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To help you set up NetScaler for ShareFile with on-premises storage zone controllers, an easy-to-use wizard is included in the GUI. The wizard prompts you for basic information about your StorageZones Controller environment and then generates a configuration that:

  • Load balances traffic across StorageZones Controllers
  • Provides user authentication for StorageZone Connectors
  • Validates URI signatures for ShareFile uploads and downloads
  • Terminates SSL connections at the NetScaler appliance

The diagram (courtesy of © Citrix Systems) shows these Netscaler components created by the configuration:

After running the built-in Setup Citrix ADC for ShareFile wizard, users starting complaining that they cannot access their network shares anymore. Those network shares have been provided via the integrated ShareFile Connector's funcionality and has been up and running very smoothly prior to adding Netscaler to the equation.

As soon as users tried to access a network share via a StorageZone Connector they received an error indicating "Failed to load folder -The folder you are looking for could not be found":

As per Citrix, you may see following error while accessing Network Shares on ShareFile Web App:

The folder you are looking for could not be found. This can occur if the link you used is incorrect, or if it points to a folder that has been deleted or to which you do not have access.

Mind that this happened with the ShareFile Web App only while accessing network shares, i.e. using within a browser, whereas accessing the exact same network share via Citrix Files for iOS worked like a charm. After having consulted our change management documentation, it quickly became clear that only one culprit could remain, as there has been no change in user passwords, permissions, group memberships, UNC paths regarding the underlying network shares, et al. All users have required permissions. The root cause could only be traced back to the changes in the Netscaler configuration a couple of days earlier. So I started investigating the details of the Setup Citrix ADC for ShareFile wizard, its configuration changes and effects on my setup by reading ShareFile On-prem and NetScaler: A Comprehensive Configuration Guide & Deep Dive, amongst others:

In case you messed up with your ShareFile Configuration: you can try to remove it with Remove ShareFile Configuration

With having a better understanding of all things Netscaler & Sharefile, I did a little research and found a Citrix Discussion dealing with my issue and it turned out that the Setup Citrix ADC for ShareFile wizard (to the contrary) does not handle all the configuration required to access network shares via a StorageZone connector. Further configuration as to be done manually to make it work (again), as can be read here:

To support restricted zones or web access to StorageZone Connectors, you must perform additional NetScaler configuration after you complete the NetScaler for ShareFile wizard.

The additional configuration provides the Netscaler components shown in the following diagram:

The description of the additional configuration of Netscaler in Citrix Docs is - to say the least - not very accurate. Without appropriate formatting of the corresponding text passages and additional depictions illustrating every single configuration step, manual adjustments are difficult to comprehend for non-Netscaler-aficionados. Therefore I'd like to expand on Citrix Docs and provide a more elaborate description of the configuration steps required. So, what do we need to add to the existing Netscaler configuration:

  1. a third NetScaler load-balancing virtual server
  2. a third CS policy to allow anonymous access from clients for the HTTP OPTIONS verb
  3. update the existing CS policy used for traffic to StorageZone Connectors (by default: _SF_CIF_SP_CSPOL)
  4. update the existing CS policy used for traffic to StorageZones for ShareFile Data (by default: _SF_SZ_CSPOL)
  5. create a heartbeat monitor for the StorageZones Controller service and bind it to the CS virtual server for ShareFile
  6. verify the ShareFile Load Balancing configuration

First, add a new Load Balancing vServer as follows:

add lb vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION SSL 0.0.0.0 0 -persistenceType NONE -cltTimeout 180	
bind lb vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION 	
set ssl vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION -sslProfile ns_default_ssl_profile_frontend	
bind ssl vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION -certkeyName 	
add cs policy _SF_ZONE_OPTIONS_CSPOL -rule "HTTP.REQ.METHOD.EQ(\"OPTIONS\")"
Load Balancing vServer settings
bind the corresponding Sharefile Service and certificate

The full policy expression for the newly created CS policy (by default: _SF_ZONE_OPTIONS_CSPOL) should be as follows:

HTTP.REQ.METHOD.EQ("OPTIONS")

Adjust the existing _SF_CIF_SP_CSPOL policy in terms of Expression. The full policy expression for an existing _SF_CIF_SP_CSPOL should be as follows:

HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/cifs/") || HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/sp/") || HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/ProxyService/")
_SF_CIF_SP_CSPOL Policy Expression

Adjust the existing _SF_SZ_CSPOL policy in terms of Expression. The full policy expression for an existing _SF_SZ_CSPOL should be as follows:

HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/cifs/").NOT && HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/sp/“).NOT && HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS("/ProxyService/").NOT
_SF_SZ_CSPOL Policy Expression

In the end your CS policies should look like this (in terms of Expressions):

final CS policies and corresponding Expressions

Now adjust the existing CS vServer for Sharefile (in my case vsrv_SF_CS_ShareFile) regarding its Policy Bindings in that you add the newly created CS Policy (in my case _SF_ZONE_OPTIONS_CSPOL) as the third CS policy with a Priority of 90 and set the Target Load Balancing Virtual Server to the newly created LB vServer (in my case vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION):

The StorageZone Hearbeat Monitor can be added using CLI by running the following commands:

add lb monitor SZC_Heartbeat HTTP-ECV -send "GET /heartbeat.aspx" -recv "***ONLINE***” -secure YES
bind service <Name of your LB service i.e. internal SF server> -monitorName SZC_Heartbeat

The newly added StorageZone Heartbeat Monitor should look as follows:

StorageZone Heartbeat Monitor Configuration

The complete CLI command list would look like this, whereas the following values need replacement according to your environment:

  • CertDisplayName (server certificate name you want to bind to your vServer)
  • NameOfYourSFServer (i.e. the Sharefile Server you've added to your NetScaler configuration)
  • NameOfYourSFCSvServer (i.e. the Sharefile Content Switching vServer)
add lb vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION SSL 0.0.0.0 0 -persistenceType NONE -cltTimeout 180	
bind lb vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION 	
set ssl vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION -sslProfile ns_default_ssl_profile_frontend	
bind ssl vserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION -certkeyName 	
add cs policy _SF_ZONE_OPTIONS_CSPOL -rule "HTTP.REQ.METHOD.EQ(\"OPTIONS\")"	
add cs policy _SF_SZ_CSPOL -rule "HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/cifs/\").NOT && HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/sp/\").NOT && HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/ProxyService/\").NOT"
add cs policy _SF_CIF_SP_CSPOL -rule "HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/cifs/\") || HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/sp/\") || HTTP.REQ.URL.CONTAINS(\"/ProxyService/\")"
bind cs vserver  -policyName _SF_ZONE_OPTIONS_CSPOL -targetLBVserver vsrv_SF_ZONE_OPTION -priority 90

Finally, go to Traffic Management > Load Balancing > Virtual Servers to view the status of the load balancing virtual servers created for ShareFile. It may look similar to my configuration:

Virtual Servers configured for ShareFile Load Balancing

While testing your new configuration and accessing network shares via ShareFile connectors you should see an increasing hit number in the Hits column of your corresponding CS policies:

Increasing hit number in the Hits column

Update
You have to consider network restrictions as well, as Security can mess with ShareFile traffic and network flow, especially when Firewall settings do not allow corresponding (read: whitelisted) traffic to ShareFile domains, endpoints, and IPs, i.e. the ShareFile Control Plane IP ranges. Have a look at CTX208318 and CTX234446.

In another case, if you attempt to access the ShareFile network share and it prompts for users credentials, the ShareFile Web App credentials may not work. Have a look at CTX233739 as well:

Solution
Authentication settings of an IIS CIFS server on StorageZone Controller needs correction. Please follow the steps to resolve the issue:

1. Log onto the StorageZone Controller(s) and open IIS.
2. Expand Default web site
3. Click on the CIFS virtual directory, then on Authentication.
4. Ensure Anonymous is Enabled
5. ASP .NET Impersonation is Disabled
6. Basic Authentication is Enabled
7. Forms Authentication is Disabled
8. Windows Authentication is Disabled

Reference: The Authentication settings of an IIS CIFS server

Further reading:

1

In order to make this work, check out the Prerequisites section, and read my other articles about installing and configuring AD FS prior to setting them up with ShareFile and/or NetScaler. This setup requires multiple steps with functional verification tests in between each step in order to minimize sources of error.

Prerequisites:

  • Public Signed Server Certificate adfs.domain.com
  • Firewall configuration allowing external traffic destined for your internal AD FS server to pass through (https, Port 443)
  • AD FS 2.0 downloadable installer (for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2)
  • Internet Information Services (IIS) 7 or 7.5 Server Role installed (for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2)
  • AD FS 3.0 Server Role installed (for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2)
  • Internet Information Services (IIS) 8.5 Server Role installed (for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2)
  • .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Feature installed
  • SQL Server 2005 (Express, Standard, Enterprise), SQL Server 2008 (Express, Standard, Enterprise), or Windows Internal Database

Detailed HowTo's for AD FS Installation and Configuration can be found here:

AD FS related errors can be found in the Event Log by expanding the Applications and Services Logs node, and navigating to AD FS 2.0 \ Admin (for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2):

adfs_error_logs_01

My working ShareFile Single sign-on / SAML 2.0 Configuration with AD FS 2.0 looks like this:

adfs_working_config_dc2_02

Testing your setup:

  • https://mydomain.sharefile.com/saml/login
  • https://adfs.mydomain.com/adfs/ls
  • https://adfs.mydomain.com/adfs/ls/IdpInitiatedSignOn.aspx

Lessons learned during my configuration

Error Signin ADFS:

adfs_error_signin_03

adfs_error_signin_01 adfs_error_signin_02

Add corresponding ShareFile Subdomain URLs to Relying Party Trusts configuration (in my case I had to add both sharefile.com and sharefile.eu TLDs):

  • Tab: Identifiers
  • Tab: Endpoints

adfs_error_signin_04 adfs_error_signin_05

Error Signin ADFS:

adfs_error_signout_02

Event Log Error, Event ID 364, Source: AD FS 2.0, Error Number: MSIS7000

Have a look at TechNet - Troubleshooting Fedpassive request failures with AD FS 2.0

adfs_41

Encountered error during federation passive request.
Additional Data
Exception details:
Microsoft.IdentityServer.Web.RequestFailedException: MSIS7000: The sign in request is not compliant to the WS-Federation language for web browser clients or the SAML 2.0 protocol WebSSO profile.
at Microsoft.IdentityServer.Web.Dispatchers.UnknownRequestDispatcher.DispatchInternal(PassiveContext context)
at Microsoft.IdentityServer.Web.PassiveProtocolHandler.ProcessRequestInternal(PassiveContext context)
at Microsoft.IdentityServer.Web.PassiveProtocolHandler.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context)

I found something interesting at Windows Identity Foundation 101’s : WS-Federation Passive Requestor Profile (part 1 of 2), when searching for MSIS7000:

ADFS v2 does not support WS-Federation POST sign-in, only GET.

HTTP Error 401. The requested resource requires user authentication

sf_saml_internal_error_401_02

sf_saml_internal_error_401_03

It turned out I had to start the AD FS service with proper credentials. As I had issues with launching the service, I switched it to LOCAL SYSTEM, which in return caused this particular issue. So, first I had to remedy the issue of failed service start by configuring the SPN for the service account, and providing internet access to my AD FS server in order to enable querying if CRL through .NET. Then I adjusted the corresponding Application Pool in IIS on my AD FS server in order to reflect the AD FS service's account. In the end I was able to start the service properly. Afterwards SAML SSO from internal networks worked as well.

Have a look at:

Error Signout ADFS:

adfs_error_signout_02

adfs_error_signout_01 adfs_error_signout_03

Add Logout URL to Relying Party Trusts configuration:

  • Tab: Endpoints
  • Endpoint Tpye: SAML Logout
  • Binding: POST
  • URL: https://adfs.domain.de/adfs/ls/?wa=wsignout1.0

adfs_error_signout_04

adfs_error_signout_05

Now as we have successfully configured a working SSO environment using ShareFile and AD FS, we can go the extra mile and add NetScaler to the equation, of course as a means of security enhancement. As you should never ever expose an ADFS server to the internet, you could use NetScaler as a Proxy. Read more about in my blog article https://blog.ollischer.com/citrix-netscaler-v11-how-to-setup-your-netscaler-as-an-ad-fs-proxy.

Errors:

  • "SAML Assertion verification failed; Please contact your administrator", i.e. incorrect IDP certificate configured on NetScaler

saml_sso_NS_error_01

saml_sso_NS_error_02

  • Http/1.1 Internal Server Error 43531

saml_sso_NS_error_03

Run one of the following commands from the shell prompt of the NS to view the real time hits on the (as per CTX138840)

  • authentication policies and session policies applied on the NS Gateway vServer:

    nsconmsg –d current –g pol_hits

  • rewrite policy bound at a global level or to a load balancing, content switching, or NS Gateway vServer:

    nsconmsg –d current | egrep –i rewrite

  • responder policy bound at a global level or to a load balancing, content switching, or NS Gateway vServer:

    nsconmsg –d current | egrep –i responder

In order to troubleshoot authentication with Aaad.debug (as per CTX114999) run the following command from the shell prompt of the NS:

  1. cd /tmp
  2. cat aaad.debug

Another Event ID 364 error message:

  • MSIS2001: Configuration service URL is not configured.
  • MSIS7012: An error occurred while processing the request. Contact your administrator for details

After checkings the AD FS 2.0 service I discovered that it was not running. When trying to start the service it did not start and subsequent Events 7000 and 70009 were logged in Event Log Viewer. It turned out that the server hosting AD FS 2.0 need internet access or you need to disable generatePublisherEvidence for .NET 3.5. See:

Service Control Manager (SCM) is timing out the service start before it is complete. This is usually due to lack of internet connectivity from the AD FS 2.0 Federation Server or AD FS 2.0 Federation Server Proxy. At service start, when generatePublisherEvidence is enabled for .NET 3.5, the server will attempt to connect to crl.microsoft.com over TCP port 80. AD FS 2.0 does not rely on a positive or negative response from generatePublisherEvidence, and the default value can cause Service Control Manager to time out while waiting on the TCP/80 connection to fail to connect to crl.microsoft.com.

Further reading:

After upgrading my existing and fully functional NetScaler v10.5 Build 57.7 to the latest v11.0 Build 55.23 and implementing Unified Gateway for XenMobile and XenDesktop, my users were unable to SAML authenticate with ShareFile, i.e.

  • by using their MDX wrapped ShareFile app on iOS devices and locking it into an endless authentication loop without any errors:

Photo_20150714_081802

  • by using their ShareFile Outlook Plugin in order to send Download and/or Upload links as they received an error stating Authentication Error - http/1.1 Service Unavailable while trying to utilize the Browser Login included with the ShareFile Outlook Plugin Configuration Wizard:

sharefile_saml_6

  • by authenticating to our company's custom ShareFile SAML Login page via Browser:

sharefile_saml_11

...continue reading "Citrix ShareFile – SAML Authentication Error after upgrading to NetScaler v11 and Unified Gateway – http/1.1 Service Unavailable"