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..
KEY CAPABILITIES
What you can do with NetScaler Ingress Controller
Load balance TCP, TCP‑SSL, and UDP traffic for Kubernetes in addition to HTTP and HTTPS
Load balance east-west traffic at layer 7, unlike Kubernetes alone that offers limited layer 4 load balancing only
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
Apply rewrite and responder policies for application traffic for efficiently load balancing traffic at layer 7
Use the same ingress capabilities across on-premises and public cloud
Load balance bare metal Kubernetes clusters
What you can do with NetScaler Ingress and Gateway API Controllers
Configure traffic routing using CNCF Gateway API resources — GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute — for standardized, role-based Kubernetes networking
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
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
TCP, TCP‑SSL, and UDP traffic support
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
Policies for advanced traffic management
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
Single‑tier and dual‑tier topologies
NetScaler provides single‑tier and dual‑tier topologies to give you flexibility for managing your NetScaler ADCs and Kubernetes environment
Layer 7 load balancing for east‑west traffic
Kubernetes natively provides only limited layer 4 load balancing, but NetScaler Ingress Controller provides layer 7 load balancing for east‑west traffic
Load balancer service for bare metal
NetScaler provides a load balancer service for bare metal: There is no natively available load balancer for a Kubernetes cluster running on bare metal
Ingress control across environments
NetScaler Ingress Controller works seamlessly across on-premises and public cloud
Gateway API support
Configure NetScaler using CNCF-standard GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute resources for portable, role-based Kubernetes networking
AI Gateway for Kubernetes
Manage and secure LLM application traffic with token-based rate limiting, intelligent provider routing, and observability for AI workloads running in Kubernetes
Observability integrations
Native support for leading monitoring and analytics platforms, delivering real-time visibility across Ingress, Gateway API, and AI Gateway workloads
Resources
NetScaler Ingress Controller documentation
NetScaler Gateway API Controller documentation
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