5.5

Table Of Contents
Endpoint Descriptor
The endpoint descriptor is a file whose contents define the catalog available at the endpoint. The contents,
which must be expressed in JavaScript Object Notation (media type application/json) as defined by
RFC4627, define a JSON object, and must specify values for the following key names.
vcspVersion
An integer that specifies the version of the VCSP protocol to which this
endpoint conforms.
version
An integer that specifies the version of the catalog, as described in “Version
Numbers,” on page 219.
id
The object identifier, expressed in URN format. This value uniquely
identifies the catalog, persists for the life of the catalog, and must never be
reused.
name
The display name of the catalog. Must be a nonempty string.
created
Time and date when the endpoint was created.
itemType
Must have value vcsp.CatalogItem.
itemsHref
A reference to the endpoint index file relative to the location of the endpoint
descriptor. Replacing the final component of the endpoint URL with the
value of the itemsHref key must create a valid URL.
capabilities
A JSON object that describes the capabilities of this catalog. The object must
define all of the following properties:
transferIn
An array with a single member that must be the
string httpGet.
transferOut
An array with a single member that must be the
string httpGet.
generateIds
A Boolean value that must be set to true.
metadata
An array of catalog object metadata. See “Metadata,” on page 217.
maintenanceMessage
A string indicating that the endpoint is inaccessible because it is undergoing
maintenance. For example:
"maintenanceMessage" : "This catalog is currently in maintenance
mode"
If the endpoint descriptor includes this key, attempts by subscribers to
synchronize with this endpoint fail and display the string.
The following example shows a typical endpoint descriptor.
{
"vcspVersion" : "1",
"version" : "10",
"id" : "urn:uuid:ccdd2c56-e54e-4883-bc0a-619baaca92a6",
"name" : "published",
"created" : "2012-09-14T22:17:50.807Z",
"itemType" : "vcsp.CatalogItem",
"itemsHref" : "items",
"capabilities" : {
"transferIn" : [ "httpGet" ],
"transferOut" : [ "httpGet" ],
Chapter 6 Creating and Managing Organizations
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