Frequently Asked Questions: Retail AS2 DGI

Background

  1. What is Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI)?

General

  1. What is AS2?
  2. I was referred to your site to purchase AS2 interoperable software. What software do you sell?
  3. Tell me more about Wal-Mart's endorsement of AS2.
  4. Our company is in a supply chain that has asked us to make a move to AS2. How can DGI help?
  5. What is interoperability testing and why is it important?
  6. What is tested in the interoperability tests?
  7. Where can I find the lists of certified interoperable software?
  8. How much is AS2 software and how can I purchase it?
  9. How often does DGI conduct tests for messaging standards such as AS2?
  10. When does the list of certified products expire?

Technical

  1. What do you mean by "software product-with-version"?
  2. How can I learn more about the Return on Investment (ROI) and benefits of using AS2?
  3. How do I implement an AS2 product and what are the common technical issues involved?
  4. Which messaging standard is right for my supply chain: Do I use AS2 or ebXML?
  5. How do I know a company's product has been certified interoperable through the DGI testing?
  6. My company is using an AS2 product, but it is not listed on your website. How can the AS2 product we're using be included in interoperability testing?
  7. My AS2 software vendor is not listed on the www.drummondgroup.com website, but says they are involved in the first stage of AS2 testing. How can I check its status?
  8. What is AS2 In-the-Queue?
  9. What is the AS2 OEM product listing?
  10. Will my supply chain be able to communicate using the various products or standards currently in the marketplace?
  11. What are the business benefits of implementing interoperable products based on today's messaging standards such as AS2, AS1 and ebXML?

Technical

12) What do you mean by "software product-with-version"?


It is part of the natural lifecycle of a software product to be updated with new code for bug patches, new version releases in the same way you would upgrade your Microsoft® Windows® application, Netscape Browser version, etc. Products tested for interoperability are specified as products-with-version number so that it is clear which version of a product was certified for interoperability.

13) How can I learn more about the Return on Investment (ROI) and benefits of using AS2?


To address the needs of enterprises seeking solutions for their supply chain, DGI is publishing Research Reports to help enterprises get a better understanding of how standards based, interoperable products benefit thems: "ROI report on EDI-AS2/XML over the Internet" answers the most common questions about EDI/XML over the Internet, its advantages over traditional EDI, the technology standards, ROI for large and a medium sized enterprises in supply chains and how it impacts the way of doing business

14) How do I implement an AS2 product and what are the common technical issues involved?


To address the questions of IT administrators charged with implementing AS2, DGI has published the following report which provides an introductory overview of AS2, how to implement AS2 and how to resolve common technical issues written in a balanced, vendor-neutral fashion: "Making Sense of AS2: An Implementation Guide,"

15) Which messaging standard is right for my supply chain: Do I use AS2 or ebXML?


"AS2, ebXML and SOAP: Which Messaging Standard to Select for Your Supply Chain and Why" report provides an introductory overview of these messaging service standards, offers guidelines for making business decisions about these messaging technologies, compares AS2 and ebMS (electronic business using XML Messaging Services) to each other, and compares them to SOAP, in a balanced, vendor-neutral fashion.

16) How do I know a company's product has been certified interoperable through the DGI testing?


Products which have passed interoperability testing are provided "Drummond Certified" seal and are listed in the product listings on the www.drummondgroup.com website:

For Test Results, click on the following links:

17) My company is using an AS2 product but it is not listed on your website. How can the AS2 product we're using be included in interoperability testing?


Participation in interoperability testing is voluntary and open to all companies. If your AS2 product is not listed on the www.drummondgroup.com website then most likely, your software vendor has not participated in testing. Refer your software vendor to info2@drummondgroup.com if they are interested in joining the interoperability tests.

18) My AS2 software vendor is not listed on the www.drummondgroup.com website, but says they are involved in the first stage of AS2 testing. How can I check its status?


For products new to AS2 testing, it is a two-step process:

Step 1 - AS2 In-the-Queue is a conformance and debugging round. Passing AS2 In-the-Queue is a prerequisite for joining the AS2 Interoperability Test. Products which successfully pass AS2 In-the-Queue are listed on the DGI website as "In-the-Queue" and are considered compliant/conformant to the standard but are NOT considered interoperable.
Step 2: AS2 Interoperability Test is the actual interoperability test round where all participating AS2 software products send and receive messages to and from each of the software products involved in this test round. Those products which pass the AS2 Interoperability Test are certified as "interoperable" and are provided with a "Drummond Certified" certification seal and listed on the www.drummondgroup.com website.

19) What is AS2 In-the-Queue?


AS2 In-the-Queue is a conformance and debugging round. Passing AS2 In-the-Queue is a prerequisite for joining the AS2 Interoperability Test. Products which successfully pass AS2 In-the-Queue are listed on the DGI website as "In-the-Queue" and are considered compliant/conformant to the standard but are NOT considered interoperable.

20) What is the AS2 OEM product listing?


Products listed in the AS2 OEM box are considered interoperable with the associated list of AS2 Interoperable products. The AS2 OEM product listing is associated with a particular round of AS2 Interoperability Testing. Products listed in the AS2 OEM box are products whose software code is based on one of the products which passed the full AS2 Interoperability Test.

The software companies listed under the AS2 OEM list have a licensing agreement with an AS2 software developer which passed the AS2 Interoperability Test, to private label and resell the AS2 software it under their its own brand name. Companies listed as AS2 OEM companies also undergo a 2 day test to ensure that their OEM product is in fact the same code base as the product-with-version which passed the AS2 Interoperability Test.

21) Will my supply chain be able to communicate using the various products or versions of standards currently in the marketplace?


Yes, provided that the various products-with-versions in your supply chain have been tested for interoperability. Refer to the published lists of certified products on www.drummondgroup.com. Keep in mind that DGI tests for interoperability amongst the group of products-with-version which participated in a particular round of testing.

22) What are the business benefits of implementing interoperable products based on today's messaging standards such as AS2, AS1 and ebXML?


Secure, reliable transport of data over Internet protocols is a primary benefit to companies in today's global marketplace, and the use of the AS2 protocol can lower costs for companies and their suppliers. For example, the AS2 standard grows out of work in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to build a more reliable and secure way of moving messages -- not just EDI transaction sets, but any sort of message -- via the Internet. It includes built-in support for public key encryption (PKI), which secures every transaction sent over the network, not just the communications channel itself.

"AS2, ebXML and SOAP: Which Messaging Standard to Select for Your Supply Chain and Why" report provides an introductory overview of these messaging service standards, offers guidelines for making business decisions about these messaging technologies, compares AS2 and ebMS (electronic business using XML Messaging Services) to each other, and compares them to SOAP, in a balanced, vendor-neutral fashion.

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© 2008 Drummond Group, Inc.