AS1 Gateway Service

AS1 is a specificationfor secure data exchange between businesses using the Internet withSMTP as the transport. The AS1 gateway service allows you to exchangedata with business partners who use different technologies.

AS2 Gateway Services

AS2 gateway servicesenable you to exchange critical business data securely over the Internetwith HTTP/HTTPS as the transport. This data exchange can be conductedbetween an AS2-capable company and a non-AS2-capable company. Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork providestwo different AS2 gateway services:

• Standard AS2 Gateway Service?The standard service enablescustomers who use AS2 to exchange data with business partners whoare not AS2-enabled.
• Managed AS2 Gateway Service?The managed service enablescustomers who are not AS2-enabled to exchange data with business partnerswho use AS2.

IBM Sterling Connect:Direct GatewayService

The IBM? Sterling Connect:Direct? gatewayservices enables you to use Sterling Connect:Direct toaccess Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork andsend data to or receive data from business partners who may or maynot use Connect:Direct.

FTP Gateway Services

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)is a communications protocol associated with TCP/IP to send largefiles over the internet. The FTP gateway service allows you to useyour own FTP client to exchange data with your business partners whomay use other protocols.

If you need additional security foryour FTP data exchanges Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork alsooffers the following encryption options:

• Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)
• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL or FTP/S)
• Secure Shell (SSH or SFTP)

HTTP Gateway Service

Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP) is a communications protocol associated with TCP/IPto transmit data securely over the internet.

The HTTP gatewayservice acts as a secure interface between Internet-enabled and traditionalbusiness partners. HTTPS is the recommended protocol for data transferwith the HTTP gateway service. HTTPS is HTTP combined with a SecureSockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt data and ensure its safe transmission.

MQ Gateway Service

The MQ gateway servicesupports application integration by enabling the transfer of dataacross multiple platforms using queues that send and receive dataas messages. This message-based approach offers an organized architecturefor moving data that is secure efficient and guaranteed.

Customs Gateways

The Customs gateways providea means to securely send and receive your import/export documentsin your preferred transport method. The Customs gateway service transportsthe documents to the appropriate customs service. Both the U.S. CustomsService and Canadian Customs Service are supported.

You cansend customs documents to Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork usingany supported transport method. The Customs gateway processes thedocument so it conforms to U.S. Customs system requirements. SimilarlyU.S. Customs sends documents to you through Sterling B2B CollaborationNetworkwhich handles any changes necessary to return it to your system.

Interconnect Service (Public and Private)

Interconnect isthe process of connecting Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork toa VAN for sending and receiving data. This service enables you tosend your data to other public and private networks that your businesspartners use. After receiving your data the other networks deliverit to your business partners. You can also receive data from othernetworks so your business partners can send data to you.

Interconnect Service Example

The AdvancedNetwork Exchange (ANX) Service acts as a bridge between non-compatiblestandards for communications and data formats. Existing customersor companies connecting directly with automakers can continue to usetheir existing infrastructure including software hardware auditsand controls.

The following figure shows the interconnect process:

InterconnectedEDI networks exchange data using the following methods:

Method

Description

Traditional

One EDI network dials the other EDI network and delivers thedata to that network. This method uses bisynchronous protocol or SDLC/SNAprotocol.

Logon

Either or both of the EDI networks log on to a mailbox.

ANSI X12 Mailbag Control Structure

This enveloping structure enables verification of data receiptand can be used with any of the other available methods.

X.400

X.400 is a message protocol widely used in Europe. Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork usesthe X.400 method mainly in international interconnects but can useit for other interconnects when appropriate.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a communications protocol associatedwith TCP/IP used to send files over the Internet. To use FTP theother VAN must use frame relay or VPN.

Sterling B2B CollaborationNetwork prefersto use the ANSI X12 mailbag envelope. However to use the mailbagenvelope the other EDI network involved in the interconnect mustsupport its use.

Mailbag envelope is an EDI envelopethat encloses interchanges interconnect acknowledgments or bothfor sending documents to another EDI network through an interconnect.The envelope identifies the interconnect mailbag sender and receivernetworks and provides data control information. Using this methodinterconnecting EDI networks can exchange logon and password information.

Interconnectacknowledgment is a document the receiving EDI network sends tothe sending EDI network stating that the mailbag envelope was received.An interconnect acknowledgment is sent in a different mailbag envelopethan the one it is acknowledging and is never itself acknowledged.

Toset up a business partner on an interconnect contact Customer Supportand provide the name of the other network and the receiver ID foryour business partner. In addition your business partners must notifytheir network of the sender and receiver IDs you and your businesspartners will use. International customers should contact CustomerSupport for current availability of public or private interconnects.