API Collections

API Collections for Cloud and SaaS Configuration Management in rConfig V8

API Collections in rConfig V8 enable organizations to extend configuration management beyond traditional network devices to cloud-based services, SaaS platforms, and any API-driven infrastructure. This capability addresses the modern challenge of managing hybrid environments where critical configuration data exists outside conventional CLI-accessible devices.

By treating API endpoints as configuration sources, rConfig allows teams to apply the same governance, version control, change detection, and compliance capabilities to API-sourced data as they do to traditional network configurations. This unified approach provides comprehensive visibility across your entire infrastructure landscape.

Why API Collections Matter

Traditional network configuration management focuses on SSH and Telnet connections to physical and virtual network devices. However, modern infrastructure increasingly relies on:

• Cloud management platforms with RESTful APIs (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• SD-WAN controllers and orchestrators
• Security platforms with centralized management APIs
• SaaS networking services (Cloudflare, Zscaler)
• Configuration management databases (CMDBs)
• Custom applications with configuration endpoints

API Collections bridge this gap, allowing rConfig to serve as a centralized configuration repository for both traditional and modern infrastructure components.

Key Capabilities

• Multi-authentication support: Five authentication methods covering common API patterns
• Flexible endpoint management: Configure multiple endpoints per collection with different methods
• Integration with core features: Retrieved API data integrates with config diff, change detection, search, and compliance
• Scheduled retrieval: Automated data collection using command groups
• Retry logic: Configurable retry mechanisms for resilient data retrieval
• SSL flexibility: Support for both verified and self-signed certificates

Understanding API Collections Architecture

Collection Hierarchy

API Collections use a three-tier architecture that separates concerns and promotes reusability:

1. Collection Level: Defines the base URL, vendor, categorization, and authentication type. This establishes the connection framework.

2. Credentials Level: Stores authentication details separately from endpoints, allowing credential updates without modifying endpoint configurations. A single credential set can authenticate multiple endpoints within the collection.

3. Endpoint Level: Specifies individual API resources to retrieve. Each endpoint represents a discrete configuration or data source that will be backed up and monitored.

This separation enables organizations to manage API integrations efficiently. For example, a single collection for a cloud provider can contain credentials that authenticate dozens of endpoints across different services.

Data Flow

When rConfig retrieves data from an API collection, the following process occurs:

1. Task Initiation: Either manual or scheduled task triggers the collection download
2. Authentication: System retrieves credentials and performs authentication based on the selected type
3. Endpoint Iteration: For each configured endpoint, rConfig constructs the full URL (base URL + endpoint path)
4. HTTP Request: System executes the HTTP request (GET or POST) with authentication headers
5. Response Processing: Retrieved data is stored with the specified filename
6. Integration: Stored data becomes available for diff comparison, change detection, and search
7. Retry Logic: On failure, system attempts retry based on configured count and delay

Authentication Flow Patterns

Different authentication types follow distinct patterns:

None/Basic/Bearer/API Token: Single-request authentication where credentials are included in each API call.

Request Token: Two-phase authentication:

1. Initial authentication request to token endpoint with username/password
2. Token received and stored for session
3. Subsequent requests use the token for authentication

Understanding these patterns helps in troubleshooting authentication issues and optimizing API collection performance.

Creating an API Collection

Accessing the API Collections Interface

Navigate to Devices > API Collections in the main menu. The API Collections dashboard displays all configured collections, their status, and quick access to management functions.

Click the Add Collection button to begin creating a new collection.

Collection Configuration

API Collection Form

The collection form requires several key pieces of information. Required fields are denoted with a red asterisk and must be completed before saving.

Field Reference

Field	Description	Requirements
API Collection Name	Descriptive identifier for the collection	Alphanumeric characters, underscores, and dashes allowed. Minimum 3 characters. Use meaningful names that indicate the service or platform.
API Base URL	Root URL for all endpoints in this collection	Must include protocol (https:// or http://). Should end at the API version path (e.g., https://api.example.com/v2/). Do not include specific endpoint paths here.
Authentication Type	Method used to authenticate API requests	Select from None, Basic, Bearer Token, API Token, or Request Token. This determines credential fields in the next step.
Vendor	Platform or service provider	Used for filtering and reporting. Select existing vendor or create new.
Command Group	Category for scheduling and organization	Assigns collection to command groups for scheduled downloads. Essential for automation.
Tags	Organizational labels	Multiple tags can be assigned. Use tags like ‘Cloud’, ‘Security’, ‘Production’ for flexible filtering.
Retry Count	Number of retry attempts on failure	Range: 0-10. Recommended: 3 for production APIs, 1 for testing. Higher values improve reliability but increase task duration on persistent failures.
Retry Delay	Milliseconds between retry attempts	Range: 100-30000ms. Recommended: 1000-5000ms. Prevents overwhelming APIs with rapid retry attempts.
Verify SSL	SSL certificate verification	Enable for production APIs with valid certificates. Disable for internal APIs with self-signed certificates or testing environments.

Tip

When configuring the API Base URL, ensure it represents the common prefix for all endpoints in the collection. For example, if your endpoints are https://api.example.com/v2/devices and https://api.example.com/v2/configs, set the base URL to https://api.example.com/v2/ and configure endpoints as /devices and /configs.

Authentication Type Details

Selecting the appropriate authentication type is critical for successful API integration. Each type addresses different security models:

None

No Authentication

Used for public APIs or internal services without authentication requirements.

Use cases:

• Public data endpoints
• Internal development APIs
• Testing and validation

Considerations:

• Ensure API endpoint is genuinely public or network-restricted
• Consider security implications of unauthenticated access
• May still require API keys passed as query parameters (configure in endpoint)

Basic

HTTP Basic Authentication

Traditional username/password authentication scheme defined in RFC 7617. Credentials are base64-encoded and sent in the Authorization header.

Header format:

Authorization: Basic base64(username:password)

Use cases:

• Legacy systems requiring basic auth
• Internal APIs with simple authentication
• Services where token management is impractical

Security considerations:

• Always use HTTPS to protect credentials in transit
• Credentials are transmitted with every request
• No built-in expiration or revocation mechanism

Bearer Token

Bearer Token Authentication

Token-based authentication where a pre-shared token is included in the Authorization header. Commonly used with OAuth 2.0 flows.

Header format:

Authorization: Bearer <token>

Use cases:

• OAuth 2.0 services
• APIs with externally-managed tokens
• Services using JWT (JSON Web Tokens)

Configuration notes:

• Token must be obtained outside rConfig (through OAuth flow or API portal)
• Configure token prefix if API requires variant (e.g., “Token” instead of “Bearer”)
• Monitor token expiration and update credentials when tokens rotate

API Token

API Key Authentication

Key-value pair authentication where API keys are sent either in headers or query strings. Provides flexibility in how credentials are transmitted.

Header format:

X-API-Key: <value>

Query string format:

https://api.example.com/endpoint?api_key=<value>

Use cases:

• SaaS platforms with API key management
• Services requiring both key and secret
• APIs with custom header requirements

Configuration options:

• API Token Key: Header name or query parameter name (e.g., “X-API-Key”, “api_key”)
• API Token Value: The actual secret/token value
• Add To: Choose Header or Query String based on API requirements

Request Token

Request Token Authentication

Two-phase authentication where credentials are exchanged for a session token. The token is then used for subsequent API requests.

Authentication flow:

1. POST credentials to token endpoint
2. Receive authentication token in response
3. Use token for subsequent API calls

Use cases:

• APIs with session-based authentication
• Services requiring login before data access
• Platforms with token refresh mechanisms

Configuration requirements:

• Request Token Endpoint: Full URL to authentication endpoint
• System automatically handles token acquisition
• Token is cached and reused across endpoints in the collection

Security benefits:

• Credentials transmitted only during initial authentication
• Token can have limited lifetime
• Supports APIs with session management

Saving the Collection

After completing the form, click Save to create the collection. The system validates required fields and URL format before accepting the configuration.

Upon successful creation, you’ll be redirected to the collection detail view where you can proceed to configure credentials and endpoints.

Note

Collections can be edited after creation. However, changing the authentication type requires updating the credentials configuration to match the new authentication method.

Configuring Credentials

Credentials are configured separately from the collection definition, providing security and flexibility. A single credential set can authenticate all endpoints within a collection.

Adding Credentials to a Collection

From the collection detail view, click the Add Credentials button. This opens the credentials configuration form.

API Add Credentials Button

Credentials Form

The credentials form dynamically adjusts based on the authentication type selected in the collection configuration. This ensures you only configure relevant authentication parameters.

API Credentials Form - Fields vary by authentication type

Credentials Field Reference

Field	Authentication Type	Description
Authentication Type	All	Pre-filled from collection configuration. Can be modified if authentication type was incorrectly selected initially.
Username	Basic, Request Token	Username for authentication. Must match credentials configured in the target API system.
Password	Basic, Request Token	Password for authentication. Stored encrypted in rConfig database.
API Token Key	API Token	The header name or query parameter name for the API key (e.g., “X-API-Key”, “api_key”, “apikey”).
API Token Value	API Token	The secret API key value provided by the API service. Stored encrypted.
Add To	API Token	Determines how the API key is transmitted: Header (included in HTTP headers) or Query String (appended to URL).
Bearer Token	Bearer Token	The bearer token value obtained from the API provider or OAuth flow. Stored encrypted.
Bearer Token Prefix	Bearer Token	The prefix used in the Authorization header. Default is “Bearer”. Some APIs use alternatives like “Token” or custom prefixes.
Request Token Endpoint	Request Token	The complete URL (including base URL and path) where credentials are posted to obtain an authentication token. Example: https://api.example.com/auth/login.

Caution

Credential values are encrypted at rest in the rConfig database. However, ensure your rConfig installation uses HTTPS to protect credentials in transit during configuration and API requests. Never configure credentials over unencrypted connections in production environments.

Testing Credentials

Before configuring endpoints, validate that credentials work correctly. The credentials form includes a built-in testing capability.

API Credentials Test Interface

Testing Process

1. Complete the credentials form with all required authentication information
2. Enter a test endpoint URL in the test field. This should be a known-good endpoint that requires authentication
3. Click the Test button to execute a test request
4. Review the results:
   • Success: Green indicator confirms credentials authenticate correctly
   • Failure: Error message provides details about the authentication issue

Test Endpoint Selection Tips:

• Use a lightweight endpoint that returns minimal data
• Verify the endpoint requires authentication (unauthenticated endpoints will succeed regardless of credential validity)
• Choose an endpoint you’ll be configuring to confirm full path construction
• For Request Token authentication, testing validates both token acquisition and subsequent authenticated requests

Tip

If credential testing fails, verify these common issues:

• Username/password typos or incorrect case
• API token value copied with extra whitespace
• Incorrect token endpoint URL for Request Token authentication
• API key configured as header when API expects query string (or vice versa)
• SSL certificate validation failing (disable “Verify SSL” for self-signed certificates)

Credential Security Best Practices

• Use dedicated API accounts: Create service accounts specific to rConfig rather than personal credentials
• Implement least privilege: Grant only necessary permissions to API credentials
• Rotate credentials regularly: Update API keys and tokens according to your security policy
• Monitor API usage: Review API access logs for unexpected activity
• Backup credential configuration: Document credential sources in case re-creation is needed

Configuring API Endpoints

Endpoints represent the specific API resources that rConfig will retrieve and monitor. Each endpoint corresponds to a configuration file or data source that will be backed up according to your schedule.

Accessing the Endpoints Interface

From the collection detail view, navigate to the Endpoints section. This displays all configured endpoints for the current collection.

Click Add Endpoint to configure a new endpoint.

API Create Endpoint Button

Endpoint Configuration

The endpoint form focuses on defining what data to retrieve and how to store it locally.

API Endpoint Configuration Form

Endpoint Field Reference

Field	Description	Best Practices
Endpoint Name	Descriptive identifier for the endpoint	Use names that clearly indicate the data being retrieved. Examples: “Firewall Rules”, “VLAN Configuration”, “Device Inventory”.
Alternate Filename	Custom filename for stored data (optional)	Overrides default filename generation. Useful for maintaining consistent naming conventions across different API sources. Include file extension if API doesn’t provide one.
HTTP Method	Request type: GET or POST	GET: Retrieving data (most common for configuration backup). POST: Required by some APIs for queries or when parameters exceed URL length limits.
Endpoint URL	API path relative to base URL	Do not include the base URL configured in the collection. Use relative paths starting with /. Example: If base URL is https://api.example.com/v2/ and full endpoint is https://api.example.com/v2/devices/configs, enter /devices/configs.

Understanding Endpoint URLs

Endpoint URL construction combines the collection’s base URL with the endpoint-specific path:

Full API URL = [Collection Base URL] + [Endpoint URL]

Example Configuration:

• Collection Base URL: https://api.cloudprovider.com/v3/
• Endpoint URL: /network/firewall/rules
• Resulting Full URL: https://api.cloudprovider.com/v3/network/firewall/rules

This separation allows you to update the base URL (version changes, domain changes) without modifying individual endpoint configurations.

Tip

When configuring endpoints for RESTful APIs, consider the resource hierarchy. Create separate endpoints for different resource types or when filtering is needed. For example:

• /devices for full device list
• /devices?type=router for filtered device list
• /devices/123/config for specific device configuration

HTTP Method Selection

GET Requests are appropriate for:

• Retrieving configuration data
• Querying read-only resources
• Accessing data endpoints
• Standard RESTful resource retrieval

POST Requests are required when:

• The API mandates POST for queries (non-standard but occurs in some APIs)
• Query parameters exceed URL length limitations
• The API requires request body parameters
• Performing searches or complex queries

Note

rConfig currently supports GET and POST methods. PUT, PATCH, and DELETE methods are not supported as API Collections are designed for data retrieval and backup, not for modifying remote configurations. If you need to push configuration changes, consider using the Script Integration Engine (SIE) or custom automation scripts.

Managing Multiple Endpoints

Collections can contain numerous endpoints. Organize endpoints strategically:

By Configuration Type:

• Firewall rules
• Routing tables
• Access control lists
• System settings

By Environment:

• Production endpoints
• Staging endpoints
• Development endpoints

By Update Frequency:

• Frequently-changing data (retrieved daily)
• Static configurations (retrieved weekly)

Use meaningful endpoint names and alternate filenames to maintain organization as your collection grows.

Running Downloads

Once collections, credentials, and endpoints are configured, you can retrieve data either manually or through scheduled tasks.

Manual Download Execution

From the collection detail view or the main API Collections dashboard:

1. Select the collection containing endpoints to download
2. Click the Download button or select Download Now from the actions menu
3. Monitor progress in the task status indicator
4. Review results showing successful downloads and any failures

The download process retrieves data from all configured endpoints in the collection sequentially.

Scheduled Downloads

API Collections integrate with rConfig’s scheduling system through Command Groups. To automate data retrieval:

1. Assign a Command Group to the collection during creation or via collection edit
2. Configure a scheduled task in Admin > Scheduled Tasks
3. Select the command group associated with your API collections
4. Set the schedule (cron syntax) based on how frequently configuration data changes

Scheduling Best Practices:

• Critical infrastructure: Schedule hourly or every 4 hours
• Stable environments: Daily downloads during off-peak hours
• Static configurations: Weekly downloads sufficient
• Rate-limited APIs: Space out downloads to avoid exceeding API quotas
• Multiple collections: Stagger schedules to distribute load

Tip

For APIs with rate limiting, monitor your API usage through the provider’s dashboard. Configure retry counts conservatively and consider scheduling downloads during periods when other automation isn’t running.

Download Results and Storage

Retrieved data is stored in rConfig’s configuration repository at:

/var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/app/configs/

Files are organized by device (API collection acts as the device context) and include:

• Timestamp metadata for version tracking
• Filename based on endpoint configuration or API response
• Full content retrieved from the API endpoint

Downloaded configurations immediately become available for:

• Configuration diff: Compare current vs. previous versions
• Change detection: Identify modifications since last download
• Search: Full-text search across API-sourced data
• Compliance: Apply policy checks to API configurations
• Reporting: Include in configuration reports and audits

Integration with rConfig Features

Configuration Comparison

API-sourced configurations integrate seamlessly with rConfig’s diff engine. After downloading API data, you can:

1. Navigate to Configs > View Configurations
2. Select the API collection (displayed as a device)
3. Choose two configuration versions to compare
4. View side-by-side or unified diff of changes

This capability is particularly valuable for:

• Tracking changes in cloud security groups
• Monitoring modifications to SD-WAN policies
• Auditing updates to SaaS platform configurations
• Detecting unauthorized changes to API-managed resources

Change Detection

When API endpoints are downloaded on a schedule, rConfig’s Change Detection system monitors for modifications:

• Change Pulse displays recent changes across all API collections
• Change Forge provides detailed analysis of what changed and when
• Alerting can notify administrators of critical configuration changes
• Change history maintains a timeline of all modifications

This provides the same change management governance for API-sourced data as traditional device configurations.

Search and Compliance

Retrieved API data is indexed for search and compliance operations:

Search Capabilities:

• Full-text search across all API-sourced configurations
• Filter by collection, vendor, or tags
• Search within specific time ranges
• Export search results for external analysis

Compliance Checking:

• Apply compliance policies to API configurations
• Detect policy violations in cloud configurations
• Generate compliance reports including API data
• Track remediation of non-compliant settings

Reporting

API Collections appear in rConfig reporting alongside traditional devices:

• Device inventory reports include API collections
• Configuration age reports show last successful API download
• Compliance summary reports aggregate policy checks across all sources
• Change reports document configuration modifications from all sources

This unified reporting view provides comprehensive visibility across your entire managed infrastructure.

Advanced Configuration Techniques

Managing API Pagination

Many APIs return paginated results for large datasets. To retrieve complete configuration data:

Option 1: Multiple Endpoints

Create separate endpoints for each page:

• Endpoint 1: /devices?page=1&limit=100
• Endpoint 2: /devices?page=2&limit=100
• Endpoint 3: /devices?page=3&limit=100

Option 2: Maximum Page Size

Configure the API to return maximum results:

• Use query parameters like ?limit=1000&offset=0
• Consult API documentation for maximum page size
• Balance between complete data and API performance

Option 3: External Script Integration

For complex pagination logic:

• Use Script Integration Engine (SIE) to write custom pagination handler
• Script fetches all pages and combines results
• Store combined output for rConfig processing

Note

Future versions of rConfig may include native pagination handling. For now, the approaches above provide effective workarounds for most pagination scenarios.

Dynamic Endpoint Configuration

Some scenarios require dynamic endpoint paths based on variable data:

Challenge: Backing up configurations for devices whose IDs change or aren’t known in advance.

Solution Approaches:

1. List then Retrieve Pattern:

   • Endpoint 1: Get device list from /devices
   • Use SIE script to parse device list
   • Script creates dynamic API calls for each device
   • Store results in rConfig structure

2. Wildcard Endpoints (if API supports):

   • Some APIs support patterns like /devices/*/config
   • Returns all device configurations in single call
   • Check API documentation for pattern support

3. Search-Based Retrieval:

   • Use API search endpoints to find resources
   • Filter by tags, properties, or criteria
   • Retrieve matching configuration data

Handling Large Responses

APIs may return substantial data volumes that require special handling:

Performance Considerations:

• Memory Usage: Large responses consume system memory during processing
• Storage: Ensure adequate disk space at /var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/app/configs/
• Processing Time: Large payloads increase download duration
• Diff Performance: Comparing large configuration files requires additional resources

Optimization Strategies:

1. Filter at API Level: Use query parameters to retrieve only necessary data
2. Split into Multiple Endpoints: Divide large data sources into logical chunks
3. Adjust Timeout Settings: Increase timeout values for long-running requests
4. Schedule Off-Peak: Run large downloads during maintenance windows
5. Monitor System Resources: Track disk space and memory usage

Tip

For very large API responses (>100MB), consider whether the entire dataset is required. Often, filtered or summarized data provides sufficient configuration visibility with better performance.

Multi-Tenant API Management

Organizations managing multiple customer environments through a single API platform:

Collection Architecture:

• Option A: Single collection with endpoints per tenant

  • Pro: Centralized credential management
  • Con: All tenants use same command group schedule

• Option B: Separate collections per tenant

  • Pro: Independent scheduling and configuration
  • Pro: Clearer organization in rConfig interface
  • Con: More credential sets to manage

Recommendation: Use separate collections for distinct tenants, especially when:

• Different authentication credentials are required
• Download schedules differ based on tenant SLAs
• Organizational separation is important for reporting
• Different teams manage different tenants

API Rate Limiting Strategies

Many APIs implement rate limiting to prevent abuse. Strategies for working within limits:

Understanding Limits:

• Check API documentation for rate limits (requests per hour/day)
• Monitor usage through API provider dashboard
• Track rConfig download frequency and endpoint count

Staying Within Limits:

1. Optimize Endpoint Count: Combine data retrieval where possible
2. Adjust Retry Settings: Reduce retry count to minimize failed request consumption
3. Space Out Collections: Schedule different collections at different times
4. Increase Retry Delay: Longer delays between retries prevent rapid limit exhaustion
5. Contact Provider: Some providers increase limits for enterprise customers

Handling Rate Limit Errors:

When rate limits are exceeded:

• rConfig logs the error with details
• Retry mechanism may exhaust attempts quickly
• Subsequent scheduled downloads will retry
• Consider implementing exponential backoff in retry delay

Caution

Repeated rate limit violations may result in API access suspension by the provider. Monitor your API usage and adjust rConfig schedules accordingly. For high-volume API access requirements, contact your API provider about enterprise or increased rate limit options.

Troubleshooting

Authentication Failures

Symptom: Downloads fail with authentication errors (401 Unauthorized, 403 Forbidden)

Possible Causes:

1. Incorrect Credentials

   • Verify username/password are correct
   • Check for copy/paste errors in API tokens
   • Ensure no extra whitespace in credential fields

2. Token Expiration

   • Bearer tokens may have expired
   • Request Token authentication may need credential refresh
   • Check API provider dashboard for token status

3. Incorrect Authentication Type

   • Verify authentication type matches API requirements
   • Confirm header format expectations (Bearer vs. Token prefix)
   • Validate API Token is configured for header vs. query string correctly

4. API Account Permissions

   • Ensure API account has read access to configured endpoints
   • Verify account isn’t locked or disabled
   • Check for IP restrictions on API access

Resolution Steps:

1. Test credentials using the built-in credential testing feature
2. Review API provider documentation for authentication requirements
3. Check API provider dashboard for account status and access logs
4. Verify network connectivity from rConfig server to API endpoint
5. Review rConfig logs at /var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/logs/ for detailed error messages

Connection Timeouts

Symptom: Downloads fail with timeout errors or no response

Possible Causes:

1. Network Connectivity Issues

   • Firewall blocking outbound connections
   • DNS resolution failures
   • Routing problems between rConfig and API server

2. API Performance Problems

   • API server overloaded or slow to respond
   • Large dataset requiring extended processing time
   • API rate limiting causing delays

3. SSL Certificate Validation

   • Self-signed certificates failing verification
   • Certificate chain issues
   • Expired SSL certificates

Resolution Steps:

1. Test Network Connectivity:

   # From rConfig server
   curl -v https://api.example.com/endpoint
   
   # Check DNS resolution
   nslookup api.example.com
   
   # Verify routing
   traceroute api.example.com

2. Adjust Timeout Settings: Contact rConfig support for timeout configuration options

3. Disable SSL Verification: For self-signed certificates, disable “Verify SSL” in collection configuration

4. Monitor API Status: Check API provider status page for service disruptions

Incorrect or Incomplete Data

Symptom: Downloads complete but data is incorrect, truncated, or missing

Possible Causes:

1. Wrong Endpoint URL

   • Endpoint path doesn’t match API documentation
   • Base URL includes endpoint path (should be separate)
   • API version mismatch

2. Missing Query Parameters

   • API requires parameters not configured
   • Filtering parameters excluding needed data
   • Pagination not handled correctly

3. Response Format Issues

   • API returning unexpected format
   • Data encoding problems
   • Compression not being handled

Resolution Steps:

1. Test Endpoint Directly:

   # Test with curl
   curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
        https://api.example.com/v2/endpoint

2. Review API Documentation: Verify endpoint paths, required parameters, and response format

3. Check Response Headers: Ensure content-type and encoding are compatible

4. Validate Base URL Configuration: Confirm base URL and endpoint URL combine correctly

Retry Logic Not Working

Symptom: Failed downloads don’t retry or retry attempts fail immediately

Possible Causes:

1. Retry Count Set to Zero: Retries disabled in collection configuration

2. Retry Delay Too Short: API rejecting rapid retry attempts

3. Persistent Authentication Failures: Credentials invalid, retries won’t help

4. Rate Limiting: API blocking requests due to limit violations

Resolution Steps:

1. Review retry count and delay settings in collection configuration
2. Increase retry delay to 3000-5000ms for better reliability
3. Fix authentication issues before relying on retry mechanism
4. Monitor API rate limit status

SSL Certificate Verification Errors

Symptom: Downloads fail with SSL certificate validation errors

Possible Causes:

1. Self-Signed Certificates: API using certificates not trusted by system
2. Certificate Chain Issues: Intermediate certificates not properly configured
3. Expired Certificates: API certificate has expired
4. Hostname Mismatch: Certificate doesn’t match API hostname

Resolution Steps:

1. For Self-Signed Certificates: Disable “Verify SSL” in collection configuration

2. For Production APIs: Work with API provider to resolve certificate issues

3. Update Certificate Store: Ensure rConfig server has current CA certificates

   # Update CA certificates (Ubuntu/Debian)
   sudo update-ca-certificates
   
   # Update CA certificates (CentOS/RHEL)
   sudo update-ca-trust

4. Verify Certificate Details:

   openssl s_client -connect api.example.com:443 -servername api.example.com

Best Practices

Collection Organization

Use Descriptive Naming:

• Collection names should clearly indicate the platform or service
• Endpoint names should describe the specific data being retrieved
• Tag collections consistently across your organization

Example Naming Convention:

• Collection: “AWS-Production-Account-123”
• Endpoints: “EC2-SecurityGroups”, “VPC-RouteTables”, “IAM-Policies”
• Tags: “Cloud”, “Production”, “AWS”

Group Related Endpoints:

• Keep endpoints for a single service or platform in one collection
• Separate production and non-production environments
• Use command groups to schedule related collections together

Security Considerations

Credential Management:

• Use dedicated service accounts for API access
• Implement least-privilege access principles
• Rotate API credentials regularly
• Document credential sources and responsible teams

Network Security:

• Use HTTPS for all API connections in production
• Restrict network access using firewalls when possible
• Monitor API access logs for unauthorized activity
• Consider using VPN or private endpoints for sensitive APIs

Data Protection:

• Ensure rConfig server is properly secured
• Implement appropriate access controls within rConfig
• Include API-sourced data in backup procedures
• Consider encryption requirements for sensitive configuration data

Performance Optimization

Scheduling:

• Schedule large downloads during off-peak hours
• Stagger collection schedules to distribute load
• Match download frequency to configuration change rate
• Avoid scheduling all collections at the same time

Endpoint Configuration:

• Request only necessary data using query parameters
• Split large datasets across multiple endpoints
• Use filtering at the API level when available
• Consider caching strategies for static data

Resource Management:

• Monitor disk space usage in /var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/app/configs/
• Track memory usage during large API downloads
• Review task execution logs for performance bottlenecks
• Archive or purge old configuration versions as needed

API Efficiency:

• Minimize unnecessary API calls
• Cache frequently-accessed data when appropriate
• Use conditional requests (If-Modified-Since) if API supports
• Respect API rate limits and implement appropriate delays

Monitoring and Maintenance

Regular Reviews:

• Verify downloads complete successfully on schedule
• Review task execution logs weekly
• Monitor API provider service status
• Check for API version updates or deprecations

Proactive Monitoring:

• Set up alerts for failed downloads
• Track credential expiration dates
• Monitor API rate limit usage
• Review configuration change patterns for anomalies

Documentation:

• Document collection purposes and data sources
• Maintain inventory of API credentials and owners
• Record API endpoint dependencies
• Keep notes on special configuration requirements

Change Management

Version Control:

• Treat API Collections as infrastructure-as-code
• Document changes to collection configurations
• Test endpoint changes in non-production first
• Maintain rollback procedures for credential updates

Impact Assessment:

• Understand downstream systems consuming API data
• Evaluate change impact before modifying collections
• Coordinate changes with stakeholders
• Schedule changes during maintenance windows

Testing Procedures:

• Test new endpoints before adding to production collections
• Validate credential changes using test function
• Verify data quality after configuration changes
• Monitor first several scheduled runs after changes

Use Cases and Scenarios

Cloud Infrastructure Management

Scenario: Organization manages multi-cloud infrastructure across AWS, Azure, and GCP with hundreds of security groups, network policies, and access controls.

Implementation:

1. Create Collections per Cloud Provider:

   • AWS-Production: Security groups, VPC configs, IAM policies
   • Azure-Production: Network security groups, virtual network configs
   • GCP-Production: Firewall rules, VPC settings

2. Configure Endpoints for Key Resources:

   • Security groups and firewall rules
   • Network routing tables
   • Access control policies
   • Load balancer configurations

3. Schedule Regular Downloads:

   • Security-critical resources: Every 4 hours
   • Network configurations: Daily
   • IAM policies: Twice daily

Benefits:

• Detect unauthorized security group modifications
• Audit access control changes across cloud platforms
• Maintain configuration history for compliance
• Compare cloud configurations across environments

SD-WAN Controller Integration

Scenario: Enterprise SD-WAN deployment with centralized controller managing 500+ edge devices through API.

Implementation:

1. Controller API Collection:

   • Collection: “SD-WAN-Controller”
   • Authentication: Bearer Token from controller admin portal
   • Base URL: https://controller.sdwan.company.com/api/v3/

2. Configuration Endpoints:

   • /sites - All site configurations
   • /policies/qos - QoS policies
   • /policies/routing - Routing policies
   • /policies/security - Security policies
   • /templates - Configuration templates

3. Scheduled Downloads: Every 6 hours

Benefits:

• Track policy changes across SD-WAN fabric
• Audit template modifications
• Detect configuration drift from standards
• Maintain disaster recovery configurations

SaaS Security Platform Backup

Scenario: Security team uses cloud-based firewall service protecting multiple applications. Need to maintain backup of all security policies.

Implementation:

1. Security Platform Collection:

   • Collection: “CloudFirewall-Production”
   • Authentication: API Token (key in header)
   • Base URL: https://api.cloudfirewall.com/v2/

2. Policy Endpoints:

   • /policies/firewall - Firewall rules
   • /policies/waf - Web application firewall rules
   • /policies/dlp - Data loss prevention policies
   • /policies/threat - Threat prevention settings
   • /applications - Protected application configurations

3. Scheduling:

   • Firewall rules: Every 2 hours (frequently modified)
   • Other policies: Daily

Benefits:

• Rapid recovery after accidental policy deletion
• Audit trail for security policy changes
• Compliance documentation for security controls
• Comparison of policy versions during troubleshooting

MSP Multi-Tenant Management

Scenario: Managed Service Provider supporting 50 customers, each with their own cloud management platforms.

Implementation:

1. Per-Customer Collections:

   • Collection naming: “Customer-[Name]-[Platform]”
   • Separate credentials per customer
   • Individual command groups per customer tier

2. Standardized Endpoints Across Customers:

   • Consistent endpoint naming conventions
   • Same data retrieved for all customers
   • Uniform tagging structure

3. Tiered Scheduling:

   • Premium customers: 4-hour intervals
   • Standard customers: Daily
   • Basic customers: Weekly

Benefits:

• Standardized configuration management across customer base
• Scalable approach for customer growth
• Individual scheduling based on SLA requirements
• Centralized visibility across all managed environments

CMDB Integration

Scenario: IT operations team maintains Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and needs network device data from rConfig synchronized with CMDB API.

Implementation:

1. CMDB API Collection:

   • Collection: “CMDB-Integration”
   • Authentication: Request Token (login to CMDB API)
   • Endpoints for different CI types

2. Bidirectional Data Flow:

   • rConfig retrieves device inventory from CMDB
   • CMDB updated with configuration status from rConfig (via separate process)
   • Regular synchronization maintains consistency

3. Scheduled Synchronization: Every 4 hours

Benefits:

• Single source of truth for device inventory
• Configuration status reflected in CMDB
• Automated reconciliation of device data
• Enhanced CMDB accuracy with configuration details

Advanced Integration Patterns

Combining API Collections with Traditional Devices

Organizations can create comprehensive configuration repositories by combining traditional device backups with API-sourced data:

Hybrid Collection Strategy:

1. Traditional Devices: SSH/Telnet connections to network hardware
2. API Collections: Cloud platforms, controllers, SaaS services
3. Unified View: All configurations visible in single interface

Example Topology:

• Physical routers/switches backed up via SSH
• SD-WAN controller backed up via API
• Cloud security groups backed up via API
• Firewall management platform backed up via API

This approach provides complete configuration visibility across hybrid infrastructure.

API Collections as Data Sources for SIE

The Script Integration Engine (SIE) can process API-sourced data:

Integration Pattern:

1. API Collection Downloads: Retrieve configuration data via API
2. SIE Script Trigger: Executed after successful download
3. Data Processing: SIE script parses API response
4. Action Execution: Based on processed data, SIE performs actions

Use Cases:

• Parse API data and generate compliance reports
• Extract specific values and trigger alerts
• Transform API data format for external systems
• Aggregate data from multiple API sources

Note

For detailed information on Script Integration Engine capabilities and configuration, see the SIE Documentation.

Webhook Integration for Real-Time Updates

Some APIs provide webhooks for event-driven updates. While rConfig doesn’t natively process webhooks, you can implement a pattern:

Architecture:

1. Webhook Receiver: External service receives API webhooks
2. Trigger Mechanism: Webhook receiver calls rConfig API to trigger download
3. Immediate Download: Specific API collection downloads on-demand
4. Change Detection: rConfig identifies and records changes

This enables near-real-time configuration tracking for critical resources.

Roadmap and Future Enhancements

The API Collections feature continues to evolve based on customer feedback and emerging use cases. Planned enhancements include:

Native Pagination Support

Current: Manual configuration of multiple endpoints for paginated results

Planned: Automatic pagination handling

• Configure page size and offset parameters
• System automatically retrieves all pages
• Combined data stored as single configuration

Timeline: Under evaluation for future release

Additional HTTP Methods

Current: GET and POST methods supported

Planned: Support for PUT, PATCH, DELETE

• Enable configuration push to APIs (write operations)
• Update remote configurations from rConfig
• Delete outdated resources via API

Timeline: Research phase

Note: This represents a significant architectural change as API Collections currently focus on read-only operations. Write capabilities require extensive validation and error handling.

GraphQL Support

Current: REST API support only

Planned: GraphQL query support

• Define GraphQL queries in endpoint configuration
• Retrieve specific data fields efficiently
• Reduce over-fetching of unnecessary data

Timeline: Under consideration

Enhanced Authentication Methods

Current: Five authentication types covering common patterns

Planned: Additional authentication support

• OAuth 2.0 flow automation
• Multi-factor authentication handling
• Certificate-based authentication
• Custom authentication handlers

Timeline: Future development

API Response Transformation

Current: Raw API responses stored as-is

Planned: Built-in transformation capabilities

• JSON to XML conversion
• Data filtering and field extraction
• Format normalization
• Custom transformation scripts

Timeline: Research phase

Tip

Feature priorities are influenced by customer requirements and feedback. If you have specific API integration needs not currently supported, contact rConfig support to discuss your use case. Enterprise customers can request prioritization of specific enhancements.

Related Documentation

• Command Groups: Organize and schedule API Collections
• Scheduled Tasks: Automate API data retrieval
• Configuration Diff: Compare API configuration versions
• Change Detection: Monitor API configuration changes
• Search and Compliance: Search API-sourced data and apply policies
• Script Integration Engine: Process API data with custom scripts
• Device Management: Understand device and collection relationship
• Tags: Organize collections using tags

Quick Reference

Collection Configuration Checklist

• Descriptive collection name configured
• Correct API base URL entered (including protocol and version)
• Appropriate authentication type selected
• Vendor assigned for organization
• Command group assigned for scheduling
• Tags applied for filtering
• Retry count set (recommended: 3)
• Retry delay configured (recommended: 3000-5000ms)
• SSL verification configured appropriately
• Collection saved successfully

Credentials Configuration Checklist

• Authentication type matches collection
• All required credential fields completed
• No extra whitespace in credential values
• Credentials tested successfully
• Test endpoint confirmed working
• Credentials documented in secure location
• Credential expiration noted (if applicable)

Endpoint Configuration Checklist

• Descriptive endpoint name provided
• Alternate filename specified (if needed)
• Correct HTTP method selected
• Endpoint URL properly formatted (relative path)
• Endpoint URL tested manually
• Base URL + endpoint URL combination verified
• Expected data format confirmed
• Endpoint saved successfully

Troubleshooting Quick Checks

Authentication Issues:

1. Test credentials using built-in test function
2. Verify no extra whitespace in credentials
3. Check authentication type matches API requirements
4. Review API provider account status

Connection Problems:

1. Test network connectivity from rConfig server
2. Verify DNS resolution
3. Check firewall rules
4. Disable SSL verification for self-signed certificates

Data Issues:

1. Test endpoint URL with curl
2. Verify base URL and endpoint URL combine correctly
3. Check API documentation for required parameters
4. Review response format and encoding

Performance Issues:

1. Check retry count and delay settings
2. Monitor API rate limit usage
3. Schedule large downloads during off-peak hours
4. Review disk space availability

Common API Authentication Patterns

Provider Type	Authentication Method	Configuration
AWS APIs	API Token	Key: X-API-Key, Value: AWS access key, Add To: Header
Azure APIs	Bearer Token	Token: Azure AD token, Prefix: Bearer
GCP APIs	Bearer Token	Token: OAuth 2.0 token, Prefix: Bearer
SD-WAN Controllers	Request Token	Login endpoint + username/password
SaaS Platforms	API Token	Key: API-Key or custom, Value: provided key, Add To: Header
Legacy Systems	Basic	Username/password in base64 encoding

File Storage Locations

Item	Path
Retrieved configurations	/var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/app/configs/
Task execution logs	/var/www/html/rconfig8/current/storage/logs/
Application configuration	/var/www/html/rconfig8/current/.env

Recommended Retry Settings

Scenario	Retry Count	Retry Delay
Production APIs (high reliability)	3-5	3000-5000ms
Testing/Development	1-2	1000ms
Rate-limited APIs	2-3	5000-10000ms
Large downloads (slow APIs)	2-3	2000-3000ms
Critical configurations	5	5000ms

Summary

API Collections extend rConfig’s configuration management capabilities to modern, API-driven infrastructure. By treating API endpoints as configuration sources, organizations achieve comprehensive visibility across hybrid environments combining traditional network devices with cloud platforms, SD-WAN controllers, and SaaS services.

Key Takeaways:

• Unified Management: Apply consistent governance to all configuration sources regardless of access method
• Flexible Authentication: Five authentication types support diverse API platforms
• Seamless Integration: API-sourced data integrates with diff, change detection, search, and compliance features
• Scalable Architecture: Three-tier collection structure promotes reusability and efficient management
• Automated Retrieval: Scheduled downloads ensure configuration data remains current
• Enterprise Ready: Robust error handling, retry logic, and monitoring capabilities

API Collections address the modern challenge of distributed configuration management, providing a single pane of glass for configuration visibility, change tracking, and compliance across your entire infrastructure landscape.

Organizations leveraging API Collections can maintain the same rigorous change management processes for cloud resources as they do for traditional network devices, ensuring comprehensive governance in increasingly complex, hybrid IT environments.

For advanced integration requirements or high-volume API deployments, rConfig Enterprise Support can provide architectural guidance, custom integration assistance, and optimization recommendations. Contact [email protected] for more information.