Netscaler 10.1 Caching for Streaming Video Content

Our Netscaler 10.1 MPX is is being used to load balance a backend video streaming appliacation for our organization. The vendor has suggested we enable caching to help with the streaming. Here are my question since I have not setup cache before.

1) This is enable as a feature but only turned on for select virtual server correct?
2) IS this consider cache redirection or is something different?
3) How much additional load with this place on the Netscaler which is already running in a HA active/ passive config.

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compdigit44Asked: 2016-02-28

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Muzafar MominCommented: 2016-03-01

1) This is enable as a feature but only turned on for select virtual server correct?
Ans: it enabled by default no need to do any changes here it is same for all the virtual server

2) IS this consider cache redirection or is something different?
Ans: cache redirection are something different (You can use the Cache Redirection feature of the NetScaler appliance in the scenarios where large amount of data needs to be cached by using dedicated cache servers, such as Blue Coat Servers and Squid. This is different from Integrated Caching which is in-memory caching and while being fast and not requiring additional servers, uses a section of available RAM on the appliance to cache the data.)

3) How much additional load with this place on the Netscaler which is already running in a HA active/ passive config.
Ans: It all depends on the netscaler hardware configuration, anyways you r using MPX so it should not create the load on box....

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compdigit44Author Commented: 2016-03-01

So my question back to you is with backend media server that will be streaming the vendor has suggested we enabled "caching" on the netscaler I see that " integrated caching" is disabled though.

I might have the wrong feature in mind but I though you could enable a caching / buffering like feature globally by only enabled it on a per VIP based where needed? I may not be using the right feature name

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Muzafar MominCommented: 2016-03-02

in ur scenario u can can enable caching for both, service and virtual server.

refer below link this will help u setting up the cache

https://blog.norz.at/preparing-citrix-netscaler-integrated-caching-for-front-end-optimization/

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX124553

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LVL 21

compdigit44Author Commented: 2016-03-02

So just to confirm... I was correct that we would need integrated cache enabled which had to be enabled globally. Is there any value if we upgrade to 11.x before doing this? If you enabled cache I am confused as to how you can have it only apply to one VIP? Why would we need to set it on the Server as well? Is there any downside to enabling integrated caching

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Muzafar MominCommented: 2016-03-02

cache enabling has nothing to do with the Netscaler versions,...

if you go thru the above link you can find the options of enabling the cache with multiple methods

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compdigit44Author Commented: 2016-03-02

I understand but are there any cons in enabling this???

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Muzafar MominCommented: 2016-03-02

typically you can use 50% of the available RAM of the NetScaler for caching (depends on the box). Second Integrated Caching is also available as an option on top of the Enterprise license!

you can go ahead and enable it ....

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compdigit44Author Commented: 2016-03-03

NO down side on performance..