How to use the command 'ibmcloud' (with examples)

The ‘ibmcloud’ command is a command-line tool for managing IBM Cloud apps and services. It provides a set of commands that allow users to interact with the IBM Cloud platform from the command line. This article will provide examples of some common use cases for the ‘ibmcloud’ command.

Use case 1: Updating ‘ibmcloud’ to the latest version

Code:

ibmcloud update

Motivation: Keeping ‘ibmcloud’ up to date ensures that you have access to the latest features and bug fixes. Regular updates are essential to optimize your experience using IBM Cloud.

Explanation: The ‘update’ subcommand updates the ‘ibmcloud’ command-line tool to the latest version available. This command checks if there is a newer version of ‘ibmcloud’ available and installs it.

Example output:

This version of CLI is currently up to date.

Use case 2: Installing the Cloud Foundry module for accessing Cloud Foundry services

Code:

ibmcloud cf install

Motivation: If you use the Cloud Foundry services on IBM Cloud, installing the Cloud Foundry module enables you to access and manage these services easily.

Explanation: The ‘cf install’ subcommand installs the Cloud Foundry module for the ‘ibmcloud’ command-line tool. This module enables you to work with Cloud Foundry services, such as deploying applications, managing routes, and scaling instances.

Example output:

Cloud Foundry support successfully installed.

Use case 3: Listing all available IBM Cloud regions

Code:

ibmcloud regions

Motivation: Knowing the available IBM Cloud regions allows you to choose the most suitable location for your apps and services based on factors like latency and compliance requirements.

Explanation: The ‘regions’ subcommand lists all the available IBM Cloud regions. These regions represent the different geographical locations where IBM Cloud resources are provisioned.

Example output:

Listing regions...

Region        Geography  Multi-zone  In-Location In-Country Availability Zones
eu-gb         Europe     true        true        false     ams04
eu-de         Europe     true        true        false     fra04
eu-fr         Europe     false       true        false     cdg02
us-south      US         true        true        false     dal10, dal12, dal13, dal14, dal15, sjo03
us-east       US         true        true        false     sjc04, sjc06, sjc07, sjc08
 ...

Use case 4: Displaying ‘ibmcloud’ version

Code:

ibmcloud version

Motivation: Knowing the version of ‘ibmcloud’ you are using can help troubleshoot issues and ensure compatibility with any documentation or tutorials.

Explanation: The ‘version’ subcommand displays the version number of the ‘ibmcloud’ command-line tool.

Example output:

ibmcloud version 1.2.3.4

Use case 5: Displaying help

Code:

ibmcloud help

Motivation: When starting or learning about a new command-line tool, it is essential to have access to helpful resources and documentation.

Explanation: The ‘help’ subcommand displays the general help information for the ‘ibmcloud’ command-line tool. It provides an overview of the tool, its usage, and available subcommands.

Example output:

NAME:
   ibmcloud - A command-line tool for managing IBM Cloud apps and services.

USAGE:
   ibmcloud [global options] command [command options] [arguments...]

VERSION:
   1.2.3.4

...

Use case 6: Displaying help for a subcommand

Code:

ibmcloud help subcommand

Motivation: If you need more specific information about a particular subcommand of ‘ibmcloud’, the ‘help’ subcommand can provide detailed documentation.

Explanation: The ‘help’ subcommand followed by a specific subcommand name displays detailed help information for that particular subcommand. It provides information about the subcommand’s usage, flags, and arguments.

Example output:

NAME:
   ibmcloud sl - IBM Cloud infrastructure CLI

USAGE:
   ibmcloud sl command [arguments...] [global options] command [command options] [arguments...]

COMMANDS:
   block-list, bl     Documents for bx command
   location-list, ll  List all datacenter locations
   ...

Conclusion:

The ‘ibmcloud’ command-line tool is a powerful tool for managing IBM Cloud apps and services. It provides a wide range of commands for various use cases, such as updating the tool, managing Cloud Foundry services, and exploring available regions. Understanding how to use these commands will help users efficiently leverage the capabilities of IBM Cloud from the command line.