Mastering NetScaler Console: Zero to hero in 31days - Day 14 - Tasks!

Hello, my name is Andrew and I tend to get a lot of questions about NetScaler Console. The purpose of this series is to offer some pointers on what it is, what it can offer and why you should take some notice. This is the fourteenth and a bit post in a set which is designed to cover the top topics that will get you trained up.

Knowledge is power, right? ????????

31 days seems an arbitrary number. Today is all about NetScaler Console Tasks.

How does this normally come up?

When signing into a Console set up, it can sometimes be a bit daunting when you see all the sections. Where do I start? This console does loads of things, what is the most important?

This piece will show you how that can be achieved with NetScaler Console and the Service based Console( on-premises or service) when you take a look at Tasks.

Who would be interested in this?

Any Network Admin, will be facing increasing complexity of modern applications, the challenges are in:

• What should I do first?
• Does it matter if it flags ‘x’?
• Are there tasks that I then need to do to make things more secure?

Mastering sounds 'heavy'?

Ultimately, this is Linkedin , who would be crazy enough to write technical content on this platform??

What can NetScaler Console offer with the Tasks module?

Typically, when the Console is setup, the admin gets prompted to import a few NetScaler Appliances to have the Console manage. This step is a quick-start to have the Console take a look at what you have and maybe tell you were there are/might be issues. Lets assume that this has been done and Console has completed a look at what is running in your environment.

The thing to keep in mind when looking over the following screen shots, Console has looked at a lot of different things and offered a high level view of what needs you attention today. A bit like a ToDo list….

Here is one Task view I created earlier! There are six things that Console is suggesting that we take a look at. Anything serious?

When I open ‘Tasks’, there is a tile with the topic that Console has identified. It also places categories on the type of issue. It is also possible to have Console just filter the view to just offer Security, Infrastructure, Compliance, Application or All of those.

I expect that, maybe you start off with the Security view, choosing any of these on the left hand side of the screen gives the following highlights in an environment I have.

The Security Advisor has found a few things that need a bit of work. This tells me what is serious and what instances are impacted. Console that can help with the remediation steps too.

I think the cool bit of this is that, as an Admin, I might be coming fresh to the environment and not know how it was managed. In defence of the previous admin, there could be a number of reasons they were missed, no judgement :-).

The other point that was picked up was an expired Certificate, pretty standard stuff.

That last item was a list of the Applications that could be upgraded to A+ rating, with commands to make it happen.

When looking at the details, we have a B! I always thought B wasn’t too bad, of course these days everyone wants an A+! At, least Steven always wants to be top of the class!

Why did I get a B? I forgot to turn off SSL V3. DOH!

Task Summary

Tasks is a module that pulls a number of different things together. When I started out in network management, one of the things that was always a bit of a chore was to review the environment by hand. Daily checks ensured that we reviewed any Device/OS flags and then got on and fixed them.

Tasks would have made that easier, as it flags the important things that need you attention. It can event be context aware.

If it is not clear, here is a scenario.

Bob and Alice have been using NetScaler Console Service in the scenarios for the last few days.?

Alice and Bob have a new intern! He looks suspiciously like Robert De Niro, Robert has decided his next role will be a network admin, so needs the experience. They have decided to point Robert at the Tasks module as Alice and Bob are pretty busy on some new projects.

Robert, spots two applications that didn’t have a A+ rating, he then gets them upgraded without needing help from Alice

Happy days, as this allows Bob and Alice to focus time on other tasks that are important to Acme, as the combination NetScaler and the NS Console has them covered.

The Call to Action

Let me know if this piece raises any questions/comments, drop them into the space below. I will endeavour to answer directly or update the post to better address the question(s).

Summary

Buckle up. The NetScaler Console is the best tool for many different jobs when working in conjunction with the NetScaler Appliance. They are the perfect tag team. ??. The NetScaler Console can offer a one-stop shop to see all your appliances from one place, and deploy and update them and track those applications and the level of Security in-place that your business needs.

Let me show you how to make the most of it!

Have a good one.