Error "Invalid license key ending with xxxxx. (Error code: 3020)" when trying to assign a license key to NSX-T
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Error "Invalid license key ending with xxxxx. (Error code: 3020)" when trying to assign a license key to NSX-T

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Article ID: 324185

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Updated On:

Products

VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

When assigning license key in VMware NSX-T, user sees following error message: "Invalid license key ending with xxxxx. (Error code: 3020)"

Environment

VMware NSX-T Data Center

Cause

VMware periodically launches new SKUs and license editions. Product versions that exist prior to the SKU launch dates may not recognize the new license keys.

VMware NSX customers who have purchased new licenses (NSX-T Professional, NSX-T Advanced, NSX-T Enterprise Plus, NSX-T Robo) after October 1, 2021 either as part of their expansion or renewal cycle are provided licenses from a new NSX-T dormant license file (DLF). This new license key is accepted only in a limited number of NSX versions (table below). If the key is not accepted by NSX Manager, an error "invalid license key" is shown. 

TKGI customers who have bought new Tanzu licenses which gave them access to NSX-T are also provided with license keys from NSX-T DLF. If the customer is not running the below mentioned versions of NSX, then they will run into the licensing error "invalid license key."

License NameReleaseCompatible Editions

NSX DC Standard
NSX DC Professional
NSX DC Advanced
NSX DC Enterprise Plus
NSX DC Robo
NSX DC Evaluation

NSX 2.XNSX 2.X, NSX 3.X

NSX-T Professional
NSX-T Advanced
NSX-T Enterprise Plus
NSX-T Robo
NSX-T Evaluation

NSX 3.1.3.1NSX 3.0.3.1, NSX 3.1.3.1, NSX 3.1.3.3, NSX 3.1.3.5, NSX 3.2.X
NSX-T Distributed Threat Prevention (Add-On)NSX 3.0NSX 3.X
NSX-T Advanced Threat Prevention (Add-On)NSX 3.1.1NSX 3.1.X, 3.2.X
NSX-T FirewallNSX 3.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX-T Firewall w/ATPNSX 3.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX-T Firewall for BaremetalNSX 3.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX Data Center SP BaseNSX 3.1.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX Data Center SP ProfessionalNSX 3.1.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX Data Center SP AdvancedNSX 3.1.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX Data Center SP Enterprise PlusNSX 3.1.1NSX 3.1.X, NSX 3.2.X
NSX Distributed FirewallNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Distributed Firewall with Threat PreventionNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Distributed Firewall with Advanced Threat PreventionNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Gateway FirewallNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Gateway Firewall with Threat PreventionNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Advanced Threat Prevention Add on for NSX Distributed Firewall, NSX Advanced, NSX Enterprise PlusNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Federation Add-OnNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX-T Advanced Add-OnNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX-T Enterprise Plus Add-OnNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
AntreaNSX 3.2NSX 3.2
NSX Advanced with Threat PreventionNSX 4.0.1.1NSX 4.0.1.1 and above
NSX Advanced with Advanced Threat PreventionNSX 4.0.1.1NSX 4.0.1.1 and above
NSX Enterprise Plus with Threat PreventionNSX 4.0.1.1NSX 4.0.1.1 and above
NSX Enterprise Plus with Advanced Threat PreventionNSX 4.0.1.1NSX 4.0.1.1 and above

 

Resolution

The customer can resolve the issue using one of the following ways:

Recommended Fix: Upgrade to a supported NSX-T version that accepts the license key

  • If the customer is in the NSX-T 3.0.X release series, they will have to upgrade to a minimum version of 3.0.3.1 at least. Once they have upgraded to this version, they can apply the license key in NSX manager. 
  • If the customer is on the NSX-T 3.1.X release series, they will have to upgrade to at least 3.1.3.1 version. Once they have upgraded to this version, they can apply the license key in NSX Manager
  • NOTE: A customer from NSX-T 3.0.X release series should upgrade only to 3.1.3.1 or later while using NSX-T Professional or NSX-T Advanced or NSX-T Enterprise Plus or NSX-T Robo license