How to change NSX Manager CLI Privileged mode password to a string containing the question mark

Products

• VMware NSX for vSphere

Issue/Introduction

This article explains how to change the NSX Manager CLI Privileged mode password to a string that includes a question mark (?).

When attempting to set a password containing the question mark character in the NSX Manager CLI, the character cannot be entered directly because typing '?' triggers a help menu showing available commands, keywords, or arguments.

Environment

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

Resolution

If you want to use the question mark in NSX Manager CLI, press Ctrl+v just before inputting the question mark. 

Example:
1. Switch to Configuration mode.

nsxmgr> enable
nsxmgr# configure terminal

2. Run "enable password".

nsxmgr(config)# enable password 

3. Enter your password. In this case, the password is "abc?123".
3-1. Input "abc".

nsxmgr(config)# enable password abc 

3-2. Press Ctrl+v. 

nsxmgr(config)# enable password abc 

3-3. Input "?123" and save the password change, then exit Configuration mode.

nsxmgr(config)# enable password abc?123
Password changed
nsxmgr(config)# write memory
nsxmgr(config)# exit
nsxmgr#