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In this lesson, you’ll work with Vault namespaces using both the CLI and UI. We assume Vault Enterprise 1.11 is running locally, unsealed, and you’re authenticated as root.

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Prerequisites

  • Vault Enterprise 1.11 installed and unsealed
  • root token available

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Listing and Creating Namespaces via CLI

  1. List existing namespaces: 
    vault namespace list
    If none exist, you’ll see: 
    No namespaces found
  2. Create a top-level namespace named hcvop: 
    vault namespace create hcvop
    Output: 
    Key     Value
---     -----
id      4clCR
path    hcvop/
  3. Verify it’s listed: 
    vault namespace list

    Keys
----
hcvop/

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Creating Child Namespaces

Method 1: use the -namespace flag. 
vault namespace create -namespace=hcvop certification
Method 2: set VAULT_NAMESPACE: 
export VAULT_NAMESPACE=hcvop
vault namespace create training
List the children under hcvop: 
vault namespace list

Keys
----
certification/
training/
Return to root: 
unset VAULT_NAMESPACE
vault namespace list

Keys
----
hcvop/

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Exploring Namespaces in the UI

Fetch your root token if needed: 
vault token lookup
  1. Open the Vault UI.
  2. Log in with your root token.
  3. Click the Namespaces dropdown—you’ll see hcvop/ listed:
The image shows a web interface of HashiCorp Vault displaying a list of secret engines and namespaces. The background features various tech-related logos.
  1. Select hcvop, re-enter your token, then switch between its certification and training child namespaces.

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Enabling Secrets Engines in a Child Namespace

Target hcvop/certification in your shell: 
export VAULT_NAMESPACE=hcvop/certification
vault secrets list
Enable AWS and KV v2: 
vault secrets enable aws
vault secrets enable -path=certification-kv kv-v2
Confirm: 
vault secrets list
PathTypeDescription
aws/awsAWS credential management
certification-kv/kvKey/Value secrets engine v2
cubbyhole/ns_cubbyholePer-token private secret storage
identity/ns_identityIdentity store
sys/ns_systemSystem control & debugging
In the UI under Secrets, you’ll see your enabled engines:
The image shows a web interface for HashiCorp Vault, displaying a list of secret engines such as AWS, certification-kv, cubbyhole, and Kubernetes. There's also a warning about being logged in with a root token.

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Writing a Policy in a Namespace

Still in hcvop/certification, write certification-policy: 
vault policy write certification-policy -<<EOF
path "certification-kv/*" {
  capabilities = ["read","create","update","delete","list"]
}
EOF
Success! In the UI under Access > Policies, you’ll see your new policy:
The image shows a web interface for managing ACL policies in HashiCorp Vault, with a warning about using a root token. The background features various tech-related logos.

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Enabling Userpass Authentication

Authentication methods are namespace-specific. Confirm your context is hcvop/certification.
  1. In the UI, navigate to Auth > Enable new method.
  2. Select Username & Password, then click Enable:
The image shows a web interface for enabling a username and password authentication method in HashiCorp Vault, with a terminal window partially visible in the background.
  1. Create a user Bryan with password HCVOP and attach certification-policy:
The image shows a web interface for creating a user in a system, with fields for entering a username and password. The background features a terminal window with text and a pattern of logos.

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Logging in as the New User

Log out of the root session. On the UI login page:
  • Namespace: hcvop/certification
  • Method: Username & Password
  • Credentials: Bryan / HCVOP
You’ll see only the certification-kv/ engine. Other paths (e.g., aws/) will return an authorization error:
The image shows a login page for "Vault" with fields for namespace, method, and token, alongside a terminal window displaying a list of keys.

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Extending the Policy

To allow users to list policies: 
vault policy write certification-policy -<<EOF
path "certification-kv/*" {
  capabilities = ["read","create","update","delete","list"]
}
path "sys/policies/*" {
  capabilities = ["read","list"]
}
EOF
After re-login, visit Access > Policies to confirm.

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Summary

You can target a namespace in two ways:
  1. Add -namespace=<ns> to your Vault commands
  2. Export VAULT_NAMESPACE=<ns>
Namespaces let you organize and isolate Vault resources for different teams, applications, or environments.
Learn more: Vault Namespaces

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