AS2 Host Systems and Integration Connections – Chain.io

Overview

This article covers the setup and usage of AS2 Host Systems and Integration Connection for use within the Chain.io portal. In order to properly setup AS2 Host Systems and Integration connections, your Workspace must have AS2 Profiles set up in your Workspace Settings. For information on this subject please refer to our AS2 Profile support documentation before following the steps below.

Setting Up AS2 Host Systems

Within the Chain.io portal users have the ability to set up AS2 Host Systems for Send Flow types and Receive Flow types. Each setup will allow users to select AS2 Send or Receive Host Systems when configuring their Flows. The sections below demonstrate how to set these systems up in our portal.

Set Up An AS2 Send Host System

The following instructions will walk you through setting up an AS2 Host System. AS2 Host Systems are used in Flows that SEND information from an AS2 server into Chain.io then to a final destination.

To set up an AS2 Host System navigate to your Workspace Settings and select Host Systems.

On the following screen click the Add Host System button.

From the dropdown, select AS2 Send.

On the following screen enter a name for your Host System and add the information about your AS2 server. Take note that you need to select an AS2 Profile you have set up in your Workspace Settings. Click here to learn how to set this up.

Connection Name - Enter a unique name for your Host System so you can find it easily in Flow configuration selection panels.

AS2 Profile - Choose from the AS2 Profiles you have previously set up in your Workspace.

Partner AS2 ID - This is the ID of the partner you want to set up a connection with. This information should be provided with your partner's AS2 configuration information.

Partner URL - This is the endpoint for your partner's AS2 server. This information should be provided along with your partner's AS2 configuration information.

Partner Certificate - Like your local Public Certificate you must enter your partner's certificate. This information should be provided with your partner AS2 configuration information.

Partner Certificate Chain - If your partner uses a service to provide their certificate, the information about the ownership chain of that certificate is required. This information should be provided with your partner AS2 configuration information.

Message Subject - The subject heading of your AS2 transmission message.

Compression - Select if you would like the files in the transmission compressed or not. If you choose to use compression the process will utilize the ZLIB compression protocol.

Encryption Algorithm - This field allow you to select which encryption algorithm you wish to use to securely encrypt the files being sent via AS2. Users have the option of selecting from the three AES Encryption Algorithms or NONE. Please note that you can only choose the option of None, if the Partner URL above uses an HTTPS protocol.

Signing Algorithm - This field allows users to select which signing encryption algorithm they wish to use when verifying themselves as the intended sender. Users have the option of selecting one of the five SHA Algorithms or NONE.

MDN Algorithm - This field allows users to select which Message Deposition Notification or MDN Signing Algorithm they would like to apply to the AS2 messages. Users have the option of selecting one of the five SHA Algorithms or NONE. Please note that SHA256, SHA384, and SHA512 are also referred to as SHA2.

MDN Response - This field allows users to select the whether the MDN response should be SYNC, which would expect a synchronous response or NONE for no response at all.

Once you have entered all the AS2 server information, click the Save button. You will now have the ability to select your AS2 Host System from Receive type Flow Configurations.

Set Up An AS2 Receive Host System

The following instructions will walk you through setting up an AS2 Host System for Receive Flow types. These setups are used in Flows that RECEIVE information from an AS2 server into Chain.io then to a final destination.

To set up an AS2 Host System navigate to your Workspace Settings and select Host Systems.

On the following screen click the Add Host System button.

From the dropdown, select AS2 Receive.

On the following screen, enter a name for your Host System and add the information about your AS2 server. Take note that you need to select an AS2 Profile you have set up in your Workspace Settings. Click here to learn how to set this up.

Name - Enter a unique name for your Host System so you can find it easily in Flow configuration selection panels.

AS2 Profile - Choose from the AS2 Profiles you have previously set up in your Workspace.

Partner AS2 ID - This is the ID of the partner you want to set up a connection with. This information should be provided with your partner's AS2 configuration information.

Partner Certificate - Like your local Public Certificate you must enter your partner's certificate. This information should be provided with your partner AS2 configuration information.

Once you have entered all the AS2 server information, click the Save button. You will now have the ability to select your AS2 Host System from Receive type Flow Configurations.

Setting up AS2 Integration Connections

Within the Chain.io portal users have the ability to set up AS2 Connections for Integration using Send Flow types and Receive Flow types. Each setup will allow users to select AS2 Send or Receive Connections when configuring their Flows. The sections below demonstrate how to set these connections up in our portal.

Set up AS2 Connections For Send Flow Types

The following will walk you through setting up an AS2 Integration Connection to receive data that has been sent through a Chain.io Flow configuration, from a Source System.

To set up an AS2 Integration Connection, navigate to the Integration Settings you wish to set the connection up on and in the Connections section, click the New button.

On the following screen, in the dropdown select AS2

On the following screen you will be presented with a form to enter information required to set up your AS2 Connection.