EForward is a file/document transport protocol to transfer files between computer systems with a guaranteed level of reliability. It belongs to the application layer

Application layer

The Internet protocol suite and the Open Systems Interconnection model of computer networking each specify a group of protocols and methods identified by the name application layer....

 of the Internet protocol suite

Internet protocol suite

The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...

.

EForward uses a three-part (client-server-client) model, capable of handling any file type without further processing.

Overview

EForward uses one port, 2181, in either TCP or UDP mode to transfer files between a client and the server. The major objective of the protocol is to provide a known level of service: The documents sent from one client to another should never be in an unknown state, at any time. This is done by having the server keep track of the state of all the messages, and having it be the definitive status keeper.

The other objective of the protocol is to allow clients to connect at their convenience for either sending or receiving data: They can send to any other client at any time, and receive any messages they have been sent to them at any time. Alternatively, they can be notified by the server when they have new messages.

Stages

In general communication via EForward happens in three stages:

1. Client A sends a message for Client B to the server.
2. Client B is notified by the server that there are new messages for it.
3. Client B retrieves the message from the server.

Uses

EForward is designed specifically to transport documents between companies, particularly when the loss of a document cannot be allowed. Currently it is primarily used by the shipping/transport industry to handle shipping instructions and messages between shipping companies, ports, manufacturers and resalers.

See also

• Trivial File Transfer Protocol
  Trivial File Transfer Protocol
  Trivial File Transfer Protocol is a file transfer protocol known for its simplicity. It is generally used forautomated transfer of configuration or boot files between machines in a local environment....
  
   (TFTP)
• SSH file transfer protocol
  SSH file transfer protocol
  In computing, the SSH File Transfer Protocol is a network protocol that provides file access, file transfer, and file management functionality over any reliable data stream...
  
   (sftp), a protocol running over SSH
  Secure Shell
  Secure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
  
  
• Secure FTP, FTP run over SSH
• FTPS
  FTPS
  FTPS is an extension to the commonly used File Transfer Protocol that adds support for the Transport Layer Security and the Secure Sockets Layer cryptographic protocols....
  
  , FTP run over SSL
• Simple File Transfer Protocol
  Simple File Transfer Protocol
  Simple File Transfer Protocol, as defined by RFC 913, was proposed as an file transfer protocol with a level of complexity intermediate between TFTP and FTP....
  
  (SFTP), the historic protocol RFC 913