topic Where to start with API's? in Network Platform API

Where to start with API's?

TheBeardedITDad — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:22:48 GMT

Hello Everyone,

We have Meraki deployed in some for across all of our locations and slowly moving to full stack at all locations... I love everything I can do with Meraki but with that said I'm ready to take things to the next level … Enter API's.... I'm looking for advice where to start and get a crash course in there integration with Meraki and what all I can do.

Re: Where to start with API's?

Philip D'Ath — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 23:36:23 GMT

Perhaps try the "Getting started with Meraki" learning modules.

https://developer.cisco.com/learning/modules/getting-started-with-meraki

If you want to level up, it's Python you are going to need to concentrate on.

The general resources for developers are located here:

https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/

If you want a quick feeling of success, scroll down to "How does the Python SDK work?" on that page and follow those steps.

Re: Where to start with API's?

daviscot — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 02:58:38 GMT

Just to add to Philip's response, here's a simple self-paced lab that takes you through step by step and uses Postman to make some GET/PUT/POST commands and you'll get a really good feel for the Dashboard API in just an hour or two. https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/build/meraki-postman-collection-getting-started/

Re: Where to start with API's?

BrechtSchamp — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 22:20:12 GMT

Yeah definitely postman and then python.

Have a look at this write-up I made not so long ago:

https://community.meraki.com/t5/Introduce-Yourself/Hullo/m-p/87641/highlight/true#M700

Re: Where to start with API's?

Edgar-VO — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:27:43 GMT

Hi,

Best practice for me was just create a small organisation for yourself.. Add some devices to it..(just claim devices) . After 30 days , unclaim and add the device (or you can make a script which does that)

Think of what you want to achieve and just start programming in python which is a very easy language to master... Just like the good ole BASIC.

Postman is good for simple API commonds, but not suitable for making batch and check/loops etc. Once you are familiar in Python and Meraki API, you never use the postman program, only the Postman/Meraki API guide

https://documenter.getpostman.com/view/7928889/SVmsVg6K?version=latest#intro

Basic start with Meraki API is :

import meraki

import apikey

api_key = apikey.Get_Api_Key("COMPANY")

dashboard = meraki.DashboardAPI(api_key)

my_org = dashboard.organizations.getOrganizations()

for org in my_org:

org_id = org['id']

api_key is created in the dashboard. copy and save it

Any other questions.... just post them here, and i am pretty sure you have answers soon. Many of us have created several scripts already to perform actions. My company has a 300+ network environment and we make scripts to make live so much easier.

Enjoy the API