The API interface of vCloud is an HTTPS-based REST interface. This is a major improvement over the vSphere API, which is SOAP-based. Most of the newer developments of VMware now come with a REST-based interface, adopting and standardizing on modern standards. The main difference between SOAP and REST is that REST can be accessed very easily and without much overhead, while SOAP advertises to clients how it needs to be addressed and what return is to be expected.
Saying that, vCloud uses REST to talk to vCNS, and SOAP to talk to the vSphere API.
The next diagram shows all the connections of the full vCloud Suite. It shows all the API interactions between the various vSphere, vCloud, and vCNS components.
The focus of this chapter is to get you started with the different ways to access the vCloud API. It is not intended to teach you the full set of possibilities of each language or tool, but to make your first steps easier. At the end of each recipe, I will give you links that will...