OFTP

The Odette File Transfer Protocol (OFTP) is a protocol created in 1997, used for EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) between two communications business partners. Its name comes from the Odette Organisation (the Organization for data exchange by teletransmission in Europe).

OFTP 2 was written in 2007 by Data Interchange, as 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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).

OFTP 2 Feature Summary

Message encryption
Message signatures
Signed receipts
Message compression
Message integrity
Session authentication
File & Session level encryption (TLS)
CMS envelopes
Sub-level addressing

Advantages

File restart
Push / pull operation
Peer-to-peer or indirect communications
File compression
Operates over TCP/IP, X.25/ISDN, native X.25
Maximum file size of 9PB (Petabytes)

References

External links

Open Source software

Commercial software