REST API is an application programming interface that uses familiar HTTP operations such as GET, POST, and DELETE. The REST architecture includes certain constraints that ensure that different implementations of REST conform to the same guiding principles. These constraints provide ease of application development for developers working with different REST API deployments. REST APIs have become more popular and more widely used in data centers where administrators are looking to standardize their management needs across all their appliances, regardless of vendor.
The Dell Unity platform includes full REST API support, which provides another way to manage Dell Unity systems and automate various tasks. The Dell Unity REST API is fully functional such that all management tasks that a user can perform in the Unisphere GUI, can also be performed using the REST API. The Dell Unity REST API formats all communication in JSON notation. Users can send REST API requests using their favorite scripting languages, like Perl and PHP, to manage Dell Unity systems in their environment. This provides flexibility in management and opens possibilities for more complex operations.
When a system is up and running, users can go to the following web addresses to get access to the REST API documentation:
Here is some more information about the two documents available for the REST API:
The Unisphere Management REST API Programmer’s Guide introduces the user to the REST API and displays some high-level examples of using the API. Besides being available on the system, this guide is also available from the Info Hub referenced in the Dell Community Forum for Dell Unity.
The Unisphere Management REST API Reference Guide describes all available REST API resource types, attributes, and operations.
For more information about using REST API for Dell Unity systems or to ask questions about it, go to the Developer section of the Dell Community Forum for Dell Unity.