Northbound REST APIs

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IBM® Power® Virtualization Center APIs are defined as RESTful HTTP services. REST style architectures are based on clients and servers. A client initiates requests to the server by well-defined REST API. The server processes the request and returns a response in an expected format. Copious documentation that describes REST-based architecture exists online.

PowerVC APIs are highly portable and encompass several advantages that are associated with aspects of the HTTP protocol. For example: methods, URIs, media types, and response codes. Other useful features of PowerVC APIs include caching, persistent connections, and content compression.

The following three key aspects must be understood in relation to PowerVC APIs:
  1. The PowerVC solution provides IaaS REST-based services. In other words, it acts as the server in the REST scenario. This publication is intended to provide application developers with information required to implement the client side.
  2. The PowerVC APIs are northbound. In other words, they conceptualize the lower-level details to be used by higher-level clients. Examples of a higher-level client include a user interface or an intermediary between a user interface and PowerVC.
  3. Given the REST-based nature of PowerVC services, there is a wide range of compatible client programming languages and development platforms. In other words, if the client implementation adheres to HTTP REST-based protocol, then the client is compatible with PowerVC. This publication does not endorse any specific programming platform.