API Gateway Configure Workflow
Configure an API gateway with routing, rate limiting, authentication, and response caching for multiple backend services.
Objective
Set up an API gateway to manage and protect backend services.
Environment
- An API gateway
- Multiple backend services to route to
- Authentication and rate limiting policies
Steps
1. Configure routing
Set up routes for each backend service with appropriate path prefixes.
Expected state: Each service is accessible through the gateway.
2. Add authentication
Configure authentication using JWT validation or API key checking at the gateway.
Expected state: All requests are authenticated before reaching the backend.
3. Set rate limits
Apply rate limiting policies per client or per endpoint to protect backends.
Expected state: Rate limits are enforced at the gateway level.
4. Enable caching
Configure response caching for idempotent GET endpoints to reduce backend load.
Expected state: Cacheable responses are served from the gateway.
5. Test the gateway
Send requests through the gateway and verify routing, auth, limits, and caching.
Expected state: The gateway correctly routes, authenticates, and caches requests.
Decision points
Gateway or service mesh?
- Gateway for external traffic
- Mesh for internal traffic
Use an API gateway for external clients; a service mesh for internal service-to-service communication.
Expected outcome
An API gateway is configured with routing, authentication, rate limiting, and caching.
Verification
Send requests through the gateway and verify each policy is enforced correctly.
Cleanup
Remove gateway configuration if it causes issues; test backends directly to confirm they work.
The gateway centralizes cross-cutting policy
Authentication, rate limiting, and caching are the same for all services. A gateway enforces them once instead of in each service.
Implementation Notes
This workflow provides a structured approach to ensure consistent results across team members and environments.
Common Pitfalls
Skipping verification steps or rushing through the process can lead to incomplete results. Always follow each step in order and verify before proceeding.
Quick Reference
# Execute the workflow steps as documented above
echo "Workflow completed successfully"