API-Driven Unified Management
VMware's NSX platform represents next generation software defined security and networking
SIMPLE, QUICK AND FLEXIBLE
VMware's NSX platform represents a next generation software defined security and networking architecture where IT organizations are able to provision and automate simple or complex tasks very easily in a single pane of glass. NSX also enables next generation services such as micro-segmentation and service-insertion in the most secure and performance driven location - the VM hypervisor.
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Because VMWare NSX is GUI driven, one of the biggest challenges is bulk provisioning of objects, policies and services. A ReST (short for ReSTFUL) Application Programming Interface (API) is exposed to the system administrator for programmatic access to object calls to overcome these obstacles. For example, if an organization needs to create thousands of firewall rules or security objects the task can be daunting. The effort to accomplish these tasks via a traditional GUI is near impossible and is best left to scripting.
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The problem that often arises is that the NSX ReST API is not easy to consume. The documentation is geared towards those who live and breath API calls and does not provide guidance around error-handling. In many cases, duplicate objects are allowed and executing incorrect API calls would create havoc on your configurations. In addition, NSX API calls do not align with native vCenter objects without learning and implementing another completely separate list of ReST calls.
CloudControl removes all the complexity through a straight forward architecture for easily consuming NSX services. The foundation of CloudControl is to provide a very simple interface with the ability to create NSX objects one at a time or in bulk. With no ReST or programming experience, an administrator can create thousands of objects in just a few minutes without knowing scripting.
Centralized REST API architecture for NSX consumption
DATABASE DRIVEN
Create custom wizards to select the ReST API calls needed. Each step of the process is tracked for easy recall of information and linking of complex tasks. Each call is presented in human language but stored in the database using the ReST API syntax.
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Every NSX Rest API call is added as a menu of selectable objects. This process includes bulk object creation - whether the objects are loaded via .csv import or from looking into other systems objects such as vCenter - within a few clicks.
CloudControl tracks each call to be made to NSX Manager before executed. This creates a record for easy rollback should problems arise from the ReST API execution.
Native ReST Client
Unlike most scripting solutions on the market, CloudControl leverages a custom ReST Client that is integrated into the solution. Administrators no longer need to load ReST client libraries into their scripts or leverage 3rd party clients to consume the NSX ReST API.
Flexible Export
Once the NSX objects and policies are defined through the ReSTNSX wizard process, the user is presented with the ability to fully review the XML calls prior to execution; export to XML or JSON* for 3rd party client execution and/or leverage the embedded ReST Client for code execution.
* available in a future release
