NX-API CLI leverages HTTPS to secure and encrypt data. NX-API CLI provides a session-based cookie nxapi_auth when users first authenticate. The session cookie is used to avoid re-authentication during communication.

If the session cookie is not included with subsequent requests, another session cookie is required, and is achieved through a full authentication process. Avoiding unnecessary use of the authentication process helps to reduce the workload on the device.

Note: An nxapi_auth cookie expires after 600 seconds (10 minutes). This value is not configurable.