Self Service

Glossary

Before you start using Self Service to manage your applications and streams, it is crucial to understand its basic concepts. The following glossary helps with that.

Stream

A stream represents a flow of information (messages), which is continuously updated.

Application

An application represents anything that is responsible for producing and/or consuming data on a stream, whether it is a Java or .NET app or a connector.

Cluster

A cluster represents a physical messaging unit consisting of Kafka, Zookeeper, and a Schema Registry.

Environment

An environment is used to logically and/or physically separate resources on a Kafka cluster. Environments are mapped to a physical Kafka cluster through the instance (see below). Whereas public environments typically map to the application lifecycle, private environments isolate a team’s apps and streams.

Instance

An instance provides an abstraction layer over 1..n clusters, ensuring that all data within an instance is synchronized. All streams in different environments mapped to this instance can exist on the same underlying Kafka cluster.

Tenant

A tenant in Self Service is no other than a reference to your company and its the context in which streams, applications, environments, instances, users, and groups exist.

Stream Team

The Stream Team typically supports the platform and its components; they may also double as an infrastructure team.

Streams and applications are configured in 1..n environment(s)
Environments are defined in an instance

Getting started with Self Service

To access Self Service Portal, use the URL provided to you by Axual or your local stream team. The latest versions of Chrome and Firefox are supported browsers.

Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge are not supported!

Logging In

To access the login screen, you will need to visit a pre-configured URL, which will follow the same format as follows, where tenantName is the name of your company or team:

Following this, dependant on your organization’s security mechanisms, you are presented with an OAuth provider (Azure, LDAP, Google, etc.) or a basic authentication screen if your company doesn’t support an OAUTH structure.

Login page

Browsing The Self Service Portal

You will find the main menu located on the left side of the screen, with links to the following pages. Use the following overview to determine where to find what quickly.

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Dashboard

An overview of all stream access requests, sorted by status. (Needs action, Pending, Approved, Denied or Revoked)

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Stream graph

A graphical representation of all applications consuming and producing streams in the selected environment on this page.

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Streams

An overview of all streams.

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Applications

An overview of all applications.

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Environments

An overview of all public and private (owned) environments.

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Schema Upload

a page where schema versions can be uploaded and validated.

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Instances

An overview of all instances. (only visible for SUPER_TENANT)

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Settings

Here you will find some more tenant (company) specific information and the Users and Groups defined in Self Service.

Dashboard

As soon as you log in, the dashboard is displayed. Here you have an overview of all stream access requests that need action, pending, approved, denied, or revoked.

When you first visit the page, the action needed list is displayed if you are a member of a group owning a stream. Otherwise, you will see the pending requests list.

Dashboard

Stream graph

This page shows a graphical representation of all applications consuming and producing streams in the selected environment. Use the dropdown at the top to switch to a different environment.

Graph

Streams

The Streams overview displays a list of all streams:

Streams

Stream detail

Clicking on a stream takes you to the stream’s detail page:

Stream detail page

The top section of the page describes the stream’s details, such as the Key and Value schema type and schemas and the retention policy.

If you are a member of the group owning the stream, you will also see an Edit stream button on the top right corner.

The middle section of the page titled Deployments visualizes the stream itself and the producer and consumer applications surrounding it. Applications displayed in green have been approved to produce to or consume from the stream, while others in grey are awaiting approval. Use the dropdown on the right to switch to a different environment.

The bottom section of the page shows the pending and approved access requested by the applications. This section is only visible to owners of the stream. For any pending requests, in the Pending streams tab, you will see the Approve request button, which can be used to approve the request on a particular environment, and a Deny button, which can be used to deny the request. In the History tab, you can view all applications that are already approved or denied on an environment.

Applications

The Applications page displays a list of all applications:

Applications

Application detail

Clicking on an application takes you to the application’s detail page:

Application detail page

The top section of the page describes the details of the application. If you are a member of the group owning the application, you will also see an Edit application button on the top right corner.

The middle section of the page titled Deployments visualizes the application and the streams (topics) it produces and/or consumes from any environment. You can use the dropdown on the right to switch to a different environment.

The bottom section of the page shows which streams this application has produce- or consume-access to under the History tab. If the application has requested access (pending approval), you will find it under the Unapproved requests tab.
To create a new access request, click the + Add request button.

Environments

The Environments page displays a list of all available environments. In the "Environments" overview, you will see the public environments and private environments owned by a group you are a member of.

Environments

Environment detail

Clicking on an environment takes you to the Environment detail page:

Environment detail page

Instances

The Instances page displays a list of instances for your tenant. This menu option is visible only for users with the SUPER_ADMIN role.

Settings

This page describes the details of the Tenant profile (your company). By clicking on Users or Groups on the top right, you can see users and groups' details, respectively.

Tenant profile