Unable to Delete NSX bits with API delete command

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• DELETE API call to remove NSX VIBs from ESXi host gives 200 OK, but does not trigger NSX uninstall

  • DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX-UUID>?unprepare_host=true

• Force DELETE API call to remove the NSX host object from the NSX database without uninstalling the NSX VIBs from the host gives 200 OK, but does not trigger a force removal of the NSX Host object from the NSX database

  • DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true

• Logs under /var/log/proxy/localhost_access_log.txt show several attempts being made to send the API call in question, but NSX Host object status remains unchanged in the NSX UI:

  • 2025-08-27T16:41:31.760Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T16:47:20.630Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T17:08:58.113Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 1 0
    2025-08-27T17:14:47.199Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 1 0
    2025-08-27T17:37:06.522Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T17:42:56.216Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T18:05:01.595Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T18:10:50.448Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 1 1
    2025-08-27T18:32:59.223Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 0 0
    2025-08-27T18:38:49.178Z localhost - "DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<Host-TN-NSX UUID>?unprepare_host=false&force=true HTTP/1.1" 200 - 1 1

Environment

VMware NSX 4.x

Cause

NSX API URI path does not match NSX database's intent path defined in the key field of the HostTransportNode table for the host object.

Resolution

To view the host object in question:

• From root mode on any NSX Manager Appliance:

  • root@nsx-mngr:~# corfu_tool_runner.py -o showTable -n nsx -t HostTransportNode | grep <host-name> -B 10

To craft your API call, use the path defined from the key field in your delete API call after running the above command:

• • To gracefully uninstall the NSX VIBs/bits via API call:

    • DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<hostname>-<compute-manager-UUID>host-#####?unprepare_host=true

  • To force delete the NSX Host from the NSX database without uninstalling the NSX VIBs/bits:

    • DELETE /policy/api/v1/infra/sites/default/enforcement-points/default/host-transport-nodes/<hostname>-<compute-manager-UUID>host-#####?unprepare_host=false&force=true