Getting started with the REST data services

This topic describes how to quickly get started with the WebSphere eXtreme Scale REST data service. Instructions are provided for WebSphere Application Server version 7.0, WebSphere Application Server Community Edition and Apache Tomcat.

About this task

The included sample has source code and compiled binaries to run a partitioned eXtreme Scale grid. This sample demonstrates how to create a simple grid, model the data using eXtreme Scale entities and provides two command-line client applications that allow adding and querying entities using Java or C# (see Figure 1).

The sample Java client uses the eXtreme Scale Java EntityManager API to persist and query data in the grid. This client can be run in Eclipse or using a command-line script. Note that the sample Java client does not demonstrate the REST data service, but allows updating data in the grid, so a web browser or other clients can read the data. The sample Java client and web browser, as shown in Figure 1, illustrate HTTP clients using the REST data service and eXtreme Scale Java clients using the same eXtreme Scale grid and data contained therein.

The sample Microsoft WCF Data Services C# client communicates with the eXtreme Scale grid through the REST data service using the .NET framework. The WCF Data Services client can be used to both update and query the grid.

Complete steps outlined to use the sample.

Procedure

  1. Configure and start the eXtreme Scale grid.
  2. Configure and start the REST data service in a web server.
  3. Run a client to interact with the REST data service. Two options are available:
    1. Run the sample Java client to populate the grid with data using the EntityManager API and query the data in the grid using a web browser and the eXtreme Scale REST data service.
    2. Run the sample WCF Data Services C# client.

What to do next

Read about the details of the previous steps for enabling the REST data service in your eXtreme Scale deployment.