Configuring ISIS

Last published : Sep 24, 2026
The NetScaler appliance supports the Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) dynamic routing protocol. This protocol supports IPv4 as well as IPv6 route exchanges. IS‑IS is a link state protocol and is therefore less prone to routing loops. With the advantages of faster convergence and the ability to support larger networks, ISIS can be very useful in Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks.
Related information

Prerequisites for configuring ISIS

Before you begin configuring ISIS, do the following:
  • Make sure that you understand the ISIS protocol.
  • For IPV6 routes, enable:
    • IPv6 protocol translation feature.
    • IPv6 Dynamic Routing option on the VLANs on which you want to run ISIS protocol.

Enabling ISIS

Use either of the following procedures to enable the ISIS routing feature on the NetScaler appliance.
To enable ISIS routing by using the CLI:
At the command prompt, type:
enable ns feature ISIS
To enable ISIS routing by using the GUI:
  1. Navigate to System > Settings, in Modes and Features group, click Change advanced features.
  2. Select or clear the ISIS Routing option.

Creating an ISIS Routing Process and Starting It on a VLAN

To create an ISIS routing process, you must use the VTYSH command line.
At the command prompt, type the following commands, in the order shown:
Command Description
VTYSH Displays VTYSH command prompt.
configure terminal Enters the global configuration mode.
router ISIS [tag] Creates an ISIS routing process and configuration mode for the routing process.
net XX....XXXX.YYYY.YYYY.YYYY.00 Specifies a NET value for the routing process, where: ·XX. .. .XXXX is the Area Address (can be 1-13 bytes), ·YYYY.YYYY.YYYY is the System ID (6 bytes), ·00 is the N-selector (1 byte).
is-type (level-1|level-1-2|level-2-only) Sets the ISIS routing process to the specified level of routing. Default: level-1-2.
ns IPv6-routing Starts the IPv6 dynamic routing daemon.
interface <vlan_name> Enters the VLAN configuration mode.
ip router ISIS Enables the ISIS routing process on the VLAN for IPv4 route exchanges.
ipv6 router ISIS Enables the ISIS routing process on the VLAN for IPv6 route exchanges.
Example:
> VTYSH
NS# configure terminal
NS(config)# router isis 11
NS(config-router)# net 15.aabb.ccdd.0097.00
NS(config-router)# is-type level-1
NS(config-router)# exit
NS(config)# ns IPv6-routing
NS(config)# interface vlan0
NS(config-if)#  ip router isis 11
NS(config-if)# ipv6 router isis 11

Advertising Routes

Route advertisement enables an upstream router to track network entities located behind the NetScaler appliance.
To configure ISIS to advertise routes by using the VTYSH command line:
At the command prompt, type the following commands, in the order shown:
Command Description
VTYSH Displays the VTYSH command prompt.
configure terminal Enters the global configuration mode.
router ISIS [tag] Starts the ISIS routing instance and enter configuration mode for the routing process.
redistribute connected (level-1 or level-1-2 or level-2) Redistributes connected routes, where: level-1: Redistribute connected routes into Level-1, level-1-2: Redistribute connected routes into Level-1 and Level-2, level-2: Redistribute connected routes into Level-2.
redistribute kernel (level-1 or level-1-2 or level-2) Redistributes kernel routes, where: level-1: Redistribute kernel routes into Level-1, level-1-2: Redistribute kernel routes into Level-1 and Level-2, level-2: Redistribute kernel routes into Level-2.
Example:
>VTYSH
NS# configure terminal
NS(config)# router isis 11
NS(config-router)# redistribute connected level-1
NS(config-router)# redistribute kernel level-1

Limiting ISIS Propagations

If you need to troubleshoot your configuration, you can configure the listen-only mode on any given VLAN.
To limit ISIS propagation by using the VTYSH command line:
At the command prompt, type the following commands, in the order shown:
Command Description
VTYSH Displays the VTYSH command prompt.
configure terminal Enters the global configuration mode.
router isis [tag] Enters the configuration mode for the routing process.
passive-interface <vlan_name> Suppresses routing updates on interfaces bound to the specified VLAN.
Example:
>VTYSH
NS# configure terminal
NS(config)# router isis 11
NS(config-router)# passive-interface VLAN0

Verifying the ISIS Configuration

You can use VTYSH to display the ISIS routing table and ISIS information for a specified VLAN.
To view the ISIS settings by using the VTYSH command line:
At the command prompt, type the following commands, in the order shown:
Commands Description
VTYSH Displays the VTYSH command prompt.
show ip isis route Displays updated IPv4 ISIS routing table.
show ipv6 isis route Displays updated IPv6 ISIS routing table.
sh isis interface <vlan_name> Displays IPv6 ISIS information for the specified VLAN.
Example:
NS# VTYSH
NS#  show ip isis route
NS#  show ipv6 isis route
NS# sh isis interface VLAN0