Overview 💥
Some SonicWall devices running SonicOS 7.x fail to return license information to the Liongard Inspector. When this happens, the Inspector may show empty or missing license details, even though the device has valid subscriptions.
This behavior is linked to a firmware-level API issue where the license endpoint returns an empty array ([]), preventing Liongard from retrieving the device’s active license data.
Why This Happens 🤔
Liongard retrieves SonicWall license information using the following API endpoint:
/api/sonicos/reporting/license/security-services
On certain SonicOS 7.x firmware builds, this endpoint may:
Return no data, even when licenses exist.
Return an empty array (
[]), indicating a known SonicWall firmware issue.Fail intermittently depending on the device’s firmware stability.
This is not a Liongard Inspector issue—it is a SonicWall firmware/API defect confirmed across multiple SonicOS builds.
Common Causes
Cause | Description |
⚠️ Firmware defect | Specific SonicOS 7.x builds return empty responses to license API calls. |
🔒 Insufficient API permissions (rare) | Incorrect role permissions may block access to license endpoints. |
🔄 Device not fully rebooted after firmware upgrade | The API subsystem may not refresh until a full reboot occurs. |
🔌 API call instability after firmware updates | Some builds show temporary API failures until cache resets. |
Steps to Resolve 👨💻
1️⃣ — Confirm Firmware Version
Log into the SonicWall web UI.
Navigate to: System → Settings → Firmware & Backups.
Locate the current SonicOS version.
Compare it to the latest recommended firmware by checking SonicWall’s official release notes.
Note: SonicWall frequently publishes API fixes in release notes. License-data fixes are commonly included in these updates.
2️⃣ — Update to the Latest SonicOS 7.x Firmware
Updating the firmware typically resolves this problem.
Download the latest firmware recommended by SonicWall.
Schedule a maintenance window (reboot required).
Upgrade to the recommended version.
After upgrading, perform a full reboot of the appliance.
Without rebooting, API services may continue returning cached/malformed empty arrays.
3️⃣ — Re-run the Inspector
After the firmware upgrade and reboot:
Open Liongard → Inspectors → SonicWall.
Select Re-run Inspector.
Wait for completion.
Check to see if license details now populate.
4️⃣ — (Optional) Verify API User Permissions
While uncommon, improper API permissions may block license endpoints.
Check the following:
Permission Area | Requirement |
API Enabled | API must be enabled for the appliance |
Role Permissions | Use a role with full access (e.g., Administrator) |
Endpoint Access | User should not have MFA/2FA enabled |
Interface Access | Ensure API access is allowed on the used interface (LAN/WAN) |
If needed, re-validate your setup using the official Liongard documentation.
5️⃣ — If Issue Persists, Collect Diagnostic Data
If the Inspector still cannot retrieve license data, gather the following before opening a support ticket:
Required Data | Description |
Download from the Inspector details page | |
Firmware Version | Include full build number (e.g., 7.0.1-5050-R5287) |
API Response Output | If possible, run a manual GET request to the license endpoint |
Device Model | TZ, NSa, NSsp, etc. |
Recent Changes | Firmware, admin settings, API user changes |
Providing this information significantly speeds up investigation.
Technical Breakdown 😱
Below is a deeper technical explanation for advanced users:
✅ API Endpoint Behavior
The issue occurs when SonicWall returns:
HTTP 200 OK []
This “empty but successful” response indicates:
API authentication is working
Endpoint is reachable
But the firmware API module is not populating license objects
✅ Affected Endpoint
/api/sonicos/reporting/license/security-services
✅ Known Impacted Firmware Versions
(Not exhaustive; based on our internal findings)
Firmware Version | Status |
7.0.x early builds | ❌ Frequently affected |
7.0.1.x mid builds | ⚠️ Affected for some hardware models |
7.1.x builds | ✔️ Mostly resolved |
7.2.x builds | ✔️ Stable and recommended |
Important: This issue varies by hardware model, not just firmware version.
Troubleshooting Summary 🚀
Step | What to Check | Expected Result | If Failing |
1 | Firmware Version | Device is running latest 7.x | Update firmware |
2 | Reboot Completed | Inspector runs cleanly | Reboot & retry |
3 | API Permissions | User has sufficient access | Reassign role / verify permissions |
4 | API Endpoint Response | Should return full license object | Empty array = known firmware bug |
5 | License fields populated | Proceed to support |
When to Contact Support 🦁
Contact Liongard Support after updating firmware, rebooting, and re-running the Inspector if:
License data is still missing.
API returns an empty array.
API access appears correct but results are inconsistent.
Firmware release notes do not mention fixes for license APIs.
Prepare the following for faster triage:
Inspector logs.
SonicOS version + build.
API response data.
Screenshots of firmware & API configuration.
References 📚
External Link Disclaimer ‼️
We may reference external third-party resources solely as additional guidance.
Liongard does not own, control, or guarantee the accuracy, security, or reliability of third-party sites. Please use them at your own discretion and risk.