Follow these steps to create an authentication credential that contains the client token and client secret required to authenticate Akamai API, CLI, or Terraform requests.
In order to complete these steps, you need access to <<PORTAL_NAME>> and a user role permission that enables you to create API clients and manage credentials. Your user role permission must include **IDM: API Clients – User Access** or **IDM: API Clients – Admin Access**.
# Create a quick API client
Launch [Identity and Access Management](🔗). In Control Center, select <<PORTAL_ICON_ROOT>> <<CHAR_MENU_DELIMITER>> **ACCOUNT ADMIN** <<CHAR_MENU_DELIMITER>> **Identity & access**.
Under **Users and API Clients**, click **Create API client**.
If you don't have access to the Identity and Access Management tool, contact your local <<PORTAL_NAME>> admin or your Akamai account team for assistance.
Click **Quick** to create an API client with access levels, group roles, and permissions identical to your current login.
If you need to refine access levels or permissions, refer to [Create a client with custom permissions](🔗). If you need to create a client to manage multiple Control Center accounts, refer to [Manage many accounts with one API client](🔗).
Click **Show additional details** to verify the APIs you can access. Enter the API service's name in the **Filter** field to verify that it's included and that you have the proper level of access.
Click **Hide additional details** to return to the **Details and Credentials** information.
Keep the **API client for you** page open. You'll need this information to set up your `
.edgerc` file.
# Add credential to .edgerc file
The credential includes the client token and client secret required to authenticate Akamai API or CLI requests.
Click **Download** in the **Credentials** section.
Open the downloaded file with a text editor and add the value `
[default]` as a header above all text. Your finished file should look like this:
Save the file in your `
home` directory with the name `.edgerc`. The default home directory location for these operating systems is typically:**Linux** `
/home/{username}/.edgerc`**macOS** `
/Users/{username}/.edgerc`**Windows** `
C:\Users\{username}\.edgerc`
At this point you can choose an interface to interact with Akamai [APIs](🔗), including:
[Docker](🔗)
[Postman](🔗)
[Python](🔗)
[CLIs](🔗)
[HTTPie](🔗)
[Terraform](🔗)
Refer to [EdgeGrid libraries](🔗) for code samples that show how to instantiate authentication for various programming languages.
# Video demo
If you need a little guidance, watch this video.