curl is the simplest command line tool to access the API.

Note that in the examples below, we use self signed certificates, which is why the --insecure or -k flag is passed to curl

Ping command

shell> curl -k --request GET 'https://127.0.0.1:8096/api/v2/ping'

{ "payloadType":"PingPayload",
  "payloadVersion":"1",
  "payload":{
      "message":"Ping test",
      "date":"Mon Mar 10 10:12:18 UTC 2025",
      "hostName":"gilmbp-8.local",
      "pid":16743,
      "jvmUptime":152513
      }
}

In this example, we sent a simple ping. Result comes as an HTTP OK response with a payload containing a string message “ping test”, the date of execution, the hostname of the executor and its pid, plus the number of milliseconds elapsed since the java executable was started

Create admin user

shell> curl -k -H 'Content-type: application/json' --request POST 'https://127.0.0.1:8096/api/v2/createAdminUser?i-am-sure=true' \
> --data-raw '{
>   "payloadType": "credentials",
>   "user":"tungsten",
>   "pass":"security"
> }'

{ "payloadType":"StringPayload",
  "payloadVersion":"1",
  "payload":{ 
      "value":"https://127.0.0.1:8096/api/v2/user/tungsten"
            }
}

This POST request shows how input data can be passed to API calls as a json string.

In return, the createAdminUser function will give a link to the API call allowing you to display details for the user we just created. Let’s follow this link:

shell> curl -k --request GET 'https://127.0.0.1:8096/api/v2/user/tungsten' -utungsten:security

{ "payloadType":"CredentialsPayload",
  "payloadVersion":"1",
  "payload":{
      "user":"tungsten",
      "pass":"**obfuscated**",
      "access":"full"
            }
}

This call shows how the user/password tuple is passed.

The equivalent call using base64 encoded Authorization header, obtained with echo -ne "tungsten:security" | base64 would look something like the following:

shell> curl -k --request GET 'https://127.0.0.1:8096/api/v2/user/tungsten' --header 'Authorization: Basic dHVuZ3N0ZW46c2VjdXJpdHk='

  "payload":{
      "user":"tungsten",
      "pass":"**obfuscated**",
      "access":"full"
            }
}

tapi is a convenient command line tool developed by Continuent that will ease access to Tungsten components APIs without having to remember full REST call URLs.

Full documentation on tapi can be found here: Section 8.18, “The tapi Command”

PostMan is one of the most popular GUI tools for REST API testing and use