Roster Server Applications

Once the ClassLink Roster Server has been set up and populated with data, data can then be shared with vendors who have developed Roster Server integrations.

In order to share the data in your ClassLink Roster Server, you need to add the vendor's Roster Server app to your Roster Server Console.

Overview

How to Add Roster Server Applications
Roster Server Application Permissions
Copy Permissions From a Different App
How to Share Data with the Vendor
REST API
SFTP
Custom Names for Applications
Preview Rostered Applications for Each User

How to Add Roster Server Applications

1. https://rosterconsole.classlink.com/dashboard

2. From the Dashboard -> Apps

3. Click the Add App button.

4. Here you can search for vendors that you want to make your data accessible to that have created a Roster Server Application. Click the + Add button next to their application.

5. After Adding an Application, you will be prompted to define what kind of Permissions you want to give the vendor for access to your data to provision the accounts for particular users to have access to the application.

Note: After setting permissions for Orgs and Courses, the application can be added, yet disabled. It can later be enabled whenever the vendor specifies in their timeline for rostering.

Roster Server Application Permissions

1. You can define how much data you want to expose or allow vendors access to through Permissions. You can always change, add, or remove permissions to any particular app by clicking on the Actions menu -> Permissions.

2. The different Permissions define what kind or how much data a vendor has access.

Full: A vendor is sent or has access to all of the data that is hosted in your Roster Server.

Custom: A vendor is sent or has access to the data that is related to both the Organizations AND Courses that is defined by the App Permissions. This means, the vendor will not have access to any user data that is not part of both lists of approved Orgs and Courses as defined in the App Permissions.

None: The vendor has no access to the data hosted in your Roster Server.

Copy Permissions From a Different App

1. There is also the option to Copy Permissions From a Different App. This option can be used if you need to use the same permission set for multiple vendors.

2. To use this feature, click on the Copy Permissions From a Different App button, then click the Copy button and then Confirm which will copy and save the permissions of the corresponding app.

Note: Please keep in mind that this will automatically Copy and Save the permissions, which will overwrite any existing permission settings.

How to Share Data with the Vendor

After you have added the Roster Server application and set the app's permissions in your console, the vendor will receive an email notifying them that your district added their app in Roster Server. The email will contain your REST API url and a unique API key and secret.

You can also view the API key and secret for each vendor application under the Actions.

The 2 ways to share data with a vendor is by REST API and/or by SFTP. Both can be found in the Actions menu next to any particular application.

REST API

If you know your vendor can access your Roster Server data through REST API, after you've added their Roster Server Application, an email will automatically be sent to the vendor with the relevant Endpoint URL, API Key and Secret for your district. Once the vendor has access to that information, they can access the Roster Server data that you have set through the app Permissions whenever they need it.

Enabling and Disabling the REST API for Vendors

You can quickly disable/enable an application without touching existing permissions. This will cut off access to Roster Server's REST API. Previously, you had to remove all orgs and courses for that application.

REST API Logs

Endpoint calls are now logged. Access the log by clicking the date under Recent Activity on the apps page. The log will show which endpoints were called, if they were successful or not, the response time, and how many records were returned for each call.

SFTP

If your vendor requests CSVs or does not use REST API to access your Roster Server data, they will give you SFTP credentials and details that you can populate in the app's Export Settings to schedule automated exports with the data that is defined by your app's Permissions.

1. Click the Actions menu -> and choose Export Settings.

2. In the Server Details and Authentication Details sections, enter the server details provided by the vendor.

3. Under File Details, specify the export template that is being sent to the vendor. Some vendors will require a particular template or version of the Roster Server specification be sent to them. If they don't, send the latest Roster Server specification (OneRoster v1p1 as of when this article was published).

4. Enter the Schedule Details.

5. Also in Schedule Details, switch the toggle to Enabled in order for the transfer to take place.

6. Click Save.

7. Click Send Now to initiate the transfer.

Custom Names for Applications

Roster Server also supports the creation of custom names for all of your applications.

1. On the Apps page, hover your cursor around the name of the app and click the blue pencil that appears.

2. From there, type in the custom name and click the green check mark to confirm.

3. The app will now appear with the custom name as the main name and the original name appearing smaller directly below it. Using the Search Bar at the top of the page, provides results with either matching custom name or original names.