OFTP
Encyclopedia
The Odette File Transfer Protocol (OFTP) is a protocol used for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
between two communications business partners. It comes from the Odette
-Organisation (Organization for data exchange by teletransmission in Europe).
OFTP 2 (ODETTE File Transfer Protocol) is a specification for the secure transfer of business documents over the Internet
, ISDN and X.25
networks. A description of OFTP 1.3 can be found in RFC 2204, whilst OFTP 2 is defined in RFC 5024.
OFTP 2 can work point-to-point
or indirectly via a VAN (Value Added Network). A single OFTP 2 entity can make and receive calls, exchanging files
in both directions. This means that OFTP 2 can work in a push or pull mode, as opposed to AS2
, which can only work in a push mode.
OFTP 2 can encrypt and digitally sign message data, request signed receipts and also offers high levels of data compression
. All of these services are available when using OFTP 2 over TCP/IP, X.25/ISDN or native X.25. When used over a TCP/IP network such as the Internet, additional session level security is available by using OFTP 2 over TLS (Transport Layer Security)
.
Open Source software
Commercial software
Electronic Data Interchange
Electronic data interchange is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents or business data from one computer system to another computer system, i.e...
between two communications business partners. It comes from the Odette
Odette
Odette may refer to:*Odette School of Business, a school at the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario*Odette , people with the given name Odette* The White Swan in the ballet Swan Lake...
-Organisation (Organization for data exchange by teletransmission in Europe).
OFTP 2 (ODETTE File Transfer Protocol) is a specification for the secure transfer of business documents over the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, ISDN and X.25
X.25
X.25 is an ITU-T standard protocol suite for packet switched wide area network communication. An X.25 WAN consists of packet-switching exchange nodes as the networking hardware, and leased lines, Plain old telephone service connections or ISDN connections as physical links...
networks. A description of OFTP 1.3 can be found in RFC 2204, whilst OFTP 2 is defined in RFC 5024.
OFTP 2 can work point-to-point
Point-to-point tunneling protocol
The Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol is a method for implementing virtual private networks. PPTP uses a control channel over TCP and a GRE tunnel operating to encapsulate PPP packets....
or indirectly via a VAN (Value Added Network). A single OFTP 2 entity can make and receive calls, exchanging files
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
in both directions. This means that OFTP 2 can work in a push or pull mode, as opposed to AS2
AS2
AS2 is a specification about how to transport data securely and reliably over the Internet. Security is achieved by using digital certificates and encryption.- AS2 Technical Overview :The AS2 protocol is based on HTTP and S/MIME...
, which can only work in a push mode.
OFTP 2 can encrypt and digitally sign message data, request signed receipts and also offers high levels of data compression
Data compression
In computer science and information theory, data compression, source coding or bit-rate reduction is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation would use....
. All of these services are available when using OFTP 2 over TCP/IP, X.25/ISDN or native X.25. When used over a TCP/IP network such as the Internet, additional session level security is available by using OFTP 2 over TLS (Transport Layer Security)
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
.
OFTP 2 Technical Overview
- Message encryption
- Message signatures
- Signed receipts
- Message compression
- Message integrity
- Session authentication
- Session encryption (TLS)
- CMS envelopes
Advantages
- File restart
- Push / pull operation
- Peer-to-peer or indirect communications
- File compression
- Operates over TCP/IP, X.25/ISDN, native X.25
External links
- RFC5024 - OFTP 2, obsoletes RFC2204
- RFC2204 - ODETTE File Transfer Protocol
- OFTP 2 Whitepaper
- OFTP2 Documentation
- Odette Website
Open Source software
Commercial software