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Kubernetes ingress and Gateway API with NetScaler
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When you are running an application inside a Kubernetes cluster, you need to provide a way for external users to access the applications from outside the Kubernetes cluster. Kubernetes provides an object called ingress that allows you to define the rules for accessing the services within the Kubernetes cluster. It provides the most effective way to externally access multiple services running inside the cluster using a stable IP address.

A Kubernetes ingress controller is an application deployed inside the cluster that interprets rules defined in the ingress and converts them into load balancer configuration instructions. NetScaler also supports the CNCF Gateway API standard, enabling role-based traffic management with GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute resources — purpose-built for platform and application teams working independently.

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KEY CAPABILITIES

What you can do with NetScaler Ingress Controller

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Load balance TCP, TCP‑SSL, and UDP traffic for Kubernetes in addition to HTTP and HTTPS
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Load balance east-west traffic at layer 7, unlike Kubernetes alone that offers limited layer 4 load balancing only
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Use single-tier topologies to handle high rates of change, and dual-tier topologies to offload security functions and for relatively static organizational policies while segmenting control between network operators and Kubernetes operators
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Apply rewrite and responder policies for application traffic for efficiently load balancing traffic at layer 7
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Use the same ingress capabilities across on-premises and public cloud
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Load balance bare metal Kubernetes clusters

What you can do with NetScaler Ingress and Gateway API Controllers

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Configure traffic routing using CNCF Gateway API resources — GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute — for standardized, role-based Kubernetes networking
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Manage and secure AI application traffic with NetScaler AI Gateway, providing token-based rate limiting, provider routing, and observability for LLM workloads running in Kubernetes
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Gain full-stack observability — native integrations with leading monitoring and analytics platforms for real-time visibility across all Kubernetes workloads

NetScaler Ingress Controller for Kubernetes at a glance

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TCP, TCP‑SSL, and UDP traffic support
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Standard Kubernetes ingress solutions provide layer 7 load balancing (HTTP or HTTPS traffic) only, but NetScaler Ingress Controller also provides TCP, TCP‑SSL, and UDP traffic support
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Policies for advanced traffic management
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Kubernetes Ingress lacks enterprise-grade traffic management policies but NetScaler Ingress Controller fills the gap with policies like rewrite and responder policies for efficiently load balancing traffic at layer 7
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Single‑tier and dual‑tier topologies
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NetScaler provides single‑tier and dual‑tier topologies to give you flexibility for managing your NetScaler ADCs and Kubernetes environment
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Layer 7 load balancing for east‑west traffic
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Kubernetes natively provides only limited layer 4 load balancing, but NetScaler Ingress Controller provides layer 7 load balancing for east‑west traffic
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Ingress control across environments
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NetScaler Ingress Controller works seamlessly across on-premises and public cloud
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Load balancer service for bare metal
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NetScaler provides a load balancer service for bare metal: There is no natively available load balancer for a Kubernetes cluster running on bare metal
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Gateway API support
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Configure NetScaler using CNCF-standard GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute resources for portable, role-based Kubernetes networking
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AI Gateway for Kubernetes
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Manage and secure LLM application traffic with token-based rate limiting, intelligent provider routing, and observability for AI workloads running in Kubernetes
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Observability integrations
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Native support for leading monitoring and analytics platforms, delivering real-time visibility across Ingress, Gateway API, and AI Gateway workloads

Resources

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NetScaler Ingress Controller documentation
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Read article
https://docs.netscaler.com/en-us/netscaler-k8s-ingress-controller/
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Read article scalable and reliable microservices-based application delivery through NetScaler Ingress Controller - Opens link in a new window
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NetScaler Gateway API Controller documentation
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Read article
https://docs.netscaler.com/en-us/citrix-adc/current-release/cloud-native-solution/gateway-controller
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Read Netscaler Gateway API controller documentation - Opens link in a new window