How To Get The API Token For Jenkins ?

Jenkins is an open-source automation tool that automates the build, test, and deployment stages of software. In this guide, I will first discuss what Jenkins is. Then I would discuss why to generate API tokens in Jenkins. After this, I will guide you through the different steps to generate an API token on Jenkins and test this token to build a sample Jenkins pipeline.

What is Jenkins?

Jenkins is a powerful open-source automation tool to automate the build, test, and deployment stages of software. Using Jenkins accelerates the software development cycle. This tool provides a user-friendly interface and various plugins to automate various stages of software development. By automating various repetitive tasks and orchestrating complex processes, Jenkins helps the teams reduce manual errors and improve efficiency. Overall, Jenkins empowers teams to automate, streamline, and optimize software delivery pipelines. Teams can work together better and fix problems faster. Jenkins continues to get better with each update, making it more reliable to deliver software quickly.

Why generate an API token for Jenkins?

Using API tokens reduces the risk of exposing user passwords. It enhances security. Apart from this, API tokens can be used in scripts and various tools to facilitate seamless automation. This automation will accelerate development cycles and improve overall efficiency. We can create, manage, query, and access built artifacts using API tokens. Using API tokens allows admins to manage access to Jenkins. The administrators can revoke access to a token if it is compromised or no longer needed. This level of control over permissions increases the overall robustness, resilience, and integrity of Jenkins deployments.

Pre-requisites

Before moving on to the next section, you must have installed Jenkins on your system. If Jenkins is not installed, follow the following detailed geeks for geeks articles to install Jenkins on your system.

• To install Jenkins on Windows follow this article: Installing Jenkins on Windows
• To install Jenkins on Ubuntu follow this article: How to Install and Configure Jenkins on Debian Linux (Ubuntu/Kali/Mint)

Steps To Get API Token For Jenkins

Step 1: Go to your Jenkins dashboard. On the top right corner, you will see your username. Click on your username.

Step 2: Now on the left side , you will see configure. Click it.

Step 3: Now you will see API Token. Click on add new token. Here give a name to your API token and generate it. Copy the API token and save the configuration.

Step 4: Now test the API token. You can use the below command to start the build process of a job.

 curl -X POST http://localhost:8083/job/gfg-jenkins-demo/build --user admin:110267888add90bcb1bf4126ca08875f24   (change the Jenkins URL, Job 
name, username, API token)

See the pipeline is successfully build.

Conclusion

Here in this guide we have first learned what is Jenkins . Then we understand why to generate API tokens for Jenkins . After this we have learned the different steps to generate API token for Jenkins . Then we have successfully tested the API token by building a sample pipeline on Jenkins through terminal .

API token for Jenkins – FAQ’s

1. What is Jenkins pipeline ?

Jenkins pipeline is the code that helps in automation of build , test and deploy stages of a software development cycle .

2. How secure is API token in Jenkins ?

API tokens are securely stored within Jenkins by using encryption and hashing mechanisms to protect them from unauthorized access .

3. How to handle API token in Jenkins ?

You should avoid sharing API tokens publicly and give them same level of treatment as the passwords .

4. Is there a limit to generate API tokens in Jenkins ?

There is no limit to generate API tokens in Jenkins .

5. Explain need of API token in Jenkins ?

API token can be used in scripts or third party tools to have a seamless automation . It enhances security by reducing the exposure of user passwords . Admins can revoke any API token if it is compromised or no longer used , which enhances the integrity and robustness of Jenkins deployment .