6.0 Automation and Programmability

6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)

REST (Representational State Transfer) is a popular architectural style for building web services and APIs. REST-based APIs are characterized by the following key elements:

1. CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations: REST-based APIs allow for the basic CRUD operations to be performed on resources in a system. For example, an API might allow for the creation of new resources, the reading of existing resources, the updating of existing resources, and the deletion of resources.

2. HTTP verbs: REST-based APIs use HTTP verbs, such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, to perform CRUD operations on resources. For example, a GET request might be used to retrieve a resource, while a POST request might be used to create a new resource.

3. Data encoding: REST-based APIs use data encoding, such as JSON or XML, to represent resources in a format that can be easily transmitted and understood by other systems. This encoding format is typically specified in the request and response headers, and provides a standard way for systems to exchange data over HTTP.

Overall, REST-based APIs provide a simple and flexible way for systems to interact with one another over the web. They are based on a set of well-defined standards and conventions, and are widely adopted in the development of web services and APIs.

6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible

Puppet, Chef, and Ansible are popular configuration management mechanisms that help automate the process of deploying, configuring, and managing IT infrastructure. Each tool provides a set of capabilities to manage IT environments, including:

1. Puppet: Puppet is a configuration management tool that provides a declarative language for defining the desired state of infrastructure and automating the provisioning and configuration of servers and other devices. Puppet provides a centralized management console for managing large-scale IT environments and enables users to define the desired state of their infrastructure, including package installations, configuration file management, and service management.

2. Chef: Chef is a configuration management tool that provides a set of automated cookbooks to manage IT infrastructure. Chef provides a recipe-driven approach to configuration management, where each recipe defines a set of steps to configure a specific aspect of the infrastructure. Chef also provides a centralized management console and a suite of tools to automate the deployment and configuration of servers and other devices.

3. Ansible: Ansible is a configuration management tool that provides an agentless, easy-to-use approach to automating the provisioning and configuration of IT infrastructure. Ansible uses a simple, human-readable syntax to define desired states and automate the deployment and configuration of servers, networks, and other devices. Ansible provides a centralized management console and can be used to manage large-scale IT environments.

Overall, Puppet, Chef, and Ansible provide a set of tools to manage IT infrastructure, automate the deployment and configuration of servers and other devices, and provide a centralized management console to manage large-scale IT environments. Each tool provides a slightly different approach to configuration management, and the best tool for a specific organization depends on its specific needs and requirements.