API Manager

Basic Information

WSO2 API Manager is an open-source, full lifecycle API management platform. It enables organizations to create, manage, secure, and analyze APIs across various environments.

• Model: WSO2 API Manager
• Latest Stable Version: WSO2 API Manager 4.6.0 (released November 04, 2025)
• Release Date (4.0): May 6, 2021
• Minimum Requirements (API-M runtime, physical):
  • Processor: 3 GHz Dual-core Xeon/Opteron (or latest), recommended minimum 2 Cores, 4 Cores for high concurrencies.
  • RAM: 4 GB (2 GB for JVM and 2 GB for the operating system).
  • Storage: 10 GB free disk space.
• Supported Operating Systems: Ubuntu (18.04, 20.04, 22.04), CentOS (7.4, 7.5), Red Hat Enterprise Linux (7.0, 8.3, 8.7, 9.3), SUSE Linux 12, Rocky Linux (8.7, 9.3), Windows Server (2016, 2019).
• End of Support Date: For version 4.6.0, the earliest possible support EOL date is November 04, 2028.
• License Type: Apache License 2.0 (open-source).
• Deployment Model: Cloud-hosted, On-premise, Hybrid, or Kubernetes-native.

Technical Requirements

WSO2 API Manager is a Java application, and its technical requirements are primarily server-side.

• RAM: Minimum 4 GB (2 GB for JVM and 2 GB for the operating system) for the API-M runtime. For WSO2 API Manager Analytics, 4 GB minimum RAM is recommended.
• Processor: 3 GHz Dual-core Xeon/Opteron (or latest) with a recommended minimum of 2 cores, scaling to 4 cores for high concurrency. For virtual machines, 2 compute units (each 1.0-1.2 GHz Opteron/Xeon processor) are the minimum.
• Storage: 10 GB free disk space for the API-M runtime, with 1 GB minimum for Analytics (excluding logs and databases). Disk space requirements are dependent on file uploads and backup policies.
• Operating System: Compatible with various Linux distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, SUSE, Rocky Linux) and Windows Server versions.
• JDK: Supported JDK versions include CorrettoJDK, AdoptOpenJDK, OpenJDK, and Oracle JDK, all versions 8 and 11. Temurin OpenJDK 11, 17, and 21 are also supported.
• Database: Compatible with most common DBMSs, including MySQL (5.7, 8), Oracle (12c, 19c), Microsoft SQL Server (2017, 2019, 2022), and PostgreSQL (10, 12.15, 13.2). The embedded H2 database is suitable for development and testing, but industry-standard RDBMS is recommended for production.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for WSO2 API Manager are moderate for a single instance, emphasizing sufficient RAM and CPU cores for JVM operations and concurrent processing. The flexibility in supported operating systems and databases makes it adaptable to diverse enterprise environments. Scalability is achieved through distributed deployment patterns, where resource allocation increases with the number of instances and expected traffic. The product's Java foundation ensures broad compatibility across various platforms.

Support & Compatibility

WSO2 API Manager offers comprehensive support and compatibility options, reflecting its enterprise-grade design.

• Latest Version: WSO2 API Manager 4.6.0.
• OS Support: Extensive support for various Linux distributions (Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, SUSE, Rocky Linux) and Windows Server.
• End of Support Date: The earliest possible support EOL date for version 4.6.0 is November 04, 2028.
• Localization: Information on specific localization features is not readily available in the provided data.
• Available Drivers: Compatibility with various industry-standard RDBMS implies the availability of standard JDBC drivers.
• JDK Compatibility: Tested with CorrettoJDK, AdoptOpenJDK, OpenJDK, and Oracle JDK (versions 8, 11, 17, 21).
• Database Compatibility: Supports MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, and PostgreSQL.
• WSO2 Product Compatibility: Integrates with WSO2 Identity Server as a Key Manager.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

WSO2 API Manager demonstrates strong compatibility with a wide range of operating systems and databases, crucial for enterprise deployments. The availability of long-term support for recent versions, coupled with its open-source nature, provides flexibility and assurance for users. The product is designed to integrate seamlessly within the WSO2 ecosystem, particularly with WSO2 Identity Server. While specific localization details are not highlighted, its broad adoption suggests a global usability.

Security Status

WSO2 API Manager provides robust security features for API protection and management.

• Security Features:
  • Authentication: OAuth2, OpenID Connect, SAML, Mutual SSL, API Keys, Basic Authentication, JWT (Self-Contained) Access Tokens.
  • Authorization: OAuth 2.0 scopes, policy-based access control.
  • Encryption Support: Data transmitted through the gateway is protected using HTTPS (TLS). OAuth2 tokens and secrets can be encrypted at rest.
  • Threat Protection: Advanced threat protection, bot detection, payload scanning, schema validation, regex-based threat protection against SQL injections.
  • Rate Limiting/Throttling: Customizable throttle controls based on IP address, query parameters, headers, request count, bandwidth, and query complexity, applicable at API, application, and subscription levels.
  • Input Validation: Schema checks and regex filters to block harmful or invalid requests.
  • Access Control: Role-based access control for gateway environments.
  • Audit Logging: Enhanced audit logging for API document management.
  • Personal Access Token (PAT) Support: Secure, time-limited authentication for system APIs.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Not specified in the provided data, but WSO2 Subscription includes continuous delivery of security updates.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable.
• Certifications: Not explicitly mentioned, but compliance with open banking standards like PSD2 and UK Open Banking is supported.
• General Recommendations: Use of secure sockets layer (SSL)/TLS is highly recommended. It is important to configure the lifetime of OAuth2 tokens. Regular inspection and modification of API security configurations are advised.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

WSO2 API Manager offers a comprehensive and multi-layered approach to API security. It incorporates industry-standard authentication and authorization mechanisms (OAuth2, OpenID Connect, Mutual SSL) and robust threat protection features like payload scanning, schema validation, and rate limiting. The platform supports encryption for data in transit and at rest, and recent updates include granular access control and PAT support, further strengthening its security posture. Its open-source nature allows for community scrutiny, contributing to its battle-tested security. Overall, it provides a strong security foundation for managing APIs.

Performance & Benchmarks

WSO2 API Manager is designed for scalability and performance in enterprise environments.

• Benchmark Scores: WSO2 runs regular performance benchmarks and long-running tests with actual use-cases to identify throughput based on different message sizes and varying numbers of active users. Specific benchmark scores are not detailed in the provided data, but the platform is noted for handling high traffic loads seamlessly and reliably.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: The platform executes more than 60 trillion transactions annually across the globe.
• Power Consumption: Not explicitly detailed, but performance tuning recommendations are available.
• Carbon Footprint: Not explicitly detailed.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: Users highlight its ability to manage the entire API lifecycle efficiently, its AI capabilities for design and optimization, and its strong integration capabilities. It is considered effective for creating, deploying, and managing APIs at scale.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

WSO2 API Manager is built for high performance and scalability, capable of handling massive transaction volumes in real-world scenarios. Its architecture supports both horizontal and vertical scaling, and various deployment patterns (single node, distributed, fully distributed, multi-data center) cater to different performance and availability requirements. While specific power consumption and carbon footprint data are not provided, the emphasis on efficient resource utilization and cloud-native designs suggests an optimized performance profile. User feedback generally praises its speed, efficiency, and enterprise-grade scalability.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews for WSO2 API Manager highlight several strengths and weaknesses.

• Strengths:
  • Comprehensive API Management: Manages the entire API lifecycle, including creation, deployment, monitoring, and governance.
  • Open Source: Provides transparency, extensibility, and freedom from vendor lock-in.
  • Scalability: Supports horizontal and vertical scaling, enabling API deployment without downtime and handling high traffic loads.
  • Integration Capabilities: Strong integration with other systems, including various databases and WSO2 Identity Server.
  • Security Features: Robust security with OAuth2, OpenID Connect, Mutual SSL, API Keys, and threat protection.
  • AI-Powered Features: Latest versions include AI-powered agents for API creation, design assistance, and performance optimization.
  • Flexibility: Supports multiple API types (REST, SOAP, GraphQL, WebSockets, WebHooks) and flexible deployment models (cloud, on-premise, hybrid, Kubernetes).
  • Support: Good support from WSO2 engineers.
• Weaknesses:
  • Complexity: Initial setup and configuration can be challenging, especially for users without prior technical knowledge or familiarity with the WSO2 ecosystem.
  • Documentation Gaps: While generally good, documentation could be improved for complex migrations (e.g., to Kubernetes).
  • Policy Management: Can be time-consuming due to multiple edits or manual steps.
  • SOAP Services: Does not expose WSDL endpoints externally, attempting to handle all services as REST APIs, which complicates direct access to underlying SOAP definitions.
  • Pricing Complexity: Pricing models could be more flexible.
  • Scalability Challenges: Some components may lack scalability, making microservice scalability challenging.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Full lifecycle API management.
  • Transforming SOAP to REST services.
  • Securing API calls (authentication, authorization, rate limiting, TLS termination).
  • Integration of applications within an organization and with business partners.
  • Microservices infrastructure for loose coupling of application domains.
  • Open banking and PSD2 compliance.
  • Real-time data streaming, analytics, and event processing (with Streaming Integrator).
  • Exposing business entities for internal and external applications.

Summary

WSO2 API Manager stands out as a robust, open-source, full lifecycle API management platform. Its strengths lie in its comprehensive feature set, encompassing API creation, publishing, security, and analytics, all within a unified platform. The platform offers extensive compatibility with various operating systems, databases, and JDKs, making it highly adaptable to diverse enterprise IT landscapes. Its security features are particularly strong, providing multi-layered protection through industry-standard authentication methods, encryption, and advanced threat protection mechanisms. Performance is a key highlight, with the ability to handle massive transaction volumes and support scalable deployment patterns for high availability and throughput.

However, the asset is not without its challenges. Users frequently cite the initial setup and configuration as complex, requiring significant technical expertise. Documentation, while generally good, could be improved for intricate migration scenarios. Some users also note difficulties with policy management and the handling of SOAP services. The pricing model, while offering open-source freedom, can become complex with enterprise support subscriptions.

Overall, WSO2 API Manager is an excellent choice for enterprises seeking a powerful, flexible, and secure API management solution, especially those with complex integration needs, a microservices architecture, or requirements for open banking compliance. It is particularly well-suited for organizations that can dedicate resources to its initial setup and leverage its extensive customization capabilities. For smaller organizations or those with limited technical staff, the initial learning curve and configuration complexity might be a significant hurdle.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.