Cannot add/delete a NSX Manager CLI user

Products

• VMware NSX Networking

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Unable to delete an existing NSX CLI user.
  
  nsx-mgr(config)# no user user1
  ERROR: Could not delete user: user1
   
• Unable to add the NSX CLI user.
  
  nsx-mgr(config)# user user1 password plaintext abcd1234
  Failed to add user. Note: You cannot use this command to change the passwd of an existing user.
  ERROR: could not add user:user1

Cause:

This issue occurs when the user is assigned with web-interface Privileges.

Environment

VMware NSX for vSphere 6.2.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.4.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.1.x
VMware NSX for vSphere 6.3.x

Resolution

To resolve this:

1. negate the privilege given to the user.
   
   nsx-mgr(config)# no user user1 privilege web-interface
    
2. Delete the User.
   nsx-mgr(config)# no user user1
    
3. Add the user with proper credentials.
   nsx-mgr(config)# user user1 password plaintext abcd1234
    
4. If you are unable to view the NSX CLI user from NSX Manager > Manage > Users
   
   Run the POST API call to assign NSX Role to CLI user:
   
   URL: https://nsxm-ip/api/2.0/services/usermgmt/role/user1?isCli=true
   Body:
   
   <accessControlEntry>
   <role>new_role</role>
   <resource>
   <resourceId>resource-num</resourceId>
   ...
   </resource>
   </accessControlEntry>
   
   Note: Possible roles are super_user, vshield_admin, enterprise_admin, security_admin, and auditor.

 

For more information on the API, see NSX API guide:

NSX 6.2 API guide

NSX 6.3 API guide