Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a method used to provision and manage IT infrastructure using code, rather than relying on manual configuration. IaC allows for greater automation, consistency, and the ability to recreate infrastructure management tasks. By leveraging IaC with VMware Cloud (VMC), users can programmatically provision and manage virtual infrastructure on the VMC on AWS platform, leading to enhanced efficiency in automating and handling their cloud environments.
The following are the main topics that will be covered in this chapter:
- Introduction to the VMware Cloud APIs
- Cloud Services Platform APIs
- Consuming Console APIs via the Developer Center
- NSX-T Data Center REST API
Introduction to the VMware Cloud APIs
VMware Cloud, a leading provider of cloud solutions, offers a suite of powerful APIs that empower organizations to harness the full potential of their cloud environments.
In this chapter, we will delve into the VMware Cloud APIs, exploring their significance, capabilities, and the opportunities they present for businesses and developers alike. VMware APIs help simplify manual tasks, facilitate the effective administration of complex environments at a significant scale, and provide code samples and language support for popular programming languages, enabling developers to initiate their projects promptly and with ease.
Whether customers are looking to streamline their cloud operations, optimize resource allocation, or build innovative applications, understanding and leveraging VMware Cloud APIs can be a game-changer. These APIs have the potential to transform your approach to interacting with and overseeing your cloud infrastructure, leading to improved efficiency, agility, and innovation.
VMware Cloud on AWS can be programmatically accessed and controlled through three main APIs. Users need to be familiar with these APIs to automate and develop solutions for their specific use cases:
- Cloud Services Platform APIs
- VMware Cloud on AWS APIs
- SDDC APIs (vSphere API)
Figure 9.1 shows the overview of several VMware APIs, including the SDDC APIs, among others. The diagram also shows the AWS API endpoints.
Figure 9.1 – Overview of VMC on AWS APIs
Cloud Services Platform APIs
The Cloud Services Platform (CSP) APIs provide customers with a programmatic method to access and manage the capabilities provided by VMware. When working with VMware’s cloud services, such as VMC on AWS, the CSP APIs enable customers to automate and manage their cloud environments with greater efficiency. The CSP APIs are the primary mechanism for authentication and user management for VMC on AWS. These APIs provide an authentication endpoint that allows users to access VMC on AWS services. Once authenticated, users are issued an authorization token to be able to access the CSP and VMC on AWS APIs. Furthermore, the CSP APIs offer functionality within the VMware Cloud console for managing users and organizations, including displaying, adding, and removing users. Additionally, CSP APIs include methods for managing permissions, roles, and policies for both organizations and users in VMC on AWS.