Citrix NetScaler substantially improves server response times for Microsoft applications. With datacenter consolidation and a growing number of mobile users using diverse access devices, it is imperative that applications appear to run locally with minimal delays-particular with encrypted traffic. Microsoft works with Citrix to validate superior user experience when applications are deployed with NetScaler application delivery appliances. Microsoft SharePoint has been proven to achieve up to an 82 percent improvement in SSL secure workflow data delivery when using NetScaler load balancing and acceleration features. Overall Microsoft applications across the spectrum can attain 3-5 times improvement in delivery times.
By leveraging Citrix NetScaler with Microsoft applications, overall total cost of ownership for network operations centers can be significantly reduced. The NetScaler solution is a comprehensive network system that combines high-speed load balancing and content switching with application acceleration, data compression, dynamic content caching, SSL acceleration, network optimization, and robust application security. This eliminates multiple disparate point products. NetScaler also scales to 50 Gbps of Layer 7 traffic with high feature concurrency for large scale Microsoft installations. NetScaler has been demonstrated to load balance Microsoft Office Communication Server Enterprise Edition deployments with up to 50,000 users; recent MPX models provide even more capacity. Server needs are reduced as client to server connections are reduced by 150 times due to NetScaler TCP multiplexing features.
At the heart of Citrix NetScaler is the most advanced load balancer and content switch available, that provides intelligent traffic management for Microsoft applications. NetScaler parses incoming packets at the header or full payload levels for optimized request switching. Yet deployment of NetScaler is greatly eased with the full GUI-based AppExpert Visual Policy Builder. Configuration of NetScaler to load balance and provide high availability for deployments spanning multiple datacenters via GSLB for applications such as Microsoft Exchange 2010 is greatly eased. NetScaler evaluates incoming requests and forwards them to the optimal Client Access or Edge Transport server. In addition, NetScaler provides security and protection for these Exchange components and increases server performance and efficiency.