NetScaler Perpetual Licence Changes
Citrix has started to introduce significant changes to NetScaler perpetual licence and firmware requirements that impacts how organisations manage upgrades and compliance. Historically, perpetual licences allowed customers to upgrade firmware without additional conditions. That model is now changing.
Key Change: NetScaler Perpetual Licence
Starting with recent NetScaler firmware builds (e.g., ADC 14.1-51.x and 13.1-60.x), appliances using perpetual licences must have active maintenance to remain licenced after an upgrade. If your Software Assurance (SA) date is older than the firmware’s burn-in date, the appliance will become unlicenced post-upgrade. This is a major departure from previous practice, where perpetual licences implied indefinite upgrade rights.
Why This Matters
- Security Risk: Without upgrades, appliances miss critical CVE patches.
- Operational Impact: Upgrading without valid maintenance can result in immediate loss of functionality.
- Compliance: LAS (Licence Activation Service) becomes mandatory by April 15, 2026, replacing file-based licencing.
Options for Organisations
- Customers with UHMC
If you hold a Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud (UHMC) licence, you can transition to Flexed licencing, which pools bandwidth and instance entitlements for greater flexibility.
- Customers Without UHMC or Active Maintenance
- Purchase a new fixed-term appliance (subscription-based model).
- Reinstate active maintenance on existing perpetual licences to enable upgrades.
- Plan migration to LAS-compatible versions before April 2026 to avoid service disruption.
Action Steps
- Audit your current NetScaler firmware and licence state.
- Verify maintenance status and renew if expired.
- Schedule upgrades aligned with LAS transition requirements.
- Consider moving to Flexed licencing for future-proof scalability.
Make sure this licencing changes doesn’t disrupt your operations.
Contact expert team of advisors to review your current NetScaler licencing and plan a secure and compliant outcome
Email – asktheexpert@entsol.ie / asktheexpert@entsol.uk
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