So now we understand what an API does
and where it fits into the big picture
of the software-defined networking thing that's
going on all around us.
We know that now an application can send data
to another application.
And they just communicate to each other that way.
It's not unlike how we've been interacting
with applications in the past.
But now with all this data flowing all over the place,
it's time to start drilling down into the different types
of APIs.
You see, with all this data that's flowing,
we now need to categorize what the purpose of the API does. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
we now need to categorize what the purpose of the API does.
So in this Nugget, we're going to be setting up
the northbound API, which is where we interact
with management planes or the device controllers themselves.
Let's get going.
So one of the better things about application developers
and APIs in general is that they've
gotten good at describing what APIs do.
And the first API that we're going
to be talking about and describing
is the northbound API.
Now, the temptation is for me to just run with this diagram.
But this diagram actually doesn't lay out the directions WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
But this diagram actually doesn't lay out the directions
of the APIs well.
I just wanted to set up what the moving pieces are that we're
going to be working with first.
We have our application that we want to interact
with the network device itself.
Then we have the centralized controller,
which is the brains of their operation
that's orchestrating any changes that need
to happen within the network.
Then we have the network devices or the nodes.
So with these three pieces in mind,
I'm going to clear the screen. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
I'm going to clear the screen.
And we're just going to focus on just Firepower Management
Center for just a second before we introduce
some of the other pieces.
So here, we have just Firepower Management Center.
And I want to stress this part too.
What we're about to describe when we describe
the northbound API, this isn't specific to just Firepower
Management Center.
We're actually going to see this in action
when we start talking about DNA Center in the very next skill.
This is really applicable to all software-defined networking
solutions.
And what we're talking about first is the northbound API. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
And what we're talking about first is the northbound API.
But I'm going to write this arrow
in two different directions because this is really
the flow of data.
Data can flow in this direction, or it
can flow in this direction.
But down here, we'll have the southbound API.
Over here, we'll have east.
And over here, we'll have west by the end of this skill.
So what we're focusing on first is north.
When we talk about the northbound API,
we're typically talking about our application interacting
with the software-defined networking controller. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
with the software-defined networking controller.
The northbound API is where we set our business intent.
It's where we make our centralized configuration
changes.
So when our application is trying
to deploy, say, a new policy or implement changes
across the entire topology, this would be an interaction
with the northbound API.
And this is what takes place between our application
and the controller itself. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
and the controller itself.
We could also retrieve summarized data out
of the Firepower Management Center going in this direction
because we want to see maybe, what are all of our devices
that are in a downstate or have any sort of issues?
What is the status of a specific subnet?
Are we having any QoS problems?
This is where we retrieve data out of the controller solution
and have our application ingest that data
and make decisions about what to do with it.
So the big thing to keep in mind when
we talk about the northbound API, this WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
we talk about the northbound API, this
is really interacting with the management
plane of our entire network.
And this is going to be the primary target
for our application.
Now, this is only one of the four directions.
So in the next few Nuggets, we're
going to talk a little bit more.
We're going to add a little bit more
to the pieces of this puzzle.
But this is introducing the northbound API.
This is where our business intent and policies
are interacting with the centralized networking
controller.
I hope this has been informative for you.
And I'd like to thank you for viewing. WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:900000
And I'd like to thank you for viewing.