NSX Manager License Entitlement Warning and Compute Manager Disconnection

Products

• VMware NSX
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Users observe the following symptoms within the NSX Manager UI:

• A high-priority yellow or red banner stating: "NSX Manager is currently operating without a valid license. To rectify this situation, please verify NSX Manager's license or entitlement from vCenter Server in the next X days."

• NSX compute manager (vCenter) is out of the sync and no license information was fetched from it.

Environment

• VMware NSX  
• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware Cloud Foundation

Cause

The VCF license cannot be fetched because the Compute Manager connection between NSX and vCenter is Down, preventing NSX from verifying your entitlement.

Resolution

To resolve the warning and restore connectivity, follow the two-pronged approach below:

1. Resolve Compute Manager Connectivity

Before the license can sync naturally, the management path must be restored.

• Navigate to System > Fabric > Compute Managers.

• Select the affected vCenter and click Edit.

• Thumbprint Update: If the certificate has changed, NSX will prompt you to accept a new thumbprint. Verify the thumbprint and click Save.

• Credential Update: If the connection is "Down" due to an authentication failure, re-enter the service account credentials (e.g., [email protected]) and click Resolve or Save.

• Verify Status: Ensure the status changes to "Up" and "Registered".

2. Manually Add NSX License (Standalone Override)

If the sync from vCenter continues to fail or if you require an immediate fix to clear the grace period banner, apply the license key directly.

1. Log in to the NSX Manager UI.

2. Navigate to System > Settings > Licenses.

3. Click Add License.

4. Enter the valid License Key and click Add.

5. Once added, click Refresh to force the UI to recognize the new entitlement. The "X" days" countdown banner should disappear immediately.

 

Note : The consumption of the Solution License for VCF is tracked against the vCenter servers that are registered to your NSX deployment. The minimum version supported for vCenter Server Appliance is 8.0 Update 2b.

• You must create the vSphere 8 Enterprise Plus for VCF license in your vSphere Client, and then assign this license to VMware vCenter server. For more information about adding a license key, see Managing vSphere Licenses .
  
  
• You must add the VMware vCenter server as a compute manager in NSX.
  
  
• You can then view the assigned Solution License for VCF in the NSX Manager UI on the System > Licenses page.
  
  
• You cannot add or delete the Solution License for VCF from the NSX Manager UI. License is managed by VCF and cannot be modified from the NSX Manager UI. If vCenter server is deleted or the communication is down, the Solution License for VCF is removed from NSX.
  
  
• You can now add the security licenses from the System > Licenses page.

Additional Information

 

About NSX Licenses 

Note : 

• Check System > Settings > Licenses to ensure the "Status" is listed as Active or In Use.

• Ensure the Compute Manager status remains Up for at least 15 minutes to confirm stable heartbeat synchronization.