealing with the complexities of network topology and configuration, which enables them to focus on the NetScaler functionality their apps need.
It was also designed to complement NetScaler Insight Center and NetScaler Command Center across public and private cloud environments.

“Comprehensive network virtualization solutions must provide choice for inserting best-in-class application delivery services into cloud-orchestrated data centers. Integration of VMware NSX with Citrix NetScaler will give our joint customers the ability to gain advanced application availability, security and optimization functionality that complement existing VMware NSX capabilities,” said Hatem Naguib, vice president of cloud networking and security at VMware.

Citrix NetScaler Control Center for VMware is not yet available, but Citrix noted it will provide current NetScaler customers with a preview of the technology in the third quarter.

Check The VAR Guy, our sister site, for complete coverage of VMworld 2013.