Removing an Edge from NSX fails when an External Connection is configured

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• NSX Edge VMs may have been deleted from the vSphere inventory.
• Attempts to remove the Edges from NSX might fail with no error message being generated, just a "Failed" status.
  • A message similar to the following might be displayed:
    
    Error: The object Edge Cluster '########' cannot be deleted as either it has children or it is being referenced by other objects:
Default: CentralizedConfig '23105a47-####-####-####-b5eb2e5fa690'
(Error code: 300030)
    
    
• Clicking on the "Failed" status and then clicking on the "Remove from NSX" button does not remove the Edge.
• One or more Tier-0/Tier-1 Gateways are configured that reference the Edge Cluster where the Edges reside.
• An External Connection is configured that references the previously noted Tier-0.
• A Transit Gateway might be configured that references the External Connection.

Environment

VMware NSX 9.x

Cause

NSX objects cannot be deleted when there are dependent objects under them. An External Connection requires a Tier-0 Gateway connection, which in turn requires an Edge Cluster. These dependent objects must be removed before the Edges can be removed.

Resolution

1. Navigate to Networking > External Connections.
2. Click the three vertical dots next to the External Connection that is referencing the Tier-0 Gateway that is refencing the Edge Cluster containing the Edges to be removed. Select Delete.
   Note: This step might fail if there is a Transit Gateway that is referencing the External Connection. If this occurs, the Transit Gateway must be configured to not use the External Connection being deleted.
3. Navigate to Networking > Tier-0 Gateways.
4. Click the three vertical dots next to the Tier-0 Gateway that is referencing the Edge Cluster containing the Edges to be removed. Select Delete.
   Note: This step might fail if there are Tier-1 Gateways or other dependent objects referencing the Tier-0 Gateway. If this occurs, these dependent objects must first be removed.
5. Navigate to System > Fabric > Nodes > Edge Clusters.
6. Select the appropriate Edge Cluster.
7. Remove the Edges from the Edge Cluster.
8. Navigate to System > Fabric > Nodes.
9. Select the Edges to be deleted and click the Delete button. In case, the edge deletion fails with Delete Failed, use the following kb to complete the deletion: Cleanup Stale Edge Nodes 

Note: If the Edge Cluster needs to be removed, this can be done from the System > Fabric > Nodes > Edge Clusters page, or from the vSphere Client on the Network Connectivity page.

Additional Information

Remove NSX Edge Nodes from an Edge Cluster