You can use the Representational State Transfer (REST) gateway to access simple data grids that are hosted by a collective. This REST gateway is useful when you must access grid data from non-Java environments.
Before you begin
- You can use the REST gateway with WebSphere® DataPower® XC10 Appliance Version 8.6 or later.
- You must create a simple data grid on the appliance. For more information about creating a simple data grid, see Creating simple data grids.
About this task
Transactions
Each REST operation to the WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance begins and ends an independent transaction to the data grid. It is not possible to chain together multiple operations into a single transaction.
Load balancing
When you are using the REST gateway, it is the client responsibility to load balance their requests onto the WebSphere DataPower XC10 Appliance collective. You can use an external load balancer or add additional logic in the HTTP client you are using in the client program.
Security
Communication through the REST gateway always results in a secure configuration, even if you do not have security enabled on the data grid. Configure the user groups that you want to access the data grid to have all access rights to the data grid.
Relationship to WebSphere eXtreme Scale REST data service
The REST gateway is a separate entity from the WebSphere eXtreme Scale REST data service, which implements the Microsoft ADO.NET Data Services interface.
![[Version 2.5 and later]](./images/25plus.gif)
Grid Alias
When you must populate more than one data grid at the same time, you can use the REST gateway to create and manage a grid alias. With a grid alias, you can switch between grids and populate them at the same time. For example, you might want to run data grid operations against Grid A, but also want a layer of indirection so that you can switch to and populate another grid, Grid B. You can create an alias, Grid C, that points to Grid A. You can use this alias to run data grid operations against Grid A, and at the same time populate Grid B with data. While you are running data grid operations against Grid A (using the alias Grid C), you can run a REST operation to switch the alias from Grid A to point to Grid B instead. A grid alias can be created, queried, and deleted from the REST resource resources/gridalias. For more information about managing grid aliases through the REST gateway, see REST gateway: REST operations.