Enterprise devices like Citrix Netscaler have started supporting AppFlow exporting. But what does AppFlow exporting really mean?

AppFlow

AppFlow is a new flow export standard for finding data pertaining to applications and transactions in the network infrastructure. It gives greater visibility into application traffic utilization and performance.

AppFlow addresses the following requirements of application performance management:

  • No costly equipment needed for application optimization
  • Cloud-compatible
  • Standard flow export

AppFlow design

The AppFlow exported from a device has two parts:

  • TCP-based network information
  • Application layer data

Are you using a Netscaler device in your environment and eager to see the benefits of AppFlow reporting in ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer? Keep reading to find out more about AppFlow configuration on Netscaler devices.

AppFlow export on Netscaler devices can be configured in two ways: via GUI or CLI.

AppFlow configuration on Netscaler

Configuring AppFlow on the Netscaler requires the following steps:

  1. Enabling the AppFlow feature
  2. Configuring AppFlow Settings
  3. Adding an AppFlow Collector
  4. Creating an AppFlow Action
  5. Creating AppFlow policies

GUI configuration

Enabling the AppFlow feature

To enable AppFlow on the Netscaler through the GUI, navigate to System > Settings > Configure Advanced Features > AppFlow.


Configuring AppFlow Settings

In this section, you’ll define which information will be exported to NetFlow Analyzer.

Click System > AppFlow > Change AppFlow Settings.

Adding an AppFlow Collector

Here, you need to specify external collector details. Navigate to System > AppFlow > Collectors > Add.

Creating an AppFlow Action

Navigate to System > AppFlow > Action > Add.


Creating AppFlow policies

Click System > AppFlow > Policies > Add.

Appending a policy

The created policy needs to be appended globally or to individual servers for data collection. For this, navigate to System > AppFlow > AppFlow Policy Manager.

CLI configuration

You’ll need to execute a set of commands via the CLI configuration wizard to enable AppFlow on the Netscaler. These commands are:

Netscaler# enable feature AppFlow

Netscaler# set appflow param -httpUrl ENABLED -httpReferer ENABLED -httpMethod ENABLED -httpHost ENABLED -httpUserAgent ENABLED -clientTrafficOnly YES

Netscaler# add appflow collector “NetFlow Analyzer” –IPAddress 192.168.1.100 – port 9996

Netscaler# add appflow action af_act_netflowanalyzer -collectors “NetFlow Analyzer”

Netscaler# add appflow policy af_pol_log-all true af_act_NetFlowAnalyzer

Netscaler# bind system global -policyName af_pol_log-all -priority 100 -gotoPriorityExpression

AppFlow reporting in NetFlow Analyzer

The screenshots below show the reports you can extract from AppFlow records in NetFlow Analyzer.

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