OFTP

Business file transfer method usable on TCP/IP or X.25

Odette File Transfer ProtocolCommunication protocol

Abbreviation| OFTP
Purpose| EDI file transfer
Developer(s)| Data Interchange Limited
Introduction| 1986; 38 years ago (1986)
OSI layer| Application layer (7)
Port(s)| 3305/TCP
RFC(s)| RFC 2204 (OFTP 1.3)
RFC 5024 (OFTP 2)

Website| www.odette.org

The Odette File Transfer Protocol (OFTP) is a protocol created in 1986, used for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between two communications business partners. Its name comes from the Odette Organisation (the Organization for data exchange by teletransmission in Europe).

The ODETTE File Transfer Protocol (ODETTE-FTP) was defined in 1986 by working group four of the Organisation for Data Exchange by Tele-Transmission in Europe (ODETTE) to address the electronic data interchange (EDI) requirements of the European automotive industry. It was designed in the spirit of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model utilising the Network Service provided by the CCITT X.25 recommendation.

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 Transport Layer Security (TLS).

## OFTP 2 feature summary

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

## Advantages

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* 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 9 PB (Petabytes)
* SHA-256 and PFS security

## References

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1. ^ OFTP2's RFC Documentation
2. ^ AS2 RFC Documentation

## External links

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* RFC5024 - OFTP 2, obsoletes RFC2204
* RFC2204 - ODETTE File Transfer Protocol
* OFTP 2 Whitepaper
* OFTP2 Documentation
* Odette Website

Open source software

* Accord Odette OFTP2
* mendelson Open Source OFTP2

Commercial software

* Rocket Software • Eurex-c EDI and CAD data exchange solutions via OFTP2
* TRUfusion Enterprise • CAD/PLM data exchange solutions using OFTP2
* STCP OFTP Suite - Product Suite for process integration and EDI
* i-effect • Integrated Solutions for IBM i (AS2, OFTP2, OFTP, etc.)
* Bartsch Software !MC5 (OFTP, OFTP2, EDI converter, ...)
* rvs from T-Systems-International GmbH
* ArcESB MFT
* FT-Master from NUMLOG
* Darwin, Epic and Odex by Data Interchange Plc
* ET-Connector EDI Integration suite
* Encode Networks Svenska AB
* OS4X - The Odette System for Unix
* HUENGSBERG - engDAX with OFTP2
* EDICOM OFTP2 SERVER
* xTrade Business Communications Suite
* TX2 CONCEPT
* Avenum EDI as a Service (AS2, OFTP, Mail, VAN etc.)
* ipOFTP • Appliance with OFTP protocol and EDI functionality built in