Arista Warrior, 2nd Edition

Chapter 30. eAPI

As you’ve likely figured out by now, I think most all of the features of EOS are pretty darn cool. The EOS Application Programmable Interface (eAPI), though, has a special place in my heart. Yes, people like me have special places in our hearts for features in network operating systems.

Simply put, eAPI is a means whereby command-line interface (CLI) commands can be executed either via a web interface or, more importantly, through a program or script. Given the power of EOS and the many other means by which the switch can be controlled via custom programs, that might not seem like a big deal, but it is for reasons that should soon become clear. To explain, allow me to begin with a story of pain.

But first, a rant.

GAD’s Rant About the Fear of Scripting

I’ve been a lot of things in my professional career. I went to school to be a programmer back before the job title changed to developer, and I’ve been a Unix administrator, a generic IT guy, and of course, a network guy. I need to hit you up with some cold-hard truth here, so take it with the understanding that I’ve seen the industry unfold since the 80s and I have a fair bit of insight into how things are changing. Ready? Here it is:

Warning

Learn to code or I will script you out of a job.

The networking world is changing, and I’ve been preaching for the past six years that there’s only 10 years left. Well, do the math as that’s no longer enough time. Time for what, you might ask? Time for you to adapt.

I meet ...