> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.connected.illumina.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.connected.illumina.com/annotation/v3.27/introduction/prerequisite.md).

# Prerequisite

#### Creating Illumina API key

To use Illumina Connected Annotation and its utilities, users have to create an Illumina API key. To generate the API key, users are required to create Illumina public account which can be created freely from [this page](https://accounts.login.illumina.com).

![](/files/cOi0EVRhXnAuBE3WMKnl)

Click "Don't have an account" link to go to the user creation form. If you already have an account, enter your credentials. Once you login, you will go to Product Dashboard page. Click on the user icon on the top right to open menu and choose Manage API Keys.

![](/files/fb6wqqCpHoJi9yYkVDOS)

In the Manage API Keys, click Generate Button and enter the API key name. Once you have done that, the generated API key will be displayed.

![](/files/QsrSIcS0tAtEznpsh8QV)

#### Storing Illumina API key in your system

Copy the API key and store it into a file with json format like below:

```json
{
  "MyIlluminaApiKey": "<your Illumina account api key>"
}
```

By default, Data Manager will look for file `~/.ilmnAnnotations/credentials.json` but this file may be saved at any location and passed in as commandline argument.

```json
{
  "MyIlluminaApiKey": "<your Illumina account api key>"
}
```

If you have API key and API secret for Illumina Connected Annotation professional tier data source, you should put those credentials in this file also.

Note that bring your own license (BYOL) should insert the user name and password as API key and API secret respectively.

```json
{
  "MyIlluminaApiKey": "<your Illumina account api key>",
  "ApiKey": "<your professional data source API key>",
  "ApiSecret": "<your professional data source API secret>"
}
```

If you have Dragen server, you can use the Dragen serial number to get premium access.

```json
{
  "MyIlluminaApiKey": "<your Illumina account api key>",
  "DragenSerialNo": "<your Dragen server serial no.>"
}
```

For more details on credentials for DRAGEN users, please refer to [Getting Started with DRAGEN](/annotation/v3.27/introduction/getting-started-dragen.md).


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.connected.illumina.com/annotation/v3.27/introduction/prerequisite.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.