NetScaler Gateway licensing

Last published : Sep 03, 2026
After you install NetScaler Gateway, you can obtain your Platform or Universal license files from Citrix. You log on to the Citrix website to access your available licenses and generate a license file. After the license file is generated, you download it to a computer. When the license file is on the computer, you then upload it to NetScaler Gateway. For more information about Citrix licensing, see Citrix Licensing System.
Before obtaining your license files, make sure you configure the host name of the appliance by using the Setup Wizard and then restart the appliance.
To obtain your licenses, go to the Activate, upgrade, and manage NetScaler licenses webpage. On this page, you can get your new license and activate, upgrade, and manage NetScaler licenses.
Important:
  • You must install licenses on NetScaler Gateway. The appliance does not obtain licenses from NetScaler license Server.
  • Citrix recommends that you retain a local copy of all license files you receive. When you save a backup copy of the configuration file, all uploaded licenses files are included in the backup. If you must reinstall the NetScaler Gateway appliance software and do not have a backup of the configuration, you need the original license files.
Before installing licenses on NetScaler Gateway, set the host name of the appliance and then restart NetScaler Gateway. You use the Setup Wizard to configure the host name. When you generate the Universal license for NetScaler Gateway, the host name is used in the license.
Related information
Install a license on NetScaler GatewayNetScaler Gateway licensing FAQs

NetScaler Gateway license types

NetScaler Gateway requires a Platform license. The Platform license allows an unlimited number of connections to Citrix Virtual Apps, Citrix Virtual Desktops, or StoreFront by using ICA Proxy. To allow VPN connections to the network from the Citrix Secure Access client, a SmartAccess log on point, or Secure Hub, WorxWeb, or Secure Mail, you must also add a Universal license. NetScaler Gateway VPX comes with the Platform license.
The Platform license is supported on the following NetScaler Gateway versions:
  • NetScaler Gateway 12.1
  • NetScaler Gateway 12.0
  • NetScaler Gateway 11.1
  • NetScaler Gateway 11.0
  • NetScaler Gateway 10.5
  • NetScaler Gateway 10.1
  • Access Gateway 10
  • NetScaler VPX
Important: Citrix recommends that you retain a local copy of all license files that you receive. When you save a backup copy of the configuration file, all uploaded license files are included in the backup. If you need to reinstall the NetScaler Gateway appliance software and do not have a backup of the configuration, you need the original license files.

The Platform License

The Platform license allows unlimited user connections to published applications on Citrix Virtual Apps or virtual desktops from Citrix Virtual Desktops. Connections by using Citrix Receiver do not use a NetScaler Gateway Universal license. These connections only need the Platform license. The Platform license is delivered electronically with all new NetScaler Gateway orders, whether physical or virtual. If you already own an appliance covered by a warranty or maintenance agreement, you can obtain the Platform license from the Citrix website.

The Universal License

The NetScaler Gateway universal license limits the number of concurrent user sessions to the number of licenses purchased. If you purchase 100 licenses, you can have 100 concurrent sessions at any time. If you purchase a Standard edition license, you can have 500 concurrent sessions at any time. When a user ends a session, that license is released for the next user. A user who logs on to NetScaler Gateway from more than one computer occupies a license for each session.
If all licenses are occupied, no additional connections can be opened until a user ends a session or the administrator terminates the session using the configuration utility. When a connection is closed, the license is released and can be used for a new user.
When you receive your NetScaler Gateway appliance, licensing occurs in the following order:
  • You receive the license access code (license key) in an email.
  • You use the Setup Wizard to configure NetScaler Gateway with the host name.
  • You allocate the NetScaler Gateway licenses from the Citrix website. Use the host name to bind the licenses to the appliance during the allocation process.
  • You install the license file on NetScaler Gateway.
The Universal license supports the following features:
  • Full VPN tunnel
  • Micro VPN
  • Endpoint analysis
  • Policy-based SmartAccess
  • Clientless access to websites and file shares

Obtaining the Universal License

You need the following information before going to the Citrix® website for the universal license.
  • Your Citrix account user ID and password.
    Register at the Citrix website (https://www.citrix.com/welcome/create-account/) to receive your user ID and password. Note: If you cannot locate either the license code or your user ID and password, contact Citrix Customer Service.
  • The host name of the NetScaler Gateway
    The entry field for this name on the Citrix website is case-sensitive, so make sure that you copy the host name exactly as it is configured on the NetScaler appliance.
  • The number of licenses you want to include in the license file
    You do not have to download all the licenses you are entitled to at once. For example, if your company purchased 100 licenses, you can choose to download 50. You can allocate the rest in another license file later. Multiple license files can be installed on the NetScaler Gateway.
    Note: Before obtaining your licenses, make sure you configure the host name of the NetScaler appliance using the Setup Wizard and then restart the appliance.
To obtain your universal license
  1. Log in to the Citrix website (https://www.citrix.com/en-in/account/) using your Citrix credentials.
  2. Under Citrix Manage Licenses is here, follow the directions to obtain your license file.

Installing the Universal License

To install the license, see Installing the License. After installation, verify that the license was installed correctly.

Verifying Installation of the Universal License

Before proceeding, verify that your universal license is installed correctly.
To verify installation of the universal license by using the CLI
  1. Open an SSH connection to the NetScaler appliance by using an SSH client, such as PuTTY.
  2. Log on to the NetScaler appliance by using the administrator credentials.
  3. Use the show license command to verify that “SSL VPN = YES” and that Maximum Users have increased from 5 to the expected number of concurrent users.
To verify installation of the universal license by using the GUI
  1. In a Web browser, type the IP address of the NetScaler appliance, such as http://192.168.100.1.
  2. In User Name and Password, type the administrator credentials.
  3. In the navigation pane, expand System, and then click Licenses.
  4. In the Licenses pane, you see a green check mark next to Citrix Gateway. The field Maximum NetScaler Gateway Users Allowed displays the number of concurrent user sessions licensed on the NetScaler appliance.