Using Jenkins CLI for Configuration

Jenkins provides a powerful Command Line Interface (CLI) that allows for remote interaction with Jenkins servers. This lesson will cover how to configure and manage Jenkins using its CLI, providing a comprehensive overview of commands, usage, and best practices.

• Jenkins installed and running
• Access to Jenkins CLI (Jenkins CLI jar file)
• Java installed (for running the CLI)

To use the Jenkins CLI, follow these steps:

1. Download the Jenkins CLI jar file from your Jenkins server:
You can find this at `http:///jnlpJars/jenkins-cli.jar`.
2. Ensure you have Java installed:

java -version

3. Run the CLI using:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// help

The following are some basic commands you can execute:

• Get Jenkins version:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// version

• List all jobs:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// list-jobs

• Build a job:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// build 

Advanced usage examples include:

• Creating a new job from a configuration file:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// create-job  < config.xml

• Updating an existing job:

java -jar jenkins-cli.jar -s http:// update-job  < config.xml

• Always back up your configuration files before making changes.
• Use version control for job configurations.
• Test changes in a staging environment before applying to production.