Which two statements about northbound and southbound APIs are true? (Choose two.)
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A. B. C. D. E. F.BC
API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a web-based software application or web tool. APIs come in two flavors, northbound and southbound APIs, depending on the direction of communication.
Northbound API is used to interact with a higher-level application or orchestration system. In contrast, Southbound API is used to interact with lower-level network devices such as routers, switches, or firewalls.
Here are the statements about northbound and southbound APIs:
A. Only southbound APIs allow program control of the network. This statement is incorrect. Southbound APIs are used to control lower-level network devices, such as switches and routers, while northbound APIs are used to communicate with higher-level orchestration systems. Therefore, southbound APIs alone cannot control the entire network.
B. Only northbound APIs allow program control of the network. This statement is also incorrect. Northbound APIs are used to control higher-level orchestration systems and applications. However, they cannot control lower-level network devices such as switches and routers. Therefore, northbound APIs alone cannot control the entire network.
C. Only southbound API interfaces use a Service Abstraction Layer. This statement is partially correct. Southbound APIs use a Service Abstraction Layer (SAL) to provide a common interface for multiple devices. SAL abstracts the underlying details of the device and provides a common API for application developers. In contrast, northbound APIs use a RESTful interface or an API to communicate with higher-level applications or orchestration systems.
D. Only northbound API interfaces use a Service Abstraction Layer. This statement is incorrect. As discussed above, southbound APIs use SAL to abstract the underlying details of the device and provide a common API for application developers.
E. Both northbound and southbound API interfaces use a Service Abstraction Layer. This statement is partially correct. Southbound APIs use SAL, while northbound APIs use a RESTful interface or an API to communicate with higher-level applications or orchestration systems.
F. Both northbound and southbound APIs allow program control of the network. This statement is partially correct. Both northbound and southbound APIs provide programmatic access to network resources, but northbound APIs are used to control higher-level orchestration systems and applications, while southbound APIs are used to control lower-level network devices. Therefore, the combined use of both northbound and southbound APIs is required to control the entire network.